On Wednesday, March 22, 2023, in partnership with United Independent School District, we celebrated the Spring Forward to a New Job event.
We hope you will enjoy the video we put together to celebrate a successful job fair.
Connecting job seekers with employers.
You can also watch it on our YouTube channel https://youtu.be/SibILf3e_qg
LAREDO, Texas – September 2020 — This year, Workforce Solutions for South Texas (WSST) has been adapting to changes to better serve its customers. From moving to a new building to converting its services to virtual settings, the staff at WSST took the challenge and the interaction has continued.
“Change is inevitable, and we have to continue growing, changing, and evolving with the times and with the needs of the customers we serve,” expressed Andrea De La Garza, Project Director at WSST. “With our new Hiring Event system, customer’s now can register and participate from the comfort and safety of their own home.”
The new building located on 1406 Jacaman Road, Suite A, is not open to the public yet, but the staff are back at the center and are available to take calls, help with resume building, connect them to training and skill-building programs, provide referrals to employment, matching them to the right jobs, and HiSet or GED preparation classes.
One of the newest tools presented by WSST is the bi-weekly Virtual Job Fair.
“The platform is an interactive and fun way of looking for a job,” said De La Garza. “It has chat capability, an opportunity to meet face-to-face with the employers and providers, and direct links to apply for the different positions.”
The upcoming Virtual Job Fair is scheduled for Wednesday, September 9, from 2 pm to 4 pm. Job seekers can register, using a computer or laptop, by visiting http://bit.ly/bestjobfair
Once the event opens, participants can use a mobile phone, iPad, or tablet.
“There are so many employers out there that are offering to work from home,” De La Garza explained. “What a great opportunity to be able to be home and earn a paycheck. Do not pass this opportunity.”
The employers registered to the September 9th event are All Valley Pop A Lock, Ashley HomeStore, Back Porch Mail Center, Burger King, Gateway Community Health Center, GCAM, Love’s Travel Stop, Manna Provider Services, Silverhawk Transport, Subway, and 7-Eleven/Stripes.
Community Service Agencies hosting a virtual booth that day are Child Care Services, Las Promesas de Laredo, Texas Veterans Commission, Texas Workforce Services – Vocational Rehabilitation Services, Workforce Solutions for South Texas, and WSST- Student HireAbility.
Workforce Solutions for South Texas serves the community of Jim Hogg, Webb, and Zapata Counties.
For more information, all those interested in hosting a booth or joining as a job seeker can call the WSST center at 956-516-5900, send an email to wsst@southtexasworkforce.org, or contact the staff at http://bit.ly/chatsouthtexas.
LAREDO, Texas – January 2020 — Workforce Solutions for South Texas (WSST) celebrated the Zapata Job Fair on Wednesday, January 8, 2020, at the Zapata County Community Center.
“It was a successful event where we served 125 job seekers,” said Andrea De La Garza, Project Director. “We are privileged to be able to reach out to the Zapata community, and see first-hand what your workforce needs are; we are considering more events in that local area tailored to suit those identified needs.”
Participating in the event was the U.S. Census Bureau, Laredo College, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, McDonald’s, International Bank of Commerce (IBC), Dr. Ike’s Zapata, Pump-N-Shop, and Manna Provider Services.
“We would sincerely like to thank the Zapata County for generously providing the venue, an ideal place to offer our hiring event,” De La Garza said.
“And a particular thanks to our employers who took time out of their busy schedule to attend the event, with some of them traveling from Laredo.”
The Zapata County Independent School District was able to transport two groups of students to the event. Juniors composed the morning group, while Seniors were in the afternoon one.
Another valuable asset represented during the Job Fair was the presence of the Mobile Unit, where job seekers were able to create their
WorkInTexas profile and update their resumes. The WSST One-Stop center has a satellite office conveniently located at 605 US Highway 83 Suite B. The contact number is 956-765-1804. The contact person is Marisol Cuellar.
LAREDO, Texas — For the eighth year, Workforce Solutions for South Texas (WSST) hosted the Hiring Red, White & You! Job Fair on Thursday, November 7, 2019, at the Falcon International Bank on 7718 McPherson Road.
The hiring fair is an initiative from the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC). WSST was joined by the Texas Veterans Commission and the Texas Veterans Leadership Program in the organization of the event to connect Veterans and their spouses in Texas with employers who are seeking the exceptional skills of Veterans, service members, and their spouses.
