SG Career Search

A JOB at one of the upcoming integrated resorts (IRs) here is proving to be a really hot commodity - with both Singaporeans and foreigners.
Resorts World at Sentosa yesterday said it had received 20,000 - and counting - applications for just 800 jobs it had on offer at the Career 2009 and Education 2009 fair, held over four days beginning last Thursday.

The Marina Bay Sands IR, which was also hiring at the same fair, would not say how many applications it received, but its president Nigel Roberts said the level of interest was 'stunning'.

With 500,000 visitors to the fair over four days, and with Marina Bay looking to hire 'thousands', it is likely that it received a similar, if not larger, number of applicants.

Jobs at the casinos appear to be the most sought-after among applicants to the Sentosa IR.

Resorts World's senior vice-president for human resources and training, Ms Seah-Khoo Ee Boon, said half the applicants wanted a gaming-related job.

Of the rest, 40 per cent were gunning for a job in the Universal Studios' theme park.

The applicants, she said, were both Singaporean and foreign, retrenched workers as well as those who had jobs, and ranged from professionals to fresh graduates.

Interviews for the shortlisted candidates started yesterday.

Among those who are keeping their fingers crossed is Singaporean Desmond Goh, 33, who already has a job in a hotel here.

He said he was looking for a job at the Sentosa resort because he wanted a change of pace.

A significant number of applicants were also foreigners who flew here just to look for a job.

Filipina Elahn Grace, 28, an English graduate, who arrived two weeks ago, said she chose Singapore because 'it is a safe place and there are many opportunities here'.

Another Filipina, Ms Candy Lopez, 24, lost her job back home as an accountant recently, and decided to come here to try and find employment.

She said: 'I'm just taking a chance to be employed.'

The organiser of the fair, Mr Michael Ling from IIR Exhibitions, confirmed that the integrated resorts drew the lion's share of attention.

'They were the busiest,' he said, adding that jobs in the health-care and social services sectors seemed popular too, judging by the crowds at the booths.

Mr Ling was unable to say how many job applications in total were made during the fair. Up to 15,000 positions were available in the four-day fair.

The two integrated resorts need some 20,000 workers, and are expected to ramp up hiring this year as both gear up to open by the end of this year and early next year.

By Lim Wei Chean & Alessa Pang