Fair to showcase 600 jobs

MONDAY, OCTOBER 24: Unemployed Bermudians are being encouraged put a smile on their face in order to land a job in the hospitality industry.

The 2012 Hospitality Job Fair will take place next Tuesday, November 1 at the Fairmont Hamilton Princess, 10am-4pm.

More than 600 jobs will be up for grabs in all categories of hospitality for the upcoming tourism season.

Hotels are looking to hire Bermudians.

The fair is being put on as a partnership between the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and the Bermuda Hotel Association.

John Harvey of the Bermuda Hotel Association said: “All someone needs to do is smile.

“We’ve got 50 different categories; you might have the desire to be in accounting, you might have the desire to be in carpentry, air conditioning, horticulture. Think of this industry as a career not a hustle.”  

Kim Wilson, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, said the fair was being held much earlier this year so that Bermudians can take advantage of the opportunities.

Jobs include conference managers, front desk staff, wait staff, room attendants, servers and more.

“One of our aims is to help the unemployed reinvent themselves so that they are job ready and can work within the current job market”, Ms Wilson said.

“For more, it means starting a programme to upgrade or change their skills.

“For some, it means taking a job that they may feel is below their skill level, while they learn new skills to meet the requirements for a better paying position.”

Minister Wilson encouraged those seeking work to bring ten to 12 copies of their resume to the fair and be prepared to fill out applications that day.

Mr Harvey said at the last fair, more than 800 people turned up and it was “bittersweet” because they all couldn’t be employed.

“Only 15 years ago, most of the people in the industry were Bermuda.

“We want as many Bermudians in this industry as we can.

“Again we encourage everyone to come out and play a part.”