WorkSource Pierce at South Hill Mall Seeing Success in New Location

March 10, 2023

After 15 years with the same company, Christine found herself unemployed. The stress of this life change and the challenges of navigating the process of finding a new job after so long brought her to WorkSource Pierce at the South Hill Mall in Puyallup.

There, Christine was supported by partner Sandra Calvillo, who serves as the one-stop operator for WorkSource Pierce, in elevating her resume and creating an Indeed profile. She was able to apply for several positions in her career field right there at the WorkSource office.

“We created a strategy for her and outlined daily goals,” Calvillo said. “She was so thrilled with the service she received and confident about her ability to succeed. She shared how grateful she was that we were conveniently located at the South Hill Mall.”

Christine is just one of the countless job seekers who have been supported through our new South Hill Mall location since it opened in September. As word about the new location has spread, local partners and businesses have been stepping up to offer regular on-site programs and events.

In December, Red Dot Corp. partnered with WorkForce Central’s Business Solutions Team to bring the first single employer hiring event to the mall. Since then, there have been a handful of additional events with businesses such as TruFit Staffing, ServPro, Goodwill, and DSHS, with four additional events scheduled in March.

“We are always seeking ways to connect with local job seekers,” said Abby Duda, TruFit recruiting coordinator. “Business Solutions was able to promote the event, provide the space, and assist with interviews of some qualified candidates. They also provided laptops for attendees to apply for the available jobs, guidance on improving their resumes, and practice interview sessions. We enjoyed bringing our opportunities to job seekers in the Puyallup/South Hill area.”

“I just got out of the military and was seeking employment as a Telecom Field Tech,” said Victor, a job seeker who attended the TruFit event. “I was able to apply for a job position at the WorkSource Pierce office and talk to the hiring manager at Trufit.”

Victor also worked with Christian Reed, workforce development recruiting specialist, to prepare by participating in mock interviews.

“The ability to practice my interview skills in a comfortable and safe space was very helpful,” Victor said. “Christian asked difficult questions, and I can practice these more at home.”

The South Hill Mall location is staffed by WorkSource Pierce partners Monday through Friday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. The location is also starting to bring in additional resources like DSHS info sessions and veterans services events and always provides computer access for job seekers to search, apply, and interview for jobs.

Recently job seeker Tiffany came to the WorkSource location to attend the quarterly Hire Pierce County virtual job fair.

“I came to the center needing assistance with my resume, job searching, and accessing jobs,” she said. “I didn’t have access to a computer at home, so using their laptops to interview with employers was helpful. I was able to talk to multiple employers through the virtual event and scheduled a few interviews. I appreciate being able to access multiple services through different formats.”

Next up for the South Hill location is bringing Jobfest back in person for the first time since the pandemic. The young adult job fair is geared toward job seekers ages 16-24 looking for part-time, full-time, and seasonal work in Pierce County. The event will be held from 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm on Saturday, April 15, in the rotunda area of the mall. It will feature support in resume building and interviewing skills as well as the opportunity to take professional headshots to create a great first impression on social media and job applications.

For more information about Jobfest, visit www.workforce-central.org/event/jobfest-2023.

To stay up-to-date on happenings at the WorkSource Pierce South Hill Mall location, follow WorkSource Pierce on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Twitter or go to www.worksource-pierce.org