Bucks County Workforce and Economic Development Executive Director Billy Burns (center) cuts the ribbon on PA CareerLink’s new Wheeled Workforce. Submitted photo
Job seekers from Bensalem to Perkasie can get free search assistance, resume writing guidance, interview skills training and more in their own backyard thanks to PA CareerLink Bucks County’s all-new Workforce on Wheel (aka WOW) mobile bus Now it looks like this.
The state-of-the-art bus, which celebrated its public opening last month at a ribbon-cutting ceremony and job fair at CareerLink’s Trevose headquarters, features 10 workspaces and laptops, internet connectivity, printing, scanning and email. was equipped with. features, large-screen video displays, and wheelchair-accessible workspaces.
Ultimately, WOW will bring all the services offered at its brick-and-mortar Trevose stores to the streets, making CareerLink’s free services available to residents who cannot commute.
Billy Burns, executive director of the Bucks County Department of Workforce and Economic Development, has had the transition to mobile in mind since March 2019. She was tasked with traveling frequently for work.
“When I was new to the job, I was traveling all over the county, from Quakertown to Bristol, and it could take me over an hour to get from one place to another. ‘This county is big. ” I thought. It was tough if you lived in the upper part of the county. Because there was only one brick-and-mortar CareerLink where we served people. There, you can apply for unemployment and receive job search and resume help. Help me,” she said.
It wasn’t until 2021 and 2022, when federal funding became available due to the coronavirus, that her vision began to become a reality. Burns thanked the Bucks County Commissioners for heeding CareerLink’s call and allocating funds to procure the vehicles.
Once the vehicle was secured, it took another two years to transform it into a mobile carrier service center.
“Imagine a tricked-out Winnebago with 15 laptops and white boards and computer screens,” Burns said with a laugh. “We have carefully worked with a company that customizes to meet our needs. Cutting-edge technology. We provide free employment and support services to employers and job seekers right in their own backyard. It can be tied to
The interior of the bus has been renovated with work spaces and laptops. Submitted photo
A particular source of pride for Burns is knowing that among the 22 labor boards across Pennsylvania, this bus is the first of its kind in the state.
Whether WOW appears in a library, recovery center, or business, trained staff onboard typically know who they will be serving and what their customers’ needs are before they arrive. . When an employer or organization books WOW online, they are asked to fill out a form indicating the nature of their event.
Since our official launch in June and soft launch in March, WOW has been the most frequently asked for help with resume writing.
“I think this is 70% of what we do now. It can be a daunting task for people. People don’t have access to a computer at home or they don’t have access to a computer to create a resume. They may not have the expertise,” Burns said. “Everyone who stops here is guaranteed to leave with a professional resume.”
Anyone who is personally looking for a new job or knows someone who is looking for a new job understands how difficult and tedious the process has become in recent years. From every LinkedIn post attracting hundreds of applicants to an automated resume reader, there’s a job for those looking for their next opportunity.
But PA CareerLink is here to help.
“In many cases, there are four jobs for every job seeker. This is the lowest labor market participation rate ever,” Burns said. “But what I want to say is that it has two unintended consequences for us. We know that the purpose is to deliver our services to people. , I expected the vehicle to be booked and it would be busy.The second thing is the moving billboard. Not only are we staying busy there, but we’re also getting more traffic to our Trevose store, which is great.”
Looking to the future, Barnes would like to expand WOW’s services in several areas, particularly in rapid response. If an employer knows they are closing in a few weeks, they want WOW to be on-site as soon as possible to provide job search services to their employees.
“We want to be able to triage when that happens and get them there before they get fired, before they leave,” she said.
In addition, Burns wants to increase the availability of WOW to people on probation or parole. This is because these people are less likely to have transportation and could use some guidance on reintegration.
“It’s free and we want people to know it exists, that the service is there and that we can help them get back to work,” she said. “Really, this idea just creates a more level playing field for people looking for jobs in Bucks County.”
WOW can be reserved at buckscounty.gov/wow.
Samantha Bambino can be reached at sbambino@newspapermediagroup.com.
