All of the Human Resources Department staff (most of which were from the Riverside City office) seemed to have had a meaningful personal and professional experience at the Employment EXPO this past Thursday.  Many of us had not been to one of these in the Desert before, and were amazed by the crowds; the organizers estimated that there were 5,000 people in attendance, between the event operating hours of 9 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. 

Most of the time during the EXPO, I tried to stay out in the crowd in front of the County booth.  I was able to talk to a number of job seekers about the type of employment they where looking for that day, and how the County had similar positions to the private sector, or how skills from their previous employment transferred to those needed in County positions.  One fellow thought he had me stumped, because he explained that his experience was as a UPS driver.  To his amazement, I told him that we had exactly the same kind of job with the County.  We operate a central mail function where drivers deliver mail and packages to multiple locations, as well as the drivers who deliver supplies for the Material Management Division of our Purchasing Department.  Remember, we are the largest employer in the County and in the Coachella Valley, so it is hard for you to not to match skills with a position we have.

I was the first person to speak to one lady shortly after the public was allowed to enter, and several hours later she came back by the booth as she was leaving.  Holding out her hand, she explained that before she left for the day that she just wanted to thank me for the information I had provided and the kindness I had shown her earlier.  I was reminded that this was our opportunity to make connections with Desert residents, in order to promote a positive image of the County government as an employer.  I was glad I was there.

I did speak to one couple who were in the desert as tourists, but had stopped in at the Convention Center to see what kinds of jobs were available in the area.  I am sure many visitors wonder the same thing once they come here, I can speak from experience.  I took a day trip to the Coachella Valley for the first time during a Bob Hope Golf Classic weekend, and drove along Hwy 111, from Palm Springs to Indio.  From that experience I said to myself, “If a job ever comes up in my field, I would like to live there.”  A little less than a year latter I hauled all my worldly household possessions to Palm Springs to begin my new job.

As a co-sponsor of the EXPO Riverside County provided an internet access room open to job seekers.  We sat up internet connected laptop computers in a side room that anyone could come in to use.  Reports from our people staffing that room were that they had a steady flow of people and the computers were in continuous use.  I am glad we could add another dimension to the EXPO experience.

This is the first time the County has had this level of participation at the EXPO, and it couldn’t have been done without the support of many people both out there in front of the public EXPO day, and those who worked behind the scenes with production and administrative leadership.  Everyone deserved and received a grateful thank you from me. 

To rap up, I will admit that I write these blog entries just to give me an excuse to bring out another line or two for the world’s greatest blog closing contest that I have created.  Since I am the only contestant it is safe to say that I will probably win (or pick the winner) at some point in time.  Until then, we all have to suffer through failed attempts to capture the hearts and minds of blog readers.