Tinker Air Force Base will fill 255 engineering positions, 740 maintenance positions and 152 police officer positions over the next two years, according to Tinker’s Hiring Forecast.

There also will be an increased demand for medical professionals due to the new hospital located on base that is set to open this month.

David Traynor, of the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center, addressed about 100 students on the subject of job opportunities at Tinker during a workshop on campus hosted by Student Employment and Career Services Oct. 27.

Traynor told students about the high demand occupations on the base that are available for civilians. He also presented Tinker’s Hiring Forecast for the 2011 and 2012 fiscal years.

Tinker offers several opportunities for students to intern or work part time while attending college classes, Traynor said. These opportunities are perfect for students because Tinker will work around class schedules while giving the student a chance to gain experience within a particular field.

The most valuable position for a student to acquire would be in the Student Career Experience Program, Traynor said. This program places students in positions within their degree field.

This means the student would be allowed to attend college classes while gaining experience within their own specific area of study.

Traynor said the best way to stand out from other applicants for jobs or internships is to “pull classes that are related to the field and put them on your résumé.” He said this shows some knowledge in the field even though a person may lack experience in that field.

Over the next two fiscal years, which run from July 1 to June 30, Tinker plans to hire 76 Office Automation Clerks. These positions are like that of a typical office assistant and are usually filled by college students who work on a part time basis, Traynor said. This is the starting point for many Tinker employees because they usually promote from within the organization.

Many of the other high-demand occupations Traynor presented were careers students could consider after graduation with having perhaps six months to a year of experience.

Tinker Air Force Base is the “largest employer in Oklahoma with approximately 27,000 jobs,” said Debra Vaughn, Student Employment and Career Services director.

For more information about internship opportunities, contact Traynor at david.traynor@tinker.af.mil