TAMPA, Fla. — Since COVID-19 shuttered cities and towns across America, more than 20 million people have filed for unemployment. But, there are essential jobs that have become “pandemic” proof.
The most apparent essential positions that come to mind are for first responders, law enforcement and health care.
Since the crisis started, the City of Tampa continued to hire and still has openings in crucial departments across the city. One of the most essential we all might take for granted, water.
While people were buying up cases of bottled water, the city was urging citizens not to worry. The virus has no impact on Tampa’s water supply.
“The city has been great, and I still think we are one of the departments that are still able to hire in our field as well,” Yolanda Davis said, City of Tampa Water Distribution Scheduler planner. “We have not shut down anything as far as the water department goes. We are still working and serving the people.”
Davis said she’s worked for the city for 15 years. She started her career as a field tech and worked her way up.
“The opportunity came for me to move inside the office, I applied the opportunity was offered to me, I took it and here I am,” Davis said. I would say go to the city of Tampa’s website.”
Staff at the water department continue to check and replace meters, work on projects to upgrade the system and are responding to emergency calls during water main breaks.
“It’s a little bit hectic, but we gotta do what we gotta do to make it happen,” Davis said, about transitioning to a work from home schedule.
But, for Davis, the challenge was worth it to spend time with her 11-year-old son.
“Being at home, its given me more time with Cleveland,” Davis said. “So, I am able to figure out, 'OK I can do this, it’s not as complicated as I thought it was going to be.' So, changing from coming back into the workplace and going home, it kind of gives me the momentum to change the way I operate.”
The Water Department currently has 289 employees. The city tells us they are in the process of hiring 50 people this year and anticipate hiring an additional seven people in the next fiscal year.
To search for jobs on the city’s website, click here.
