Description
Start your career here at the Clayton County Career Fair on Oct. 15, 2025, from 10 A.M. – 2 P.M. at the Virginia Burton Gray Recreation Center. Communications Administrator Valerie Fuller and Human Resources Officer Ryan Shaw share details on 200 job openings, benefits with unbelievable free perks for wellness, discounts, professional development, public service loan forgiveness, tips on how to land your the position and more in this edition of the Clayton connected Podcast.
Transcript
Valerie Fuller (Intro):
You’re tuned in to the Clayton Connected Podcast in Clayton County, where the world lands and opportunities take off.
Valerie:
Welcome to the Clayton connected Podcast. I’m your hostess Valerie Fuller, communications administrator in the Office of Communications in Clayton County, Georgia, where the world lands and opportunities take off. In the studio with me today is Human Resources Officer, Mr. Ryan Shaw. Welcome!
Ryan Shaw:
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
Valerie:
Listen, it’s a privilege to have Ryan, Human Resources Officer in the Clayton connected Podcast studio today. We are excited about our topic today. Today we are talking careers.
Ryan:
Yes.
Valerie:
Not jobs. Careers with Clayton County.
Ryan:
Absolutely.
Valerie:
So, we have an upcoming Clayton County Job Fair on October 15th. Tell us a little bit about that.
Ryan:
Well, the 2025 Clayton County Career Fair will be taking place at the Virginia Burton Gray Recreation Center on October the 15th from the hours of 10 A.M. to 2 P.M. And at this job fair will have various departments ranging from information technology, transportation and development, parks and recreation, representing the departments trying to onboard for over 100, almost 200 positions that are available.
Valerie:
Say that one more time.
Ryan:
Nearly 200 positions that are available.
Valerie:
So if you’re looking for a career, not just a job, but if you’re looking for a career because there is a difference.
Ryan:
Yes.
Valerie:
You’re looking for a career, claytoncountyga.gov is the place you want to go and to click on the employment link.
Ryan:
Yes.
Valerie:
So, we have approximately 200 jobs that are open. As you said, information technology, transportation and development. A lot of people don’t know that parks and recreation is also under the government sector, as well as the Clayton County Public Library System.
Ryan:
Yes.
Valerie:
And as well as our senior centers throughout Clayton County. Right?
Ryan:
Yes. Yes, indeed.
Valerie:
So, at this job fair, what can people expect? Do you have to register for this job fair?
Ryan:
You do not have to register for this job fair. You do not have to even be a resident of Clayton County. We want all individuals looking to set down roots and have a career here with Clayton County Board of Commissioners to come through. Bring your resumes, bring your cover letters, be ready to do interviews. Also, there’s going to be various benefits of coming here. We’ll have different vendors that have different swag items and give you good information. Also, you have the opportunity to actually meet with the departments that you’ve already applied to or that you wish to apply to, to get more information. More detailed information about what to expect when you are selected to be part of the family.
Valerie:
I’m absolutely loving this. I don’t want them to miss this part. You said that not only will you be able to, if you’ve already placed an application with the claytoncountyga.gov website, but if you walk in with your resume, you can have an interview with those departments on the spot?
Ryan:
Yes, several other departments will be conducting in-person interviews in the event that you don’t have a resume or you don’t, haven’t applied. We’ll have computer sites. We’ll have computer stations that sit there where you can actually go and apply right there on site and then go back to the department and let them know that you have applied.
Valerie:
Absolutely. And you are doing something different here in Clayton County that I really have not heard of. And so I want you to share with them what that is. What else about human resources? What is human resources going above and beyond doing when it comes to this job fair? Not just this job fair, but any job at any time that people apply at claytoncountyga.gov.
Ryan:
Yes. Any time you apply for a position with Clayton County Board of Commissioners, we actually encourage you to contact the human resources department to check on the status of your applications. Now, there is a way for you to go online back on the same website for which you’ve applied and check the status.
Valerie:
Right.
Ryan:
But if you don’t see any changes, you can contact human resources. And what we’ll do, we’ll give you an update. And if we need to contact that department in order to obtain an update and then contact you, that’s something that we do now. A lot of human resources departments, you can’t even get in contact with them.