“We are proud to partner with Veterans and other state and local organizations to offer this service to our Veterans and their families,” said Rogelio Trevino, Executive Director for WSST. “At Workforce Solutions for South Texas Veterans will always receive priority of services offered.”
The event was also open to the public. The partnership gathered the attention of 40+ employers and providers, who participated at no cost during the job fair held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
According to TWC, over the past seven years, Hiring Red, White & You! has connected more than 84,153 job seekers, including 35,485 Veterans and 48,668 spouses, to 14,420 employers and over 2,027 same-day hires.
Before the event, the Texas Veterans Commission celebrated the “Career Preparation Workshops” to guide job seekers about their WorkInTexas account and résumé, besides helping them get ready with a Dress-4-Success class, interviewing techniques, and a 30 seconds speech.
“Workforce Solutions for South Texas is also very grateful to the employers/businesses that participated in the hiring event in offering job opportunities to our Veterans,” said Treviño. “The participating employers recognized that the Veterans returning to civilian life offer a multitude of skills and abilities that will be an asset to any organization.”
Employers who hire veterans may be eligible for the Work Opportunity Tax Credit, which allows employers to receive up to $9,600 on federal business income or payroll tax benefits when they hire from certain qualified groups of veterans.
LAREDO, TEXAS — (September 2019) — The Careers in Texas Industries is a Texas Workforce Commission Initiative implemented during September around the State. Traditionally, this is done by planning a large career awareness day where local and rural schools are invited to attend. This year Workforce Solutions for South Texas (WSST) decided to take their show on the road.
The WSST team has decided to visit 8th graders in participating South Texas school districts, including Webb, Jim Hogg, and Zapata counties.
“In 2017 and 2018 we organized the Youth Career Exploration Event, and we received close to 1000 students, educators, and parents, in a two days event,” said Andrea De La Garza, Project Director. “This year, to make a greater impact, we are the ones visiting the middle schools.”
The South Texas Career Road Show will consist of web-based interaction, hands-on activities and the take-home of valuable information during each visit at the Laredo and United ISD’s eighth-grade students, besides Hebbronville Middle School and Zapata Middle School.
“We prepared interactive games about the Labor Market Information, the Texas Career Check, service information booths, and a “Picture Yourself” area where the students will be able to dress up as their future selves and take a selfie,” said De La Garza.
With these resources, WSST hopes the students will start thinking of a future career, as stated in House Bill 5 (HB5) that makes a priority for students to choose a “specific pathway toward a highly specialized technical field, a community college or a four-year degree,” according to the Texas Education Agency (TEA).
The South Texas Career Road Show is looking to pique the students’ interest in local industries and will provide clear and sufficient information about the five endorsements areas available, Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), Business and Industry, Public Service, Arts and Humanities, and Multidisciplinary Studies.
“Students will be able to learn about the endorsements and which jobs they lead to,” said De La Garza. “What
they could continue studying after high school unless they are ready to go straight into the workforce. They will learn how much money they can expect to make, and everything else that goes with making these important life decisions in a fun interactive way”
Since parent participation is essential, WSST has also scheduled a couple of Parent Nights. These events will be free and open to the public, independently of which school district their children are attending.
The first Parent Night will take place on Tuesday, September 17, 2019, from 6 pm – 8:30 pm at Texas A&M International University (TAMIU) – Western Hemispheric Trade Center, Rm 111\, and the second one will we on Tuesday, September 24, 2019, from 6 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. in Laredo College (LC, Ft. McIntosh – Falcon Executive Conference Center).
WSST will provide the same information and interactive activities given to the students, plus the participation of community agencies, partners, financial institutions, and representatives from the different magnet schools.
“We want to help students to have the needed information and to select an endorsement with confidence,” said De La Garza. “This is the reason we are bringing career awareness to each school and their parents.”
De La Garza added that the partnership with the schools and districts has always been positive, and this year, with the new approach, the anticipation is even better.
“With communication there’s understanding,” De La Garza said. “We hope to enlighten the students, with a very informative event, where not only the students but educators and parents will get a chance to get access to different resources we have available for them.”
For more information contact Workforce Solutions for South Texas at 956-794-6500.
LAREDO, Texas — (November 2018) — The seventh annual “Hiring Red, White & You! Job Fair” was held in Laredo, on Thursday, November 8, 2018, at the UT Health Science Center.
The goal of the Red, White, and You! is to offer job opportunities to veterans, their family members, and the general public.
