The employment picture for those living in our communities is bright. The three cities and their surrounding areas offer a diverse job market. The many companies at the Hanford Site and the supporting Research and Development companies offer a hub of employment for those living in the Tri-Cities. The surrounding areas are agricultural centers of our state. The wine industry is bustling, and construction of both residential and commercial industries is moving at a rapid pace. Consequently, whether you are looking for a first job as a young adult or hold post-baccalaureate degrees and many years of work experience, the job market will be friendly.
Creating that resume or CV is an important step for everyone. Fortunately, for our youth, the local high schools guide our students through the process of creating their resumes and teach students how to write a letter of interest to prospective employers. Students also have career days in which they participate in mock interviews to learn their strengths and weaknesses while interviewing. As adults who have been in the work field, it is still wise to update your resume and make necessary changes to fit the requirements of the positions for which you may wish to apply.
The on-line job listing and applying websites are helpful, but often lead to hours of working and submitting resumes and letters that do not elicit any response from the employers. This leaves many to wonder if the jobs listed are truly open, especially if an applicant appears to meet all the listed requirements and desires posted. Consequently, many local companies recommend applying on their specific website. For example, if you see a job posted on a recruiting website for employment at Pacific Northwest Laboratories in Richland, it might be best to go directly to their website and make application directly.
The Tri-Cities also has WorkSource, a physical business in Kennewick that can assist in gaining employment. Additionally, the staff at WorkSource are willing a ready to help with resumes and writing effective letters of interest. They are located at 815 N Kellogg St. Suite D. The phone number is 509.734.5900 and you can make an appointment at lavi.com. They are open during normal work hours (8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.) and their services are free. There are also hiring events at the Toyota Center and at WSU Tri-Cities. Call their general office desks and ask when the next hiring event is slated.
If you are ready right now and looking for a professional job in the tech industry, there will be a virtual Tech Career Fair on December 1st that will feature hiring partners looking to fill roles in many areas. Some of the positions for which the companies have a particular interest in hiring are software engineering, data scientist, UI/UX design, marketing, sales, AI/machine learning engineer, and product management. To be included in the limited invitee field, applicants need to upload a resume here. You will be instructed to create a profile. From there, candidates will receive an email that will link you to the hiring companies you have been assigned. These companies are truly seeking quality employees for open positions, so the time spent on seeking a spot in the fair should be valuable.
Finding employment in the Tri-Cities is less difficult and preferable to finding work in other geographical regions in Washington. We are fortunate to have diverse fields of work to suit a wide array of professions.