Boeing Finds Support Connecting with Pierce County Job Seekers

June 26, 2023

As the second largest private employer in Washington state, Boeing is always looking for talented people to bring onto their team.

“We are WorkSource focused, having events across the state,” said Kathleen Baillie, talent acquisition advisor.

In Pierce County, Boeing has been partnering with WorkForce Central and the WorkSource Pierce network to connect with job seekers in multiple ways. They’ve been regularly attending Collaboration for a Cause, an event organized by the Pierce County Community Engagement Task Force, powered by WorkForce Central. In March, Collaboration for a Cause was held in Puyallup and featured a hiring event with Boeing where job seekers were able to work on their resumes and interviewing skills before interviewing with recruiters. At that event, 115 people applied with Boeing, and 53 were interviewed on the spot.

“It was a great event, very well run, and the team was very helpful,” Baillie said. “The team is always very enthusiastic and willing to help. I appreciate everyone and all their hard work.”

Just a couple weeks later, in early April, Boeing held another hiring event, working with the Employment Security Department’s Business Services team at the WorkSource Pierce One-Stop Center in Tacoma. More than 100 people attended that event. Boeing was able to utilize multiple rooms in the One-Stop Center and set up additional space using their mobile office in the parking lot.

“It was a really positive experience,” Baillie said.

As Boeing continues to bring hiring events to Pierce County, Baillie said it is important to help job seekers understand what skills they have and how those skills could be transferrable to a position with the airplane manufacturer.

For example, she said a woman with previous cake decorating experience was hired for a painting position and turned out to be amazing in the role. What recruiters are trying to translate to job seekers is that lived experience is talent, and many activities people may think are hobbies are transferable skills Boeing could use.

WorkForce Central Business Solutions Manager Sam Bradshaw said his team’s focus on assisting Boeing is finding every opportunity for them to get in front of and connect with job seekers in Pierce County. They are also focused on helping prepare job seekers through WorkSource Pierce services prior to hiring events through workshops and programs like Job Club. Boeing is invited to every Collaboration event and is actively working with the WorkSource Pierce network for future events.

Next up for Boeing with WorkForce Central is holding another hiring event in November in coordination with Collaboration for a Cause: Tacoma Dome Edition. This event is slated to be bigger and better than any previous Collaboration for a Cause event. Stay tuned for more information about that event.