Westside Story Newspaper – Online The News of The Empire – Sharing the Quest for Excellence
If you or someone you know is looking for a full-time job, FEMA is looking to hire across a wide range of specialties.
FEMA wants to hire local talent to fill a number of positions to continue the work begun after the October wildfires. Temporary full-time positions include logistics, administrative support, applicant services specialists and voluntary agency liaisons.
Several disaster reservists currently working the California disaster began their FEMA careers as local hires. Robert Hoffman joined the agency as a local hire after a hurricane hit in his home state several years ago.
“I was retired from a 40-year career in journalism, but I wanted to keep busy,” Hoffman said. “So I signed up for temporary work as a writer.” After three months, he joined FEMA on a permanent basis.
Disaster also brought Tanishia Masga to FEMA after a typhoon struck her native Saipan, in the Northern Marianna Islands. Masga, who was working at the time in Washington State, returned to Saipan and joined FEMA as a local hire in September 2015. The following year she was hired as a reservist in logistics. Like Hoffman, Masga likes traveling around, meeting new people and helping survivors.
“The satisfaction derived from helping people out when fate deals them a lousy hand is a precious reward,” Hoffman said.
Applicants must be U.S. citizens, 18 years of age or older, with a high school diploma or GED. Individuals will be required to pass a background investigation that includes fingerprinting and a credit check, have their own transportation to and from work and live within 50 miles of the employing office.
Go to the CalJOBS website at www.Caljobs.ca.gov/vosnet/Default.aspx and search FEMA to see postings and job descriptions, and securely apply online.
For more information on California recovery, visit the disaster web page at www.fema.gov/disaster/4344, Twitter at www.twitter.com/femaregion9 and WildfireRecovery.org.
