Belmont – As a Children’s Services Social Worker for San Mateo County, Marjan Moshiri is used to long days, urgent calls and hard talks. What she isn’t used to is thank you notes.
One arrived not long after she closed a case involving a family in crisis. Nearly all of her cases involve families in crisis.
“I opened it, and it was a letter from a parent just kind of thanking me and saying it was a wake-up for them,” she said. “I teared up a little bit. We don’t get letters. And so I was like, ‘I did make a difference.’”
Moshiri, is one of the frontline workers the County hopes to recruit more of at its 2025 Summer Public Service Career Fair on Friday, Sept. 12, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 500 County Center in Redwood City.
The fair will feature County departments as well as other local public agencies with openings in health care, social work, law enforcement, skilled trades and other career paths. Opportunities spotlight the range of services and opportunities the County offers: Clinical Laboratory Scientist, Deputy Sheriff Trainee, Children's Services Social Worker, Stationary Engineer and many more.
“The County is excited to host this event to introduce job seekers to careers in public service,” said Rocio Kiryczun, Director of Human Resources. “We will showcase opportunities that are essential to making a meaningful impact on the people we serve. We invite all who are interested in exploring how they can build a career with purpose while serving the community to join us on September 12.”
Attendance is free, with complimentary parking on the 3rd and 5th floors of the public parking garage at 400 Middlefield Road, Redwood City.
Job seekers can register online in advance, explore the full list of employers, and bring their resumes to speak directly with recruiters.
County of San Mateo departments hiring include the Human Services Agency, Public Works, Health, Libraries, Probation, Public Safety Communications (911 operators), Information Services and more.
County employment offers competitive pay, excellent health and retirement benefits and the opportunity to serve a diverse community close to home.
Moshiri grew up in San Carlos and graduated from Carlmont High School. She was considering following her passion for music into a career when a talk with one of her high school teachers convinced her she has a gift for helping others. She attended Chapman University and earned a master’s degree in social work from Cal State Fullerton.
On this day, she’s wearing her CSUF sweatshirt as she’s answering calls on a hotline on the second floor of the Human Services Agency’s office in Belmont. Other days she’s a first responder – heading out to a home, a school, an emergency room to help meet the immediate and long-term needs of a child and family in crisis.
It’s stressful, unpredictable work. She loves it.
“It’s hard, I’m not going to lie to you. Ask anyone. It’s hard,” she said. “But it’s those moments like that letter, or when a child feels safe enough to share with you, that’s when you realize the work matters.”
She also credits her colleagues with helping her manage the demands of the job.
Her advice to others considering the field is direct:
“You should do it if you’re passionate about it, if you want to help, if you want to be able to provide resources and connections for families,” she said. “I think it’s a great way to do that, and it’s very fulfilling work.”
The Career Fair offers a chance for job seekers to follow a similar path — stepping into roles where every day brings challenges, but also the opportunity to make a real difference. For the County of San Mateo, it’s about finding people ready to serve the community with the same dedication Moshiri brings to hers.
Effie Milionis Verducci
Interim Director of Strategic Communications
650-407-4915
everducci@smcgov.org