Apr 6, 2009

Job fair draws 800 grads

FRESH graduate Wang Wei Xiang will jump at a job that pays $2,000 a month, even though it is $500 less than the average starting pay.

The 26-year-old, who has a degree in business management from Singapore Management University, is even willing to be an intern for $700 a month.

His overriding concern is that the job gives him experience in human resource and organisational development.

Mr Wang's flexible stance on pay is typical among the 800 new graduates who attended a job fair on Monday.

Altogether, 28 organisations offered more than 6,000 jobs at the fair organised by Young NTUC, the youth arm of the National Trades Union Congress.

They included the Agency for Science, Technology and Research, integrated resorts Marina Bay Sands and Resorts World at Sentosa, as well as pre-school operator NTUC First Campus.

About 12,000 are expected to graduate from the local universities this year, said NTUC assistant secretary-general Josephine Teo on Monday. But at least 1,000 of them may find themselves jobless even after six months, should their employment rate hit the 87 per cent level of the 2003 Sars period, said an NTUC statement yesterday.

Mrs Teo, who is adviser to Young NTUC, highlighted to the graduates at the fair the large number of jobs on offer, saying it shows there are still many opportunities despite the downturn.

Young NTUC plans to hold three networking sessions on specific industries to help the new graduates find jobs.

It also started an online employment advisory service for undergraduates and new graduates on Monday, at www.youngntuc.org.sg.

- The Straits Times

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