Opportunity Center Offers Concierge-Like Service to Job Seekers
December 1, 2023
Events & Updates
Job seekers looking for employment in an aviation-related field or with the City of Cleveland have a unique resource available to them through the Opportunity Center (OC) at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE). Located on the baggage claim level at CLE, the OC is staffed and dedicated to helping job-seekers gain access to careers at CLE and Burke Lakefront (BKL) airports.
The OC is officially staffed three days a week and by appointment, but visitors will often find Department of Port Control (DPC) employee Connie Smith in the office most days of the week. Smith connects daily with members of the community who have a desire to work in the airport environment or with the City.
“I work with applicants to find a job that fits their skills and interests,” Smith said. “I also teach people how to search for careers online, assist with reviewing and revising resumes and completing job applications.”
Smith also works closely with DPC tenants, such as airlines, concessions and retail shops, to keep track of available positions. This collaboration ensures that potential candidates have access to all positions available on the airport campus, while also supporting the hiring needs of DPC tenants. Having services on-site dedicated to hiring needs at Cleveland’s airports is a win-win for both those looking for work and those doing the hiring.
“Many who visit the Opportunity Center do not have access to PCs or printers, so applying for jobs can be especially difficult in today’s computer-driven world where everything is done online,” said Valerie Clause, Airport People Operations and Communications Manager. “Having these amenities available - along with one-on-one assistance from Connie - is a real advantage for job seekers. It’s almost like we offer a personal job concierge.”
There are many different types of jobs available at the airport. If you think of the airport as its own city, and all of the jobs that go into successfully supporting the airport environment, many careers come to mind:
- Building Maintenance
- Custodial
- Trades – such as electricians, HVAC technicians, plumbers, carpenters and painters
- Field Maintenance
- Vehicle Maintenance
- Engineers
- Finance professionals
- Air Operations
- Terminal Operations
- Administrative staff
- Airline specific – such as guest services, baggage claim, wing walkers
- Retail shops
- Concessions/Restaurant-related positions – such as cooks, dishwashers, servers and bartenders
- And more!
If you, or someone you know, is interested in work at DPC, please visit our website to learn more about careers at the airport.
You may also visit the OC, which is located across from Carousel 10 on the baggage claim level. The office is open Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 8 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Appointments outside the regular hours may be scheduled in advance. For more information, call 216.265.6119 or email DPC-Opportunities@clevelandairport.com .
Please note: If you are interested in working at the airport, you must be able to pass a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) 10-year fingerprint-based criminal history records check, an employment background check, and be able to pass a physical and drug test.