Valerie:
Absolutely not. That’s, that’s I wanted them to not miss that part. Like you’re going above and beyond. You’re at the career fair. If you had, you don’t have to register for the career fair. You can show up on the spot with your resumes and talk to people on the spot about the jobs that are open in their departments. If you’ve applied for a job already, you can show up at the job fair. There may be something else that you’re interested in, and then you can actually contact the human resources department, which is you’re right. That’s something that we typically don’t hear. In fact, you will see you on the job description, when you’re reading online previously and other places that I’ve applied to for jobs that say, ‘please, no phone calls.’
Ryan:
Yes, yes.
Valerie:
But not here. Clayton County wants you to call.
Ryan:
Yes. And I can only imagine how frustrating it is not to get any type of response right. When you’ve applied, you’re looking for a job, you’re truly trying your hardest.
Valerie:
Right.
Ryan:
And nobody’s communicating with you.
Valerie:
Right.
Ryan:
That is not the case here with the Clayton County Board of Commissioners.
Valerie:
Absolutely wonderful. And so, again, you can go to the website, claytoncountyga.gov to apply at the employment link. And then the phone number is….
Ryan:
(770) 473-5801.
Valerie:
Exciting. I’m excited. I feel like I need to go online and apply for another job now, but I’m happy where I’m at. Don’t move me. So, let’s talk about this. So, you’ve gone through this process, you know, but a lot of times people don’t know where to start outside of clicking on the link that says claytoncountyga.gov or any, when you’re when you’re searching for a job in general. But what are some tips, what are some tips that you would offer to a person that’s actually applying for the job to give them a better chance?
Ryan:
Well, to have a better chance. I would always, always advise you to read the job descriptions thoroughly and to tailor your application and resume for that particular position. I’ve seen people apply for engineering jobs but submit a customer service resume and it’ll say with intentions of getting a customer service job. What I would advise you to do is look at that job description. If there’s anything in the job that you will be doing that you have already done, please include that in those essential duties that you detailed in your application.
Valerie:
And that includes volunteer positions too, right?
Ryan:
Yes. And a lot of people negate that, especially some of our younger applicants. They don’t understand that volunteer experience, even your experience at school, because in school you’re probably working with Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Outlook, so on and so forth, Gmail; that is all experience, clerical experience that you can include, transferable skills that you can include in your resume and your job applications will be taken into consideration from our hiring managers when they go to select the best qualified person for the job.
Valerie:
Absolutely. So, you want to include that software that you’ve used at all times. And you mentioned how important it is for people to actually read the job descriptions. So many people look at titles and names, but you need to look at the job description and make sure that, you know, your resume is tailored to that and that you meet some of those qualifications.
Valerie (continued):
They may not meet all of the qualifications, right?
Ryan:
You’re right. And you don’t have to meet all of the qualifications. A lot of times that department might want to find somebody that they can groom for that position. So, read that job description thoroughly. That’s going to help you and complete the application. That’s going to help you in tailoring your application for the specific position. And also let’s go for success. That’s going to help you in preparing for those interview questions.
Valerie:
Right. And we know that there are people out there that are looking for jobs every day. We’re in the middle of a government shutdown currently, right?
Ryan:
Yes.
Valerie:
And then the other thing that I was going to mention, let’s talk about what happens after they make the application now, after they, I’m sorry, after they complete the application, we want you to make sure you’re filling out the forms, online. Very important to fill in those blanks, right?
Ryan:
Yes. Very important. A lot of times when people, they attach a resume in the application or in their previous job experience, they’ll put please see resume.
Valerie:
Right.
Ryan:
Please do not do that with the Clayton County Board of Commissioners because with your application you’re actually going to sign that application. So that serves as somewhat of a contract. That’s what we really look at. So please detail your actual previous work experience in the application and do not put see resume. And I would actually advise that in any job application as well. I know it might seem tempting because you’ve already put in your resume. Why am I going to do it twice?
Valerie:
Right.
Ryan:
There’s a reason behind it.
Valerie:
And you’re actually certified and validating that the information that you have put on the application is correct and true at that time.
Ryan:
That is very true.
Valerie:
And so, once the application process, once you complete the application process online, what happens for the potential hire after the fact?
Ryan:
Well, what happens is this. The departments, they review the applications; they determine whether or not they want to proceed with an interview and then they contact this by changing the status.
Valerie:
Right.
