Job seekers from Bensalem to Perkasie can now receive free search assistance, resume-building guidance, interview skills training and more in their own backyard thanks to PA CareerLink Bucks County’s all-new Workforce on Wheels, aka WOW, mobile bus.
The state-of-the-art bus, which celebrated its official unveiling to the public during a ribbon-cutting ceremony and job fair last month at CareerLink’s Trevose headquarters, was retrofitted with 10 workspaces and laptops, internet connectivity, print, scan and email capabilities, a large-screen video display and a wheelchair-accessible workspace.
Ultimately, WOW brings all of the services offered at the brick-and-mortar Trevose location on the road, allowing residents who are unable to make that commute to still take advantage of CareerLink’s complimentary services.
Going mobile has been on the mind of Billie Barnes, executive director of the Bucks County Office of Workforce and Economic Development, since March 2019, when she was tasked with traveling a lot for the job.
“As a newcomer in the position, I was traveling all over the county, from Quakertown to Bristol, and at some points, it would take me over an hour to get from one place to another. I thought to myself, ‘This county is huge!’ And if you live in the upper part of the county, it was hard because we only had one brick-and-mortar CareerLink where we serviced folks, where you could come to apply for your unemployment, you could get help finding a job, resume help,” she said.
It wasn’t until 2021 and 2022, when federal funding became available because of COVID, that her vision began to become a reality. Barnes expressed gratitude toward the Bucks County Commissioners, who heard CareerLink’s call and allocated funding for the procurement of the vehicle.
Once the vehicle was secured, it took another two years to transform it into a mobile career services center.
“I say, imagine a tricked-out Winnebago with 15 laptops on it and a white board, computer screen,” Barnes said with a laugh. “We painstakingly worked with a company that customized it for our needs. It’s state-of-the-art. We are able to connect employers and job seekers with free employment and supportive services right in their backyard where they are.”
For Barnes, a particularly strong point of pride comes in knowing that, among the 22 Workforce boards across Pennsylvania, this bus is the first of its kind in the state.
Whether WOW is making an appearance at a library, recovery center or business, the trained staff members on board typically have an idea of who they’ll be servicing and what those clients’ needs are prior to arriving. When employers and organizations book WOW online, they’re asked to fill out a form and indicate the nature of the event.
Since its official launch in June and soft launch in March, WOW is most often asked to assist with resume writing.
“I would say that’s 70% of what we are doing right now. That can be a daunting task for folks. People may not have access to computers at home, or they don’t have the expertise in order to put a resume together,” Barnes said. “Those who stop by are guaranteed to leave with a professional resume.”
Those who are personally looking for a new job or know someone who is understand how difficult and tedious the process has become in recent years. From every posting on LinkedIn garnering hundreds of applicants to automated resume readers, those hunting for their next opportunity have their work cut out for them.
But PA CareerLink is ready to help.
“Oftentimes, there are four jobs to every one job seeker. This is the lowest labor market participation rate we’ve had in a long time,” said Barnes. “But what I will say is, it’s having two unexpected consequences for us. We knew the idea was to take our services to people and we were hoping that the vehicle would be booked and we’d be busy. We are beyond busy. The second thing is, it is a moving billboard. It’s walking advertisement for us. So not only has the vehicle been booked and we’ve been busy on there, but it is driving traffic to our brick and mortar in Trevose, which is fabulous.”
Looking ahead, Barnes hopes to expand WOW’s services in a few areas, especially in rapid response. If an employer knows that it’s going to be closing its doors in a few weeks, she wants WOW to be on-site ASAP to provide employees with job search services.
“We would like to be able to triage when that happens and get there before those folks get laid off, before those folks get separated from their employment,” she said.
Additionally, Barnes would like to increase WOW availability for those on probation or parole, as these individuals are unlikely to have transportation and could use some guidance on reentering society.
“It’s free and we want people to know that it exists, that the services are there and that we can help them get back to work,” she said. “Really, the idea is just creating more equitable opportunities for folks looking for jobs in Bucks County.”
WOW can be booked at buckscounty.gov/wow.
Samantha Bambino can be reached at sbambino@newspapermediagroup.com
