Verizon Wireless Adding 250 Jobs in Puget Sound, Washington This Summer

BELLEVUE, WA — Verizon Wireless is expanding its workforce in the Puget Sound region with 250 new full-time customer service positions to serve its growing number of customers. There are also opportunities in sales.

"Bellevue is a leading world headquarters for the wireless industry, and this news is further indication of that," Bellevue Mayor Grant Degginger said. "We are extremely pleased that Verizon Wireless has chosen to expand its workforce here by adding these new positions. The decision represents a significant investment for our community and, more specifically, for the Eastgate area."

Verizon Wireless already employs more than 1,800 people in Washington State, including 700 plus located at the Bellevue Call Center. The new hires will bring the company's strong presence in the state to more than 2,000 employees. Verizon Wireless employs 58,000 employees nationwide with 16,000 customer service representatives at 26 call centers across the U.S.

"Customer satisfaction is our number one priority at Verizon Wireless, and in 2005, we ranked highest in more third party surveys of customer service and satisfaction than any other single U.S. wireless provider," said Melanie Braidich, acting Pacific Northwest president, Verizon Wireless. "We employ the best of the best and have been very fortunate to find high-quality talent in the Puget Sound region to help us meet our commitment to superior customer service."

The company offers a competitive salary and benefits package including medical, dental and vision coverage; participation in the company's 401k program with dollar for dollar match up to six percent of salary; paid training; tuition reimbursement; an annual bonus program for non-sales employees; profit-sharing; long-term incentive program similar to stock options; backup child and elder care; Weight Watchers Corporate Solutions; lactation rooms at all major facilities; and a flexible comprehensive group of healthy living offerings. Individuals interested in job opportunities in the Puget Sound region can call 808-837-8870 or visit www.verizonwireless.com/careers.  

A Great Place to Work
Verizon Wireless is consistently ranked as one of the best places to work in the country because of its employee-friendly policies. In 2006, the company was named one of Working Mother magazine's "100 Best Companies for Working Mothers" for the fifth year in a row. Health Magazine named the company one of 10 U.S. employers revolutionizing workplaces to help women balance their professional and personal responsibilities.

Verizon Wireless has been named one of the nation's top 100 companies by Training magazine four years in a row, for its continued commitment to employee development and for connecting its training programs to business objectives. This year the company ranked 14th on the magazine's annual list of the "Top 100 Training Organizations in America" — announced last week — and was the highest ranked wireless service provider.

About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless owns and operates the nation's most reliable wireless network, serving 53 million voice and data customers. Headquartered in Bedminster, NJ, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD). Find more information on the Web at www.verizonwireless.com. To preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.

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