Young people preparing to ‘Get Hired’

By Shamar Blunt

Young persons who are now entering the world of work, are being encouraged to learn additional skillsets which will increase their chances of being hired by prospective employers in this modern work environment.

This message came from Elizabeth Bowen, Senior Youth Commissioner in the Ministry of Youth, Sports, and Community Empowerment, as she spoke to the media last Thursday during the Ministry’s ‘Get Hired’ event which was held at Sky Mall over the last two days.

The initiative, which is supported by the Prince’s Trust International charity, seeks to prepare young persons with their transition into the workforce, by not only engaging them in team building exercises, expanding their knowledge in work ethics, and interview tips and trial runs, but also brings employers on board who are currently seeking to add to their staff complement, and gives them the platform to interview these young persons and see who best fits into their work environment.

Bowen revealed that the first day of training went well for participants, as they were all now eager for the second day activities, which involved real interviews with employers.

“So today [Thursday] now is the big day, the day where they get to engage with the actual employers, because employers coming to the Get Hired programme have available jobs. The reason you are here is because you have an opportunity for a young person.

They will break out into their groups, and we hope all goes well for them because they really are passionate, they have done well, and they are really looking forward to the opportunity of earning income and a living for themselves,” she said.

When asked what about the response received by the Ministry for the year so far by young persons seeking jobs, given the current downturn in the economy caused by COVID-19, Bowen revealed that though current numbers were not readily available, the inquiries for jobs by young people had increased significantly over the last several months.

“Our phones have been ringing non-stop – whether it has been granny calling, auntie calling, anyone calling to find an opportunity for a young person to do some form of training, to get involved in an employability programme, just an opportunity to get themselves out there. As you would appreciate, it’s very difficult at this time.

“Really and truly, we are appreciative of the employers who have stuck with us. Over the years we have had some committed employers, who said to us ‘yes there are some trying times, there are some challenging times, but we are prepared to give some young persons a chance’,” she added.

Two interviewers were present during the course of the day: Assistant Manager in Human Resources at Insurance Corporation of Barbados Limited (ICBL), Felicia Bowen, and Co-Owner of Market Fresh and Fashion Nation, Joanne Sherry. After informing the 20 participants on what would be expected of them as new employees, Bowen and Sherry followed up by interviewing several prospective employees.

In recalling the earlier days of her Fashion Nation business where sales were not the best and there was much difficulty in gaining enough profits for the purchasing of new stock, Sherry challenged participants to be determined and never give up, as they charted their individual paths in the world of work.

“Never give up – like I said I started with very little, and I did not have a lot working for me or going with me. Every time we tried something at first when it was me alone, something did not work out, and I had to be going and borrowing from my dad who was a great help to me.

The point of the matter is, the challenges that came, were so discouraging that there were many times I could have said you know what I am done with this, let me go and work for someone.

“My thing was not giving up, it was a day or two that I might be down, but we looked for another solution, found another way, and went again,” she said.