the numbers of their pre-pandemic events and from individuals reaching out to their Workforce Centers to upgrade and enhance their skills .
Douglas says : “ Some job seekers need interview or resume assistance or want to earn a certified credential , some just need to be connected with employers in their industry that are hiring . The good news , we can help with all of that !”
Gantt takes the interns , especially the foster youth , under Arlington Water Utilities ’ wing and teaches them everything he can during the 8-12 week internship . He wants each person who enters the City through the internship to leave with a positive experience , all the resources they need to succeed , and with a job lined up for themselves .
“ The goal is to give them everything we have ,” he says .
So far , six of the 13 interns who completed the internship have gone on to join the City of Arlington team , with jobs in multiple departments .
“ WE ’ RE NOT TRYING TO [ SOLELY ] GET EMPLOYEES , WE WANT TO INSPIRE PEOPLE TO BE INTERESTED IN UTILITIES .”
— CRAIG GANTT
The interns are provided with many support resources , not just from Arlington , but also from Workforce Solutions . While , the water department provides the necessary work needs , like proper uniforms and educational materials , the interns can also go to Gantt and any one of the Workforce Solutions team members for guidance and support , if needed . The teams involved with helping the interns go out of their way to nurture these individuals ’ true potentials .
“ This program doesn ’ t work unless we have the support we receive from the City . Because of the City , we ’ re able to be successful with helping candidates explore exciting opportunities on a career path of their choosing ,” Douglas says .
Gantt has connected interns with other positions outside of the water department after an internship ended . The most important thing to both the City and Workforce Solutions is that the people who participate in the internship find employment , wherever that may be , that suits them best and will give them a stable and comfortable life .
Two of the department ’ s newest employees Rhonda Stewart and Yajaira Gonzalez began their Workforce Solutions internships in November 2020 .
Rhonda said her internship began as a way to start a new career after being laid-off from working for the JPS Health Network for 22 years . She began her internship under Janee Alexander , Customer Service Specialist at City Hall .
“ It doesn ’ t matter how many questions you ask ; she ’ ll make sure to answer them all . She is always so professional and cordial , it was such a meaningful experience working under the supervision of such an individual with expertise of her job ,” Rhonda says .
Rhonda ’ s internship ended in early February . She is now a Senior Account Clerk at the Water Utilities South Service Center .
She is responsible for the payroll and administrative action of 121 employees . In addition , Rhonda verifies and ensures timely renewal of over 300 Water and Wastewater licenses . She works with many customer accounts and handles the received bill payments for Water Utilities .
Yajaira Gonzalez previously worked at a grocery store , but decided she wanted to pursue a more professional job that could set her up for a stable career . During her internship , she worked with the department ’ s training administrator to record what types of licenses water department employees had based on data from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality . She also learned how to help compile monthly budget reports and other business documents . She also used the department ’ s asset management system , Cartegraph , to help track the work of operations field crews in Arlington .
She does similar work since being hired full time as an Administrative Secretary for Operations at the South Service Center .
“ I wanted more experience ; I didn ’ t know what to expect at first . I feel really comfortable here ,” Yajaira says .
Stewart and Yajaira say they ’ re grateful to everyone involved in the internship partnership , including managers and employees at Arlington Water Utilities and Workforce Solutions .
“ I ’ m just glad our career counselors thought of us when this internship came up ,” Stewart says .