Ryan:
That’s going to trigger an email on our part. From there, we ensure that the application meets the minimum requirements and then we certify that application. They schedule the interview. The applicant comes in for the interview. They, while they’ll knock it out the park, they are selected, and then the paperwork moves to workflow to get them on board in our payroll system, our retirement system, so on and so forth. They come to work, they become a part of Clayton County family, and they take advantage of all of the benefits that are a part of being a part of the Clayton County family.
Valerie:
And we have a lot of little perks that we’re going to tell you about. Two things I do want to reiterate is, that is not automatic. Just because you submit an application and even when you’re potential a new hire, there are still some things that you have to do. You have to do the background check?
Ryan:
Yes, you have to do the background check past that, past the drug screening and…
Valerie:
That’s for all full-time employees.
Ryan:
That’s for all full-time employees. And I do want to add; some positions, especially positions where you are handling finances, there may be a credit report as well that would need to be passed.
Valerie:
So now we want to get to the good stuff.
Ryan:
All right.
Valerie:
So, you’ve completed that application. You’re pending employee. You know, pending the background check, pending the, drug screening as a full-time employee. But we do also have part time positions, too, right?
Ryan:
Yes. Several part-time positions in our department such as our IT department, parks and recreation, senior services and a host of other departments that have part time positions that are available. And there are some benefits available with being a part-time employee as well that we can also discuss but just being part of this Clayton County network, it’s outstanding network, it’s a growing network because the county is growing.
Valerie:
It really is. It really is. I’ve been here since 2018 overseeing the Office of Communications and Print Services. And, I’ve reaped some of the benefits of the perks that being a Clayton County employee has brought. So, let’s talk about those things. What are some of the incentives? What are some of the reasons why, why Clayton County? Why should people come and work in Clayton County?
Ryan:
Well, we want people to come down to put here, put down roots here at Clayton County because of various benefits, such as one of our greatest selling points is that by retiring here from Clayton County, you get a pension for the rest of your life.
Valerie:
Say that one more time, real slow for me.
Ryan:
You get a pension for the rest of your life. Now, I have been told that that’s like a dinosaur. A lot of companies do not offer that.
Valerie:
That’s true.
Ryan:
Clayton County Board of Commissioners does. Now, with this pension, the employee contributes 7.5%. But the county, more than matches that, are contributing over 20% into the pension. So, when you become vested and you retire, you get that benefit coming to you along with any other supplemental income that you have for retirement for the rest of your life.
Valerie:
And it’s really important to note, too, there’s a certain time that you have to be vested, right?
Ryan:
True. And it’s true. In order to become vested, it is ten years. Once you become vested you can take advantage of our retirement system, but in the event that you do not even work those ten years and you leave, that pension money that you contribute, it doesn’t just go away.
Valerie:
Right.
Ryan:
That is money that you can roll into another company if that company allows it. You can roll it to an IRA, or you can just get a check and you can invest it as you will. So that pension plan kind of serves as like a, a banking account of sorts. But if you stay here and you’re vested and you retire, I want to say this again; you get a pension for the rest of your life.
Valerie:
The rest of your life. And how many people are really disciplined enough to save 7.5% on their own, or more of their income?
Ryan:
That’s a very good question. It’s a very good question. We’re here at Clayton County; we assist you in that.
Valerie:
Yeah. And so, there is also access to what we call our 457 deferred compensation plan.
Ryan:
Yes, there is some you may have heard of a 401K, which is a private industry equivalent to the 457 deferred. Where the 457 deferred, our employees are able to invest money. They’re able to invest money, as little as $10 per pay period and it goes up into the thousands where you can max out. Now, I have heard of people retiring from other companies that have a 457 deferred and came here. One person actually stood up and said that he had over $350,000 worth of investments in his 457 deferred. Now, I know people think that they might want to come to a job and work 30 years, retire and everything’s going to be okay. But I think we’ve all heard of inflation.
Valerie:
Yes.
Ryan:
So, if you can save up and stack up various revenue sources here at Clayton County, we offer another thing; that 457 deferred plan that can assist our Clayton County employees and living a, not just a sustainable life, not just surviving, but thriving in their retirement.
Valerie:
That’s right. And these things are pretax.
Ryan:
Pretax. Absolutely.
