JOB seekers flocked to the Portland Aluminium smelter on Wednesday for Alcoa’s Career Open Day.

The doors opened from 9am and saw a steady stream of job seekers from a wide demographic go through.

“We've had enormous interest,” Portland Aluminium smelter plant manager Britt Butler said.

“We advertised locally, and people have turned up in droves, all interested in taking a role with us.

“We've had a number of people that might have been in the community for a couple of years and are looking for a change.

“We've also seen some people that have got specialist skills that are with other employers and just looking at what's out here.”

Ms Butler said the smelter has a number of job opportunities available.

“We're always looking for operators, and we're in a ramp up phase next year,” she said.

“So, for 2025 we are looking for extra people in operator roles. We've also got roles for engineers and leaders, and we're looking for specialist skills like nurses and emergency response people as well as safety professionals.

“There is quite a list.”

Ms Butler said the smelter was like no other business she has worked in.

“We really do care for people in a way that's different to any other business I've worked for, and we pride ourselves on being able to do that,” Ms Butler said.

Portland resident Stephanie Turri was at the Wednesday event and said she was looking for something different in her career.

“I tried working in an office, and I liked it, but it just wasn't for me,” she said.

“I've done quite a bit of travelling and I am looking to come back and just try something different.”

Ms Turri said she is interested in getting a job as an operator.

“I just want to do something different and work with my hands,” she said.

Process information technology lead Craig Potter has worked at the Portland facility in 2006.

He was on hand to talk to the job seekers and said there were a lot of benefits for working at the smelter.

“They do have an interest in our personal welfare, both industrially and beyond the workplace as well,” he said.

“Pay is pretty good and you'll certainly be considered for promotions and so on.

“Alcoa's a worldwide company. You've got opportunities to move to other places in the Alcoa network as well if you wish to do so.”