BREMERTON, Wash. –
More than 2,000 job seekers came to downtown Bremerton, Feb. 23-24, in search of new employment opportunities, during a Puget Sound Naval Shipyard & Intermediate Maintenance Facility Hiring Fair at the Kitsap Conference Center. New opportunities are exactly what they found.
The two-day event resulted in 262 on-the-spot job offers to work at the shipyard.
As with previous PSNS & IMF hiring fairs, the goal was to hire more skilled trade positions for the command’s production shops. However, all shops were accepting résumés from candidates with a variety of skillsets and experience levels, including those with no previous experience at all.
“We're looking for people who want to come to work and learn” said Jeff Wood, hiring manager, Shop 71, Painters. “Experience is nice and always welcome, but we're looking for anyone who wants a career here and is willing to put in the work.”
Wood was one of several shipyard employees who manned the 42 booths from the various shops offering positions. Each booth provided applicants with details about job openings, career advice and an opportunity to submit résumés for future positions.
Mason McNeal, a resident of Port Orchard, was one of the applicants looking for work on the first day of the event. McNeal, who had previously been working construction jobs in Kitsap County, said he hopes the event leads to him following the footsteps of his grandfather who was an electrician at PSNS & IMF.
“My grandfather used to tell me stories about working here,” he said. “His job set him up for life and I’m hoping the same thing happens for me. Growing up here, I know a lot of people who work at the shipyard. I hope I can get hired today.”
In addition to booths offering jobs, there were booths manned with representatives from Employee Resources Groups, Command University and the PSNS & IMF Career Counseling Center, to highlight some of the unique services and benefits provided to employees working on PSNS & IMF.
According to Wood, applicants should be prepared for the length of the background check before they start.
“A lot of times people give up when they don’t hear back from us in a month, but background checks can take time,” he explained. “My advice to anyone receiving a job offer is to stay in contact with the hiring manager. On every offer sheet their name and phone number are there. Call them when you have questions or need help. That is what we are here for.
The hiring fair was one of many PSNS & IMF projects to have in 2024 to attract more workers to the shipyard. If you or someone you know is interested in a career with PSNS & IMF, you can email a résumé to DHAproductionjob.fct@navy.mil or check USAJobs.gov (search PSNS).