'Help, we're jobless'

MATCHING people with jobs here is usually done by the public and private agencies and welfare organisations.

But would it be a good idea for lower-income workers who don't fit in the conventional categories to display their skills at a 'flea market' for jobs? Self-help is to be lauded but should people hit the streets to hunt for jobs when the situation here isn't grim?

A New Yorker, aged 59, did just that last month in Manhattan by wearing a large sign that read, 'Almost homeless'. For nine months, he had looked for work with no success. So he turned to the streets. His effort landed him interviews and encouragement from fellow New Yorkers.

We don't want Singaporeans to do the same here because we are socially organised in a different way. But what about the idea of a job fair on the streets for lower-income workers with special skills or needs? Since their numbers are small, going public might help to match them directly with those who can use such one-of-a-kind skills.

But are Singaporeans ready to announce their search for a job publicly? We put it to a test.

Two undercover reporters, one aged 25 and the other 43, stood outside Raffles Place MRT from noon to 1.30pm yesterday. Each wore a sign which said he was 'looking for a job'.

How did people react?

WILL a flea market for lower-income workers with special skills and needs work? This remains to be seen.

But I stood on the streets with a jobless sign and three people offered me jobs.

One, a bank employee who did not want to be named, said he would give my telephone number to some people he knew who managed private bank accounts in the Middle East. He told me: 'Go to the Middle East, that is where they are hiring people.'

Insurance agent Dave Tiang, who is in his 40s, gave me his name card and invited me to call him. He was looking for financial consultants or insurance agents.

Two lifestyle promoters, who looked to be in their early 20s, were curious. One of them later asked me what work I was willing to do.

I replied that I was willing to do anything that was honest. He gave me a name card belonging to Mr Justin Colond and asked me to call him.

The three did not ask about my age or experience.

When told about the purpose of the experiment, they took it in good spirit.

Mr Tiang said: 'The method caught my attention. I gave you both job offers since I am looking for people for my organisation.'

The bank employee said: 'Well, it might be better to send resumes to prospective employers.'

Mr Colond, 24, managing director of a firm organising promotional tie-ins with merchants here, felt that while such signboards would attract attention, he did not think it would lead to many job offers.

A woman in her 40s said: 'Go overseas and work, but don't go to Hong Kong as the employment situation is bad there.'

Wearing a sign in the street might get sympathy, said Mr Adrian Tan, managing director of employment agency RecruitPlus Consulting, but not jobs.

He said: 'It is unlikely to work among large numbers of people as the general reaction of Singaporeans is to ignore them altogether or just take photographs.'

Ms Kathleen Chew, assistant vice-president of JCGSearch International, said the method was out of the box. Such methods are common in the US, she said, but unlikely to be popular among Asians.

Ms Chew said: 'Many people, especially Asians, will not be willing to do it because they are afraid of losing face. They would not like highlighting the fact they are jobless.'

Ms Amy Hoon, a consultant with JAF Consulting Pte Ltd, said using such signboards can be effective in getting people to be interviewed by potential employers or HR consultants, but suitability for employment would still have to be decided on resumes and work experience.

- The New Paper