Hanford job fair draws 1,600

RICHLAND They came with resumes in their hands and hope in their hearts.

More than 1,600 people stood patiently in line outside the Shilo Inn in Richland for hours Friday to meet employers hiring for Hanford cleanup jobs. And by the end of the day, some had been rewarded with hire offers.

About 300 jobs need to be filled within the next six weeks by CH2M Hill and its subcontractors, said company spokeswoman Dee Millikin. The companies are looking for, among others, health physics technicians, health physicists, engineers, scientists, accountants, office support staff, computer systems analysts, managers, schedulers, insulators and pipefitters.

The crowd that snaked out in a long line across the Shilo's parking lot Friday included job seekers from near and far because the positions had been advertised throughout the Northwest.

The job fair runs again today at the Shilo Inn from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Job fair participants should bring their rsums and be prepared to talk to managers.

Some had somber looks, a few smiled and chit-chatted with others, but none of the job seekers looked too nervous as they got ready to put their best foot forward. Most of the jobs offer interesting work with good pay and benefits, and are generally considered long-term positions, the company said.

"I expected a crowd, but not like this," said Lee Somnuk, who was laid off in February from Micron Technology in Boise after 19 years working there.

Somnuk, 42, said he moved to the Tri-Cities about three weeks ago because it's where the jobs are. He also has family in the area.

Somnuk said he's counting on his people skills and his abilities to multitask and learn quickly to land a job in fabrication.

"Luck is important too because good-paying jobs are hard to come by," he said.

Derek Nagle, who came from Hermiston, was in good spirits as he braved the morning chill.

"A lot of people here don't look unemployed," he said out aloud while bantering with others in the line that inched forward slowly. "It's not like I've got something else to do," said the recent Oregon State University graduate with a degree in construction sciences.

Nagle, 23, said he was let go from his construction job in Portland recently, just two months after being hired.

Steve Newton, 47, came from Bend, Ore., to look for better opportunities at Hanford. "Anything in construction, be it welding or piping," said Newton who works for Max Manufacturing.

"I'm just trying to get ahead to stay alive," said Newton, who also was surprised by the turnout at the job fair. "I've never been to one so I didn't know what to expect."

Cavanagh Services Group, a Hanford subcontractor at the job fair, will hire 15 to 20 employees, said Susan Rice, president of the Salt Lake City-based company which provides integrated management and transportation services for environmental restoration. Some will be entry level jobs, but the company will train, she said.

Rice said many of the applicants weren't just looking for a job, they're also seeking a career change. That reflects well on the quality of people who showed up at the fair, she said.

Jobs aren't always about money, said Luning Wang, who has a master's degree in computer science from Washington State University. She said she is interested in environmental cleanup because of her background in environmental sciences. That would be a perfect match, said Wang, 36, of Richland.

David Muller, 50, said he quit his job in Texas to return to the Tri-Cities where he grew up. He said he's optimistic he will find something, thanks to his 20 years of project management experience at an office furniture and office relocation company.

"I managed over 200 people and handled projects throughout the nation," Muller said.

Gentle persuasion from friends about using her talents in product design and project management brought Deborah Wilson to the job fair. The self-employed Pasco resident said she trusts in her intelligence, education and experience to help her get a job.

The thought of failure doesn't bother her, Wilson said. "I don't live in fear of everything."

Hanford jobs now available start at $30,000 to $35,000 a year and go up to more than $100,000 a year, said Harry Lacher, human resources director for CH2M Hill Plateau Remediation Co.

He said the job fair had good turnout, with people coming from Seattle and Spokane. "We are looking for qualified candidates to do the job," he said.

Lacher said there's a possibility more jobs will become available.

The two Hanford Department of Energy offices will receive $1.96 billion from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act over the next three years, with some money expected as soon as this week.

The money will be used to accelerate environmental cleanup of the Hanford nuclear reservation and to create or retain about 4,000 jobs.

Hiring at the job fair is contingent upon the availability of funding.

"The Department of Energy money is yet to hit the bank," said Phil Gallagher, vice president of Babcock Services, which provides scheduling, estimating, project management and IT support at Hanford.

But the companies looking for workers know they need to be ready when money arrives and are moving quickly.

Gallagher's company rented a room at the Shilo Inn to conduct final interviews, and even did background checks before making conditional job offers.

Babcock Services made about a dozen offers before noon Friday, Gallagher said. "We are looking at people to have them on the job in mid-April," he said.

One of those who got a job with Babcock Services on Friday was Trish Fitzgerald of West Richland. "I think I came prepared," she said.

For more information, go to www.plateauremediation.com.