Valerie:
That’s really important to note. There’s also some discounts.
Ryan:
Yes.
Valerie:
Tell us about these fabulous discounts; I take advantage of them too so I’m proud to say they are, these are all true. They’re real and they’re great.
Ryan:
Very good. I mean working here at Clayton County, we have a discount program to another company called ticketsatwork.com. And I can attest to various discounts there. I went to the movies and I got a little curious. So, I went out to the to the movie website, and I saw what they were going to charge me in movie tickets. They were going to charge me $19.99 for one movie ticket.
Valerie:
One movie ticket?
Ryan:
For one movie ticket.
Valerie:
I remember when I used to be able to go for $2. That was probably 30 years ago.
Ryan:
I remember those dollar movies, but now I’m aging myself. But I went to ticketsatwork.com and I said, let me just see what I can get. Those same tickets that the movie theater was going to charge me $19.99, I could get for $9.99 through ticketsatwork.com. I went on vacation.
Valerie:
That’s less than half.
Ryan:
Yes.
Valerie:
Okay.
Ryan:
Yes, I went on vacation. Really, my honeymoon. Went on my honeymoon. We rented a car. We wanted to take a road trip. I went to, well I won’t give the name of the rental company. I went to a rental company, and I saw that they were going to charge me $367 for the rental car that I was going to get for the time.
Valerie:
Almost $400.
Ryan:
Almost. Now, I said, you know what? There’s this thing called ticketsatwork.com that I have access to. I went to ticketsatwork.com and I looked for the same vehicle, for the same length of time, they would charge me $200. So that’s save me over $160-some-odd dollars.
Valerie:
You’re about to make me log on and rent a car right now, just for general purposes.
Ryan:
And that’s just a few. That’s just a few.
Valerie:
Yes.
Ryan:
Theaters, Whitewater, Six Flags, if you’re going anywhere, tickets, hotel rooms, a variety of things. Huge discounts.
Valerie:
Huge discounts.
Ryan:
Longhorn. I am a Longhorn fanatic.
Valerie:
Love Longhorn.
Ryan:
I have gotten $60 worth of gift cards for $45.
Valerie:
Wow.
Ryan:
So, it’s worth it.
Valerie:
It’s worth it.
Ryan:
It’s worth it.
Valerie:
But, Ryan, that’s not all.
Ryan:
No, it’s not.
Valerie:
We’re not done yet. We are not done yet. Tell them about the senior centers.
Ryan:
Oh, the senior centers. When you become an employee here at the Clayton County Board of Commissioners, we feed you and we feed you well, and we feed you well at a low cost. Now, if you’ve been to a restaurant, you know that you’re going to pay at least $14, $15 for a plate.
Valerie:
At least.
Ryan:
At least. Here at Clayton County, you can get a meal; your meat, two vegetables, piece of bread and a drink for less than $6. Less than $6, just bring your Clayton County I.D. We have two senior centers, one in Riverdale and one in Jonesboro; J.C. Griswell. All you gotta do is go there during lunchtime, show your Clayton County ID, and you can pick from their listing. And the menu changes daily. The menu changes daily. But the food? Delicious, chefs kiss.
Valerie:
And you’re full. You got a lunch for $6 or less. I don’t know anybody that’s doing that, you can’t drive through; I’m not going to call any restaurant names again, but you can’t drive through a drive through now.
Ryan:
Right.
Valerie:
But this is a meal. You’re talking salads. You’re talking a protein. You’re talking vegetables, you know, and a piece of bread if you want the bread, you know, that’s fine. And a drink.
Ryan:
Yes. And not only that, but I recently found out that you could get two plates at that same price. So, if you want to get your lunch now and again, another plate that you’re going to take back to work, put in the refrigerator and take home with you later.
Valerie:
Yeah.
Ryan:
That’s two meals for less than $11.
Valerie:
Frank Bailey Senior Center and the Griswell Senior Center. I tried both and they were delicious. And the service is even better.
Ryan:
Phenomenal.
Valerie:
Phenomenal.
Ryan:
Yes, ma’am.
Valerie:
But we’re not done yet.
Ryan:
We are not.
Valerie:
We have another program with our parks and recreation centers, right?
Ryan:
Yes, we do. We promote wellness here at the Clayton County Board of Commissioners.
