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What is MnCARRS?
MnCARRS is a community partnership composed of Mn/DOT employees and community leaders representing minority communities, women, veterans and people with disabilities.
The group was created to build recruitment partnerships between Mn/DOT and communities underrepresented in Mn/DOT’s workforce to assist the agency in recruiting and retaining qualified candidates from a variety of backgrounds.
MnCARRS members serve as recruiters within their own communities for Mn/DOT jobs. Since the group formed, members have attended career fairs, job information events and mock interview sessions at various locations. The group is involved in the entire continuum from recruitment—to selection—to mentoring individuals on the job after they are hired
Group achievements since October 2008
- The group represents all four minority communities, women, veterans and people with disabilities. This group has served as a valuable recruitment resource for TSS and various other positions. Job postings sent to them, in turn are further received by their individual networks of clients.
- The group was actively involved with the recruitment for the recent TA positions filled by Metro Maintenance. Of the 73 candidates hired, 22+ candidates were directly recruited by MnCARRS members and represent the communities that they serve. This is the first time we have had such a diverse applicant & hired pool for these jobs.
- Total of 30+ MnCARRS referrals hired statewide at Mn/DOT since October 2008
- MnCARRS members have hosted our meetings providing Mn/DOT with visibility and an opportunity to learn more about them. MnCARRS meetings have been held at the Minneapolis Urban League, Hmong American Partnership, CLUES, Summit Academy OIC, American Indian OIC, Merrick Community Center and East Metro OIC.
- MnCARRS members in turn have made the effort to visit Mn/DOT locations to learn more about our business as they help us recruit candidates within their communities for our jobs. Recent visits included Mn/DOT truck stations and Snow Plow Operator training tour at Camp Ripley.
- MnCARRS members participated in the various job information sessions offered in preparation for the Metro TA hires. They assisted with Interview preparation training.
- MnCARRS was a major resource while Mn/DOT recruited for the Commercial Drivers License training pilot program at Century College. 3 additional classes are scheduled for 2010
- Several MnCARRS members are serving as community mentors for the temporary TA candidates hired at Mn/DOT.
- MnCARRS is one of MnDOT’s steps in building lasting relationships within the various underrepresented communities that we serve as an agency in Minnesota.
- MnCARRS has broadened Mn/DOT’s recruiting opportunities and avenues for reaching a diverse audience. Since the group formed, we have attended career fairs/job information events/mock interview sessions at various member locations.
- Most recently having learned of some of the MnCARRS efforts, Mn/DOT was approached by the DHS-MFIP program and Ramsey County. Mn/DOT now has a major contract with DHS and Ramsey County to assist MFIP recipients to gain employment at Mn/DOT locations across the state. The American Indian Family center is a major participant in the Ramsey county partnership and is represented on the MnCARRS team.
- A MnCARRS team member is now formally assisting Mn/DOT HR with integrating diversity into the ‘Competency based interview training for Mn/DOT supervisors’.
- Finally, MnCARRS serves as a positive voice within a larger diverse community about Mn/DOT and its efforts to diversify its workforce and partner with their communities.