RESORTS World at Sentosa's (RWS) recruitment drive began almost three years ago, and despite receiving thousands of applications and taking part in 100 job fairs, it has filled only 10 per cent of its workforce.
With only months to go before its opening, the integrated resort needs to have 7,000 more staff by October and a total of 10,000 by the time it fully opens early next year.
To ramp up these numbers, RWS is holding another job fair this weekend to fill about 5,000 rank and file positions such as chambermaids, tram drivers and bellhops. It is the biggest recruitment exercise held so far for such positions.
The resort began hiring immediately after it won the tender in December 2006, in what it calls a 'planned process', said assistant director of communications Robin Goh.
He explained that corporate and management positions were filled first. 'For operational staff, they will be hired closer to the opening date,' he said. This means that applicants will know only from October if they got the jobs - including those who applied much earlier.
But human resources lecturer Fred Lin, who teaches at education company Kaplan, noted that such a hiring policy may not be the best as it keeps applicants 'hanging by a thread'. 'It is usually best to tell applicants within three months whether they've got a job, with one or two calls along the way to update them on their application progress,' he said.
In contrast, Marina Bay Sands integrated resort, set to open around the same time, has been securing its staff in advance. With 290 people already on its payroll, it has sent out more than 2,000 employment contracts for gaming staff, and will soon make similar offers for other front-line positions.
When RWS was asked if its approach may cause inconvenience - such as having its shortlisted candidates being snapped up by other organisations - Mr Goh said it is prepared for such an eventuality. 'We want to sift through as many applications as possible so we can choose the very best,' he said.
Besides the job fair, other channels remain open, he added. Both integrated resorts are accepting applications through the mail, Internet, online job portals, school talks, job fairs, and the Employment and Employability Institute (e2i). RWS is also tapping community development councils.
Interested applicants can visit the RWS job fair on Saturday and on Sunday at the e2i building at 141 Redhill Road, Block A, #01-01. It will be open from 9am to 5pm. Applicants are advised to bring certificates, resumes and one passport-size photograph. Walk-in interviews will be conducted on the spot.
- The Straits Times
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