‘Job Ready’ Hospitality Programme Launched
To ensure Bermudians are “job ready” for available positions within the hospitality industry, Trade Minister Kim Wilson today [Feb. 16] said a new Government-backed orientation programme is being launched to introduce locals to what’s required in the tourism workforce.
The Minister said Bermudians will be able to sign up for the programme at the Hospitality Industry Job Fair being held at the Fairmont Hamilton Princess Hotel tomorrow [Feb. 17].
The Bermuda Hotel Association is hosting the fair and is encouraging even those with no background in the hospitality industry to attend because a wide variety of skills can be utilised in the industry.
“To ensure that those seeking entry level positions are ready, the Department of Labour & Training and the Bermuda Hospitality Institute have developed a programme designed to prepare interested individuals to increase their chances of success,” the Minister told the Senate today [Feb. 16]. “In effect, to ensure that they are ‘job ready’. ”
The Minister said upon successful completion of this seven-day, specially designed Job Ready program, participants will have:
• An understanding of the Industry as a whole, with an emphasis on hotel and restaurant operations;
• An awareness of the communication and interpersonal skills required to be successful in the hospitality industry;
• A ‘skills gap’ assessment and a map on bridging the gap through alternative resources; and
• An ability to prepare, apply, and interview for an entry-level position in the hospitality industry.
“Interested individuals will have the opportunity to register to participate in the hospitality job ready programme at the Job Fair tomorrow,” she said. “A second Hospitality Job Fair will be held at the end of the ‘Job Ready’ programme exclusively for programme participants.”
The full text of the Minister’s statement appears below:
Madam President, I am pleased to rise today to encourage all Bermudians to reconsider a career in the hospitality industry.
Over the years the industry has experienced a brain drain. Talented Bermudians exited the industry in favour of the new opportunities that a more diverse economy provided; parents challenged their children to seek out what they viewed as more glamorous careers. The net result is an industry with a disproportionate non-Bermudian workforce and a Bermuda experience that is less than authentic thereby negatively affecting our visitors’ cultural experience.
Madam President, a tough economic environment has presented a golden opportunity for Bermudians to reclaim their place in an industry impacted by the mass exodus of local talent; an opportunity to build upon the legacy of friendly, high quality service that our parents and grandparents were known for; an opportunity for those who may be unemployed to embark on a rewarding career.
Madam President, I am delighted that the Bermuda Hotel Association accepted my invitation to co-host, in conjunction, with the Department of Labour and Training, a Hospitality Job Fair.
On Thursday, 17th February 2011 more than ten hospitality employers will convene at the Fairmont Hamilton from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. in search of the ever elusive Bermudian worker. Hundreds of jobs are available in the industry and Bermudians of all ages and all skill levels are required to fill them.
Madam President, as a result of a recently announced moratorium wherein the community was advised that all work permit submissions in the landscape gardener, cleaner, kitchen and bar porter, housekeeper and skilled labourer categories will be denied, I can say with certainty today that there is the prospect of real job opportunities for those who are interested in hospitality careers.
Further, Madam President, to ensure that those seeking entry level positions are ready, the Department of Labour & Training and the Bermuda Hospitality Institute have developed a program designed to prepare interested individuals to increase their chances of success. In effect, to ensure that they are ‘job ready’.
Upon successful completion of this 7-day, specially designed Job Ready program, participants will have:
• An understanding of the Industry as a whole, with an emphasis on hotel and restaurant operations;
• An awareness of the communication and interpersonal skills required to be successful in the hospitality industry;
• A ‘skills gap’ assessment and a map on bridging the gap through alternative resources; and
• An ability to prepare, apply, and interview for an entry-level position in the hospitality industry.Interested individuals will have the opportunity to register to participate in the hospitality job ready programme at the Job Fair tomorrow. A second Hospitality Job Fair will be held at the end of the “Job Ready” programme exclusively for programme participants.