“This was the 7th annual hiring event and Workforce Solutions for South Texas is proud to offer this specialized hiring event for our Veterans in conjunction with the Texas Workforce Commission, Texas Veterans Commission, The Texas Medical Center, and Governor Gregg Abbott,” said Rogelio Trevino, Executive Director for Workforce Solutions for South Texas.
Thirty employers and 14 providers participated during the no-cost hiring event.
“There are numerous benefits to hiring veterans. They are trained to be leaders and managers; they know the importance of integrity, respect, and accountability,” Andrea De La Garza, Project Director for Workforce Solutions for South Texas, said. “These are all string attributes any employer seeks.”
According to the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) “over the past six years, Hiring Red, White & You! has connected more than 71,800 veterans with over 10,300 employers.”
Prior to the Hiring Event, the Workforce Solutions for South Texas offered Career Preparation Workshops, where job seekers learned the requirements to qualify for work at the City of Laredo, Webb County and the State of Texas, but also got one-on-one service to build a better resume and prepare for a job interview.
“As our Nation honors Veterans this entire month and as part of our gratitude to our Veterans, this annual Job fair was created to connect job ready, skilled veterans with many local employers who do have meaningful job opportunities,” Trevino said. “Our local employers were eager to meet with and possibly hire the Veterans and their families who attended.”
According to the TWC “there are nearly 1.7 million total veterans throughout Texas, which is the 2nd highest state population of veterans in the country. An estimated 967,000 of these veterans are eligible for work.”
Employers who hire veterans may be eligible for the Work Opportunity Tax Credit, which allows employers to receive up to $9,600 on federal business income or payroll tax benefits when they hire from certain qualified groups of veterans.
On Thursday, Trevino welcomed the participants; the invocation was conducted by Ruben Villarreal from KHOY, the Laredo Veterans Honor Guard did the Presentation of Colors, while US Veterans Edwardo Gonzalez sang the National Anthem. The guest speaker was Alfredo Macue from the Texas Workforce Commission.
Special recognitions were given to the Workforce Solutions for South Texas Board Members, Elected Officials, the Red, White and You Steering Committee, and Julie Bazan, Executive Director for the Middle Rio Grande Border AHEC program.
LAREDO, Texas — (September 2018) — Workforce Solutions for South Texas held its 2nd annual Youth Career Exploration Event. More than 2,000 students participated in the 2-day event at the Sames Auto Arena on September 12 and 13.
The Texas Workforce Commission partnered with local workforce boards and provided funding to make the event possible and the City of Laredo sponsored the venue.
Students from the 8th, 11th, and 12th grades had an opportunity to talk to 56 different employers/organizations and find out what type of skills are required jobs of the future and also experienced hands-on opportunities with the tools of the trade from different industries.
“Students are required, coming out of the 8th grade, to pick up a career choice, a career path, so when they go into high school, they have to take a certain type of courses and get endorsements,” Rogelio Trevino, Executive Director for the Workforce Solutions for South Texas explained. “Today we are giving them that opportunity to talk to different industries and get ideas on the careers that might interest them.”
Juniors and Seniors also took advantage of the event which gave them an opportunity to see what type of job or postsecondary education they might want to pursue.
“We are very proud to be able to bring this program to you, because we know you are our future, and we know that in the next few years, you’ll go into college and the workforce, and we want to give you as much information as we can so you can make wise decisions,” Trevino said.
Attending the event were students from the Laredo Independent School District, United Independent School District, private schools, Laredo Job Corps Center, and Gateway Academy.
The cadets from the Laredo Job Corps and students from Texas A&M International University also participated as volunteers.
As a guest speaker on the September 12 event, Pete Saenz, Mayor for the City of Laredo, said to the youth that if they succeed, the city, the state, and the county will succeed too.
“But it takes choices, decisions. Nobody is perfect, we all make mistakes, but we all have the capacity to correct ourselves,” Saenz said.
Andrea De La Garza, Project Director for the Workforce Solutions for South Texas, participated during the ceremony on the second day of the event, explaining that every decision a person does, is an opportunity to be better.
“Even if you make a mistake today, it doesn’t mean you’re going to make it tomorrow. The next day you’ll get up and keep going. And that’s the whole point of life,” she said.
De La Garza also thanked the companies and organizations for taking time out of their busy schedule to participate and talk to the students.
Trevino added a thankful note to the Superintendents, teachers, sponsors, and counselors for the support of the event and for understanding the value of the Youth Career Exploration Event.
