TAHLEQUAH – Finding Cherokee Nation jobs and applying for them is easier than ever thanks to a new website, cherokeenationjobs.org, the tribe’s HR boss said Feb. 23.
Samantha Hendricks, the CN Human Resources executive director, touted the online career site during the Tribal Council’s monthly Rules Committee meeting. She said the site went live earlier in the month.
“It is a new site that is pretty easy for applicants to apply,” she said. “In addition to that site, it gives us the ability to have a chat bot. We have that also available by mobile. So, it brings us really up to today’s time so we can actually get those applications in and get them qualified and into the jobs they’re applying for.”
Hendricks said a new text-to-apply option is also live.
“You text Cherokee jobs to 97211,” she said, adding that a Cherokee translation is in the works. “We’re wanting to make sure we get the culture involved with the application process as much as we can.”
In addition to the new projects, the HR department has studied and is improving communication with job applicants. The updates will be implemented by March 6, Hendricks said.
“It’s good to see change,” Council Speaker Mike Shambaugh said.
The tribe is also gearing up for open job interviews at different locations within the reservation, Hendricks said. Plans are in the works for a traveling job fair in conjunction with the Career Services department, as well.
“We’re still working out the details, but Career Services is great to partner with,” Hendricks said.
A business item pushed forward to the full council Feb. 23 was a routine authorization of limited consent related to the purchase of the Will Rogers Birthplace historic property in Oologah from the Oklahoma Historical Society. The property includes approximately 162 acres.
In other business, Councilors unanimously supported a resolution placing Colton Montgomery on the governing board of the Cherokee Nation Comprehensive Care Agency.
“It’s just an honor to even be considered for this position,” Montgomery said. “I certainly look forward to serving the elders in our community, and our citizens.”
In his monthly report, Marshal Shannon Buhl said there has been an influx of applications to his department.
“Right now we’re in the mix of quite frankly the biggest marshal hiring that I’ve seen in 23 years,” Buhl said. “HR sent over this week 62 applicants. HR is sending over every applicant as soon as they get it instead of holding on to any applicants or anything like that. So, my staff are picking up the pace to try to select, good, quality marshals to come do the work of the tribe.”
Committee members tabled a resolution that allows CN Supreme Court Justice Shawna Baker to also serve the Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma as an associate justice.
