Helping a paratransit service find skilled drivers to expand routes — in the midst of a statewide shutdown.
“Job openings are unpredictable, so having additional resources available during peak times has made all the difference. Carolyn and her team at Roccam develop the strategy and sourcing and manage all recruitment activities. This has been extremely helpful, because we are a small HR department who can get easily overwhelmed by sudden hiring surges. She’s proactive, always staying ahead of me on action items and keeping the recruitment timeline on track. And she is always trying new approaches — her knowledge of the latest recruiting tools and methods is very helpful. Finally, she builds strong rapport with candidates, which makes the recruitment process more effective and reflects positively on the organization.”
— Ashley Baker | HR Director, Whistlestop
Whistlestop’s mission is to promote independence and quality of life for older adults and people with disabilities living in Marin County, California.
The organization provides a comprehensive range of active aging services, from affordable meals to educational classes and social gatherings. It also operates a paratransit program that transports people all over the county.
When the pandemic put a temporary halt to many of Whistlestop’s on-site services, the organization quickly retooled, delivering meals to clients and creating a program for high school students to make regular phone calls to isolated elders. One thing the epidemic didn’t halt: the organization’s need to hire new drivers for its paratransit division, considered essential services.
Roccam quickly adjusted, too, reviewing triple the regular number of job applications, conducting phone interviews, communicating with Whistlestop staff through several online channels, and setting up socially distanced one-on-one interviews. Within months, dozens of new drivers attended small-group trainings that incorporated safety precautions, readying for service to rebound to its pre-pandemic levels.