5,000 vie for 1,000 jobs

5,000 vie for 1,000 jobs

Saturday was no rest day for 5,000 people who flocked to Bedok Central to check out the over-1,000 jobs on offer.

Fierce competition

'I applied for a position to sort letters at Singapore Post. There were 20 vacancies but 700 applicants, so every job fair is useful now.'
MR XAVIER CHAN, 55

The job fair yesterday featured openings from 12 employers - from food and beverage companies and the Government to health-care and retail firms.

It was organised by the South East Community Development Council (CDC), in collaboration with the Kampong Chai Chee Citizens Consultative Committee.

Among those who turned up was Mr Xavier Chan, 55, who quit his job as a barista to look for better job prospects about four months ago. He was applying to be a cook at Changi General Hospital.

'It's quite difficult to find a job because the market is so competitive. I applied for a position to sort letters at Singapore Post. There were 20 vacancies but 700 applicants, so every job fair is useful now.'

Over the past couple of months, the South East CDC has seen a surge in the number of residents seeking employment or training assistance.

Between November last year and January this year, 1,148 job seekers were registered - a 40 per cent rise from the August- October period last year.

Mr Vengadesh Naidu, a career centre manager of South East CDC, said the council noted a spike in the number of professionals and managers who lost their jobs.

Job seekers were also out in force at the Manpower Ministry yesterday. About 500 turned up at its Havelock Road premises to apply for 108 vacancies.

This was the first time the ministry was conducting a recruitment exercise in which applicants were interviewed on the spot.

- wong chee tat :)