In April, GRID Alternatives Greater Los Angeles (GRID GLA) launched a new type of job fair at their downtown Los Angeles warehouse. The ‘Rooftop Ready’ Showcase was created so Installation Basics Training (IBT) graduates can demonstrate their newly acquired solar installation skills on mock roof installations. Local employers who are interested in hiring GRID’s IBT graduates are invited to observe and interact with trainees.
To date, GRID GLA has hosted two job fairs. By creating a space for future employees and employers to convene together, GRID GLA is planting seeds to facilitate direct lines of communication within the local communities, bolstering hiring rates for our new graduates.
“Community, to me, means the people you know and work with, are those who are around you building your skills. They have your back and push you to further develop yourself. It’s who you are at this moment and who is there to support you,” said Hector Mesa, an IBT trainee who participated in the job fair in April.
Hector's experiences in the IBT program have paved the way to a future career in the growing solar industry. “I plan to continue to develop my skills and get my electrical certification. I want to pursue this industry and sign up for one of the jobs I saw today and also continue to follow professionals in this field to learn from them.”
As renewable energy solutions become increasingly vital to meet our current and future energy demands, and as more resources become available through State and Federal incentives, there is an urgency to ensure our communities have access to the competitive wages a high-growth industry like solar brings.
Our Workforce Development Department at GRID GLA offers a paid, 13-week IBT training program, where individuals learn solar installation and job readiness skills in classrooms and on rooftops. At GRID GLA, it’s important to focus the IBT program on those facing employment barriers, such as women in the construction industry, the LGBTQ+ community, and formerly incarcerated individuals. Over 80% of our graduates go on to find employment after our program, and we take great care and pride in guiding our trainees to their career paths.
Job readiness is a big area of focus in our IBT program. Throughout the program, we work with our trainees on resume development and interview skills and provide professional headshots. The showcase-style job fairs are the most recent addition to our Workforce team's creative strategies for setting our trainees up for success.
“The trainee-to-employment pipeline is a priority because it bridges the gap between education and real-world application,” says Macy Boungert, Workforce Development Coordinator at GRID GLA.
“Community, to me, means the people you know and work with, are those who are around you building your skills. They have your back and push you to further develop yourself. It’s who you are at this moment and who is there to support you. I plan to continue to develop my skills and get my electrical certification. I want to pursue this industry and sign up for one of the jobs I saw today and also continue to follow professionals in this field to learn from them.”
-- Hector Mesa, IBT trainee and Rooftop Ready Showcase participant
Some employers in attendance at the Rooftop Ready Job Fairs have been Revamp Energy, Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator (LACI), and Bedford Energy Solar. Marco Iwabuchi, owner of Sunko Solar, a solar installation company based in Santa Monica, was in attendance at the job fair and was interested in hiring those who had completed GRID’s IBT program. “I believe that GRID takes the adequate time to train people trying to get into the solar industry correctly." Says Marco. "I’ve met a lot of skilled installers who I have worked with and hired, from San Francisco to LA, through GRID Alternatives.”
GRID GLA’s Rooftop Ready showcases will continue with each upcoming IBT trainee cohort. If you are an employer interested in joining us, please contact Macy Boungert at mboungert@gridalternatives.org or (562) 519-7826.
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