Valerie:
Absolutely.
Ryan:
Wellness of all facets. But in regards to our parks and recreation center, all Clayton County employees can use the Clayton County recreational centers.
Valerie:
Yes.
Ryan:
For the low cost of free 99.
Valerie:
Free 99.
Ryan:
Bring your badge in; you can lift, run, do whatever pulling exercises that you want all for free. Now, if you want to go to the 24 hour workout facilities and various other locations and pay, it’s your prerogative. But the way I see it is if you can go to all of these facilities and they’re located all around the county.
Valerie:
All around the county
Ryan:
For free, right after work, maybe right before work, depending on when your shift is. Why not? And we have great facilities here at Clayton County.
Valerie:
Listen, I want to say, if you haven’t applied at claytoncountyga.gov right now, I want to know why. I really want to know why because we’re not done yet.
Ryan:
No.
Valerie:
There is more.
Ryan:
Yes.
Valerie:
Tell them about the opportunities for professional development.
Ryan:
Yes. So, we have a professional development program; we have an employee level, we have a managerial basic and a managerial professional. Now if you complete the curriculum, regardless of what level, you will be recognized at our civil service meetings with a certificate to have your picture taken. Not only that, but I’ve heard that a lot of the heads of our departments take that into consideration when it comes time for promotion. I mean…
Valerie:
Absolutely!
Ryan:
…. if you’re going to hire a manager, it might be a good idea to hire somebody who knows how to manage within the parameters of the rules, regulations and the laws.
Valerie:
That’s right.
Ryan:
And you learn all of this within our professional development program, information that you can use to elevate here at Clayton County. Or, lets be honest, you may choose to take your talents elsewhere.
Valerie:
Right.
Ryan:
This information applies regardless of whatever working environment that you’re in, and you get to network as well. You get to network for people from various departments. Everybody comes to the professional development program, whether it be building and maintenance, transportation and development, parks and rec, IT; you get to know who your coworkers are.
Valerie:
Right. But we just know they’re going to apply and they’re going to stay once they get that job at Clayton County….
Ryan:
Absolutely.
Valerie:
…Because we are a Clayton connected family and we absolutely, I can attest to that is one of the, one of the places I’ve worked since 2018 where I’ve had some of the best department heads, some of the best staff to work with. And I’ve never picked up the phone and not been able to get assistance or someone willing to help me. So that goes a long way, too.
Ryan:
Yes.
Valerie:
But we’re not done yet.
Ryan:
Oh, no.
Valerie:
Public Service Loan Forgiveness.
Ryan:
Yes. Oh, Miss Fuller.
Valerie:
Yes.
Ryan:
The Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program for public servants, and if you work for Clayton County Board of Commissioners, you are a public servant, civil servant. And if you have any student loans and you’re paying on those loans while you’re employed here for ten years, whatever is left on that loan will be forgiven. And I am somebody who has taken full advantage of that. Now, I’ve been employed here since 2011, so I’m going on 14 years in December.
Valerie:
Yes.
Ryan:
I started paying off my loans and last year I got that notice.
Valerie:
You got that, Ryan?
Ryan:
Oh, over $40,000 worth of student debt accumulated over my bachelor’s and my master’s degree. Gone!
Valerie:
Yes.
Ryan:
Gone! Lifted! It was like a weight that was lifted off my shoulders. And those ten years went by very quickly.
Valerie:
They went by very quickly. And there are some things that you have to do to be eligible for that, of course. And that applies to each individual person is different depending on your loans and your status and how you got those loans. But, for the work, I too have benefited. I filed my PSLF, my Public Service Loan Forgiveness and I can’t remember the year, but it’s been within the last few years because I had two masters and a bachelors, and I had worked between Clayton County government, Clayton County Public Schools as well as the Muskogee County School District. I’ve worked in the City of Atlanta, so I had a number of years. It doesn’t matter where you do the public service, all of those years combined can add up to those ten years. And so that’s really important for people to know that if you’re working for a public entity in public service, there is a list for eligibility and the jobs and the positions or whatnot. But all of those agencies that I work for qualified.
Ryan:
Absolutely.
Valerie:
And guess what? $55,000, gone.
Ryan:
Outstanding.
