TSA job fair draws sizeable crowd to Hyatt

Some 80 individuals attended the Transportation Security Administration job fair Thursday to know more about airport screening work and apply to become a federal screener.

The two-day job fair, which kicked off at the Hyatt Regency Saipan Thursday, provided interested people the opportunity to get more information about TSA and the screening job, including the application process and the compensation package.

A TSA recruitment officer gave general information about TSA and the screening position, and entertained questions from participants.

TSA-Saipan director John Peoples said some of the participants had applied online and then came to the job fair to listen to the discussion, while many others decided to fill out the application form after the presentation.

“We’re glad that the job fair got a lot of interest from the community,” Peoples said.

Most of the questions raised by participants concerned the testing process and TSA’s employment benefits. “They also wanted to know how soon they can get hired,” Peoples noted.

Ann Marie Delemel of Chalan Kanoa, one of the applicants, said she found the TSA screening job interesting because it would allow her to meet a lot of people.

She said she was also impressed with the compensation package offered by TSA. “The minimum starting salary is $11.30, which is so much more than the [$3.05] minimum wage. Having a part-time job at TSA is like having a full-time job in a regular company [in the CNMI],” Delemel said. “I think it’s worth giving a try.”

As of last week, TSA had 48 airport screeners. This number is way below the 80-member workforce that is ideal for running the baggage screening and passenger checkpoint at the Saipan International Airport, according to TSA customer support and quality improvement manager Viola Sablan.

TSA will be hiring part-time screeners to augment its existing personnel. Part-time inspectors work between 20 and 32 hours a week.

Interested individuals may apply online at http://tsacareers.recruitsoft.com, or by calling 1-800-887-1895.

A group of recruiters will arrive on island in October to conduct tests for applicants. The next step in the testing process includes an oral interview, medical and drug examination, and the physical agility test. Applicants will also be subject to a background check.

To qualify, one must be a U.S. citizen or U.S. national; have a high school diploma, GED or its equivalent, or at least one year of full-time work experience in security work, aviation screener work, or x-ray technician work, and English proficiency.