| Hiring
in Full Swing for VW |
By Rebecca Plevin
Observer Staff Writer |
| A sign reading "Willkommen to the Career Fair" greeted about
1,500 people at Volkswagen Group of America's career fair
at the Westin Tyson's Corner on March 6. The event was part
of the company's efforts to recruit about 240 new employees
for its corporate headquarters, which is slated to open in
Herndon this spring. |
| Job candidates clutched resumes as they stood in long lines
that snaked around the hotel ballroom. They waited for the
opportunity to speak with company representatives about positions
such as Product and Motorsports Specialist for Audi, Fleet
Manager for Volkswagen, E-Commerce Specialist for VW Credit
Inc., and Marketing and Strategy Controller for Volkswagen
Group of America. |
| Many of the career fair attendees said they were attracted
to the company's reputation. Andrea Edens, who said she was
interested in a marketing position with Audi or Volkswagen,
said she would "like to be a part of the big move and part
of a great company." |
| Some of the applicants said they are proud owners of Volkswagen
brand cars. Tremayne Winters, who applied online for a shipping
analyst position a few weeks ago, said he bought an Audi about
a year ago and the "customer service was great. I wanted to
become part of the company." |
| Corporate communications director Jill Bratina said Volkswagen
wants to "recruit heavily from Northern Virginia." She said
the company would be looking for candidates who are creative,
innovative and show "enthusiasm for the brand." |
| "Volkswagen is bringing good jobs with competitive benefits
to an area know for its diverse and skilled workforce," Bratina
said in an e-mail from Germany on Wednesday. "We have been
impressed with the quality of resumes and the enthusiasm for
our brands. We look forward to being a member of the community
and to having community members on the Volkswagen Group of
America team." |
| Along with creating new high-paying jobs, Volkswagen's relocation
is expected to enhance the region's reputation as a prime
place for diverse businesses, said Jerry Gordon, president
and CEO of the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority.
|
| Volkswagen is a "company that is very, very prestigious"
and its relocation to the county "speaks volumes to other
headquarter locations and other major corporations," he said. |
| Eileen Curtis, CEO of the Dulles Regional Chamber of Commerce,
also said the company's move reflected well on the area. |
| "We feel honored that out of the fierce competition from
several sites they looked at across the country, they finally
settled on Herndon," she said. She also said Volkswagen's
relocation is a testament to the region's "quality of life,
fine schools, and general sense of being in a thriving business
environment." |