Valerie:
Now, I did my part in paying and returning the favor that was granted to me to help me get through college but it’s real. When I got that letter, I was here at Clayton County at the time and I tell you, I took a picture of it. I may even frame it, Ryan, but it’s real. I just want people to know that it is real and you’re right. It’s like a weight that’s just lifted. You feel like you know your time. My uncle, you always tell your time is worth something.
Ryan:
Oh yes.
Valerie:
And so, it’s no greater pleasure for me than to do something in public service. You know, for community, for families, for children; always looking to help and so that’s where my passion lies. And so as a benefit, Public Service Loan Forgiveness is a real thing.
Ryan:
Yes.
Valerie:
Okay. So, you also have access to what you mentioned as professionalism or professional development and IT training as an addition.
Ryan:
Yes. Our IT Department has a very robust training schedule where you can learn things from Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Word, Adobe, Chat GPT, Canva; things that you can use within your careers, things you can actually use in your private life as well. Personally, when I go out and I talk to young people, I talk about jobs, but I also speak about entrepreneurship as well.
Valerie:
Absolutely.
Ryan:
Entrepreneurship. So, these things that we’re doing, whether it be in your job, whether it be through these classes, you can take those and you can start something on your own as well. We’re all about growth here at the Clayton County Board of Commissioners.
Valerie:
Absolutely. So, if you’re looking or have an interest in public safety, whether it be for the police department, the fire department, the sheriff’s department, our information technology, transportation and development, human resources, even communications, you know? Parks and recreation, senior services, tax commissioners….
Ryan:
Yes.
Valerie:
… the Solicitor’s office, the DA’s office. Now, these are our courts….
Ryan:
Yes.
Valerie:
… system as well as building and maintenance. I mean, we could go on and on.
Ryan:
Yes.
Valerie:
Claytoncountyga.gov.
Ryan:
Yes. Yes.
Valerie:
Follow up. Attend the job fair. When?
Ryan:
October the 15th, 2025 at the Virginia Burton Recreation Center in Riverdale, Georgia, 10 A.M. to 2 P.M. Bring your resumes, bring any cover letters, and there’s something we’re going to do special for the attendees that actually come in with their resumes or at least give us their name.
Valerie:
Okay.
Ryan:
And that thing is this. Now, when I was out of work, I would go to job fairs and they would tell me, just go home and apply. ‘Apply online,’ they would tell me.
Valerie:
Yes.
Ryan:
And I was frustrated because I would travel from Jonesboro to Gwinnett County, Cobb County, and I said to myself, you know, I could have just stayed home and applied. But that’s not how the Clayton County Board of Commissioners Human Resources department does. When you come to this job fair or any job fair sponsored by Clayton County Board of Commissioners, and you bring a resume, you will be contacted. What’s going to happen is we’re going to collect all those resumes. We’re going to review the resumes.
Valerie:
Yes.
Ryan:
We’re going to send you an email with the list of prospective jobs that you may be interested in, based on the information that you have on your resume there. You don’t have to limit yourself to those. These are just some ideas as well as best practices on applying for jobs. And also, you have an actual contact number or somebody to call. Not only that, but Ms. Fuller, we’re not going to stop there, citizens we’re not going to stop there. When you apply and you contact us and let us know we have applied…
Valerie:
Yes.
Ryan:
… what we’re going to do, we’re going to contact up to five different hiring managers depending on how many different departments you’ve actually applied to and let them know that you have applied for these positions. We get about maybe 1100 to 1200 applications a month. So, what that’s going to do is put eyes directly on your application to help give you a leg up on the competition. But we need you to come through October the 15th, 10 A.M. to 2 P.M. at the Virginia Burton Grey Recreation Center in Riverdale, Georgia. I’ll be there. A host of other of our other departments will be there, and we hope that you’ll be there.
Valerie:
Human Resources Officer Ryan Shaw, everybody! Thank you so, so, so much again for coming.
Ryan:
Glad to be here.
Valerie:
We do appreciate you. We’ve given everybody a wealth of information about what to expect. So claytoncountyga.gov is where you want to apply. And we look forward to seeing you at the October 15th job fair and online when you apply. Thank you very much.
Ryan:
Thank you.
Valerie:
I’m your hostess Valerie Fuller. Thank you for listening to the Clayton connected Podcast in Clayton County, Georgia, where the world lands and opportunities take off!