Help wanted: 1,000 Amazon warehouse workers

Amazon’s new Pasco warehouse is poised to hire more than 1,000 workers, one month in advance of its projected opening date.

The first round of job listings was scheduled to be posted Friday, June 14, with Tuesday, June 18 set as the first day to process candidates.

The jobs will be posted in groups of approximately 150 to 350 every Friday until all positions are filled.

“In the past decade, we have created more jobs than any other U.S. company in America,” said Derick Logan, Amazon’s U.S. launch leader.

He spoke about the job opportunities and hiring process at a June 10 Launch and Learn event held in collaboration with WorkSource Columbia Basin. 

Wages start at $18.50 an hour, and typical full-time shifts consist of four 10-hour work days with three-day weekends.

The new Amazon facility at 1351 S. Road 40 East – north of Sacajawea State Park – has been in the works for a while. It was developed around 2021 under the code name Project Oyster, along with the facility across the road, Project Pearl. 

The building is more than 1 million square feet in size and saw $10 million in tenant improvements earlier this year. It is expected to open July 17.

Unique hiring process

Amazon’s job applications are unique, and the hiring process doesn’t require interviews, marijuana tests, resumes or GED certificates.

“The goal is to remove barriers,” Logan said.

“We accept candidates just like they are, and then we train them and give them the tools they need to succeed,” he said.

Logan emphasized the advantages of working at Amazon, including day-one benefits such as dental, vision and health; competitive wages; paychecks that can be distributed after any given shift; various shift and employment types; paid family and maternity leave; tuition assistance; and more.

Amazon hires incrementally, meaning not all job openings become available at once. The jobs are typically posted on Friday evenings, as early as 7 p.m. depending on time zones, and may be gone by Monday. Go to: amazon.com/flexiblejobs.

Those looking to apply for jobs at Pasco’s facility are advised to apply only through Amazon’s website and to check for openings on Friday evenings and Saturday mornings.

WorkSource is working with Goodwill Industries of the Columbia and Columbia Basin College to offer extended hours on three Saturday mornings to help job seekers with their applications.

Amazon speakers and community partners attended a Launch and Learn on June 10 to talk about the job opportunities and hiring process.

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Photo by Rachel Visick

Supporting fulfillment centers

The facility in Pasco is an inbound cross dock, also referred to as a receive center. Inbound cross docks support fulfillment centers in the region, an Amazon spokeswoman said.

Fulfillment centers are often called “first mile” facilities, meaning that they are the first step in the delivery process. A “second mile” facility would be a “sortation center,” and third mile is a delivery station.

In those terms, Pasco’s inbound cross dock serves as a “pre-first mile” facility. 

“It’s where all the packages come when they come from the ports … they come to this site, and then when they get to this site, then we move them over to our fulfillment center,” Logan said.

Amazon also is building another building in Pasco – a 90,000-square-foot facility that’s expected to open later this year with more than 150 new full- and part-time jobs.

Workers will prepare customer orders for delivery at facility, which is set for land off North Capitol Avenue. A building permit puts the project value at $11.8 million.

Community access sessions

WorkSource, Goodwill and Columbia Basin College are offering three sessions to provide technology access, digital literacy assistance and information to support those seeking to apply to Amazon’s positions.

Sessions are 8 a.m. to noon on the following Saturdays:

• June 15 at Goodwill, 3521 W. Court St., Suite B, Pasco.
• June 22 at WorkSource, 815 N. Kellogg St., Suite D, Kennewick.
• June 29 at Columbia Basin College, CTE Building, 2600 N. 20th Ave., Pasco.

To apply for a position at Amazon, applicants need a phone that can send and receive text messages, an email they can access, and solid English skills (Level 3-5 according to Amazon).

These organizations are not able to provide translation services, assessment answers or hints on the application process.