Hilmar Cheese holding Turlock hiring event Tuesday

A big crowd of hopeful job seekers is expected Tuesday at Hilmar Cheese Co.’s hiring event in Turlock for production employees.

Full-time job offers are expected to be made on the spot to top applicants for current openings in Hilmar and future jobs at the company’s dry milk powder plant, which is being built in west Turlock. That plant is under construction and expected to open in about one year.

The cheesemaker has more than 860 employees now at its Hilmar location. It hasn’t announced how many people it expects to employ at the powdered milk plant, and it won’t say how many people it plans to hire Tuesday.

But the company is gearing up to process hundreds of applicants at Tuesday’s event.

“We’re going to try to make contact with every person who is there,” company spokeswoman Denise Skidmore said.

Unlike most job fairs, where job seekers often do little more than turn in résumés, this event will put prospective workers through assorted tests and interviews.

Because of that, candidates need to arrive prepared for a four-hour process.

There will be screening sessions starting at 1, 4 and 6:30 p.m. at the War Memorial Building, 247 E. Canal Drive, Turlock.

There are openings for entry-level production jobs and supervisor posts. Hourly employee wages start at $14.25 per hour, and supervisor pay varies with experience. Benefits include comprehensive health and retirement savings programs.

Employees must have the ability to work 12-hour rotating shifts, including nights, weekends and holidays.

Job duties will include operating production equipment, monitoring controls, and maintaining food safety and quality standards.

To participate, each job seeker must take a completed application with them, along with their driver’s license or other valid identification and their Social Security number.

All applicants must have the legal right to work in the United States, a high school diploma or equivalent, and at least one year of work experience.

Written job skill tests – covering math, reading and logic – will be administered in English to all qualified candidates. Those who score well on those tests will have to go through interviews, hair follicle drug screenings, fitness tests and physicals. Contingent offers of employment will be made to some before the end of the event.

For more information and job applications, go to www.hilmarcheese.com.

Another of the region’s big employers, Amazon, also is looking to hire workers, but those jobs are seasonal positions.

Amazon has large fulfillment centers in Patterson and Tracy. Both locations have set up recruiting offices to accept résumés for $14 per hour temporary jobs.

Amazon applications can be filed in person or online.

For seasonal jobs with Amazon in Patterson, go to www.staffmanagement.com/misc/AMAZON/Jobs_inPatterson.html. Or go in person to the SM/SMX Recruiting Office, 255 Park Center Drive, Patterson.

To apply for seasonal jobs with Amazon in Tracy, go to www.staffmanagement.com/misc/AMAZON/Jobs_inTracy.html. Or go in person to the SM/SMX Recruiting Office, 1555 N. Chrisman Road, Tracy.

This story was originally published October 26, 2014 at 6:38 PM with the headline "Hilmar Cheese holding Turlock hiring event Tuesday."