So you see Madam President, I am not taking my commitment to ensure that Bermudians are provided with opportunities to work lightly. Tomorrow, all unemployed Bermudians should present themselves at the Hospitality Job Fair at the Fairmont Hamilton to make application for available jobs. And for those who believe that they require additional support to become job ready, they can register for the Hospitality Job Ready programme and participate in a 2nd Hospitality Job Fair next month.
I will personally be on hand at the Fairmont Hamilton tomorrow and I look forward to discussing careers in the hospitality industry with my fellow Bermudians.
Thank you Madam President.
Boy Kim is sure throwing it out there and in our faces.
Any idea when her next flight of passengers will arrive at Gombey House.
Gombey House? Yeah… the laughing stock of 37% occupancy and four tourists seen on Front Street today.
We all know whats required. Spin and more spin.
“You wanna job”. Yeah…. Gat off det wall…..
1000 tourists comming next year. We need to train you…..
“But my mumma and deddy have been out of work for two years…..
Irony.
WHAT JOBS?
don’t fall for this b/s!
Oh “Call” lighten up. Arry buddy gonna do “De Hustle”………….
i don’t really get these comments. isn’t this a good thing? or maybe a better question is how is this a bad thing?
Good thing? errr..not.
People (Bermudians) have been in and out of this industry for years. Showing people entry-level positions available only looks good especially during a recession. A few years from now they will be screaming for more Bermudians to come on-board. Listed below are the reasons.
1. Lousy pay
2. Unsociable hours
3. Crap benifits
4. Not much opportunity for advancement past middle management
5. H.R. Dept’s that are in bed with the corporate offices and don’t motivate, groom nor support staff like they use to.
6. Did I say Lousy Pay?
Add all these together and you get a not so cool place to work.
Change at least 3 and you can fill South P. with Bermudians in all areas including senior leadership.
I’m going but I have a feeling it’ll be a waste of my time and energy.
The way things are….lousy pay is better than NO pay at all!
I agree with My2cents and bystander, this is step in the right direction.
It is about time this action was taken, Bermuda has needed something like this to happen for decades. Her comments could not be more true.
1. Yes the Industry has suffered brain drain.
2. Yes the Industry is less authentic because of this and lacks Bermudiuan culture.
3. There ARE good jobs at the Fairmonts and other properties and this is NOT BS.
Mixitup is flat out wrong on many points and has poor perspective.
1. Jobs pay crap. Compared to hi level finance/insurance jobs maybe, but your average person in the business world is not making a significant amount more than middle management at the big hotels ie 50-90K.
2. Crap Benefits. Fairmont offers good benefits that the business world cannot always provide. The opportunity to travel and work around the world which they encourage as well as staff rates on hotels and food around the world. NOT SHABBY TRUST ME.
3. They don’t groom the staff? How do you know this? My friends in the industry have as many opportunities to take online courses and progress in management training programs than I do at a major insurance company.
4. THIS IS A BIG ONE. The opportunity to work in an industry that you have a passion for. To be proud of Bermuda’s beauty and be an embassador to people from around the globe. Most people I have met in insurance/finance do it for the paycheck and stability, some are passionate about it but not most in my opinion.
Use my case as an example, I started college wanting to go into Tourism. I saw the industry faltering and switched to finance. I worked hard for my (relatively) stable job in insurance but long to jump ship and do something I love. A tourism revival would be it for me and i see this is a step in the right direction.
I had to travel to Hamilton Princess today and let me tell you the job fair is being well attended.
But unfortunately some Bermudians just don’t understand that first impressions mean everything.
All around me was people swearing and cussing so everybody can hear them, speaking just about incomprehensible english and dressed for, well, not for an interview to say the least.
And then some wonder why some won’t hire them. Where are these individuals soft skills? To me, and most others, it is basic common sense to carry yourself in a professional manner when seeking employment instead of acting like the applicants are doing the potential employers a favor by just showing up.
Entitlement, point blank.