EVERETT – People interested in working on the Boeing Co.’s new 7E7 jet can apply online by Wednesday to see if they qualify for an interview at the Aug. 12 company job fair.
“Almost everything we’re looking for is in the engineering category,” said Donna Wildrick, a senior manager of Boeing’s global staffing, adding that other positions include business and finance, science and information technology.
The job fair, for the estimated 3,000 local positions needed for the 7E7 plus Boeing’s other needs, is available to walk-ins, but officials suggested building a profile and resume on the company’s Web site, Boeing.com/careers, before showing up.
“We really encourage people to research the jobs online,” Wildrick said. “We are trying to get a spike in online applications.”
Qualified applicants will be contacted via e-mail to schedule an interview.
Boeing has offered online applications for about three years and has since developed a database to help match a person’s abilities to a job, even if it is unavailable.
“If something isn’t immediately available, (the job) may be in the future,” said Rich Hartnett, global staffing director.
One thing Boeing is looking for in potential employees is people who already have a top-secret clearance from the government.
“With what’s going on in the U.S. right now, it’s getting tough – 24 to 34 months – to get clearance,” Wildrick said, adding that before the Sept. 11 attacks a clearance could be obtained in six to 12 months.
Hartnett and Wildrick said they hope to conduct 1,000 interviews at the job fair, which takes place 1-5 p.m. Aug. 12 at the Hilton Seattle Airport &Conference Center, 17620 Pacific Highway South in Seattle.
About 1.2 million applications were submitted last year to Boeing, and between 600,000 and 700,000 applications have been logged so far this year, Hartnett said.
About 150 hiring managers from Boeing facilities in California, Kansas and Washington will help revue online applications and assist other Boeing employees at the job fair.
The hiring marks an end to 21/2 years of layoffs that stripped jobs from about 28,000 people.
“We’re hoping for a significant spike in applications in the Puget Sound area,” Hartnett said, adding the turnout will be large because “this is the first significant hiring in a couple of years.”
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