By Floyd French
Observer Reporter
floydfrench@thestkittsnevisobserver.com
(Basseterre , St. Kitts) – Schools in the Federation officially close their doors today for the eight-week long summer break. While some students will share time between Vacation Bible School and camps organised by the Department of Youth, other students will be working.
Vice President of Human Resource for Cable and Wireless, Mr. Curtis Martin said the number of applications for summer jobs has increased significantly this year. His assessment came two weeks before the start of the summer break.
“In the past there wasn’t really a big push for a summer job. This year in particular has been the first time I’ve seen so many applications. In fact it is so noticeable because people have actually written this year,” Mr. Martin said.
He said that the traditional applicants for summer jobs had been parents calling and asking for a summer job for their teenager, returning university students and Cable and Wireless scholarship students requesting work during the summer.
This year, the teenagers are the ones applying in writing for jobs and Mr. Martin said those applicants were substantial, “in droves,” he said.
“This is a marked improvement, but it also signals that the appetite is there for summer jobs, the appetite is there to do something,” Mr. Martin added.
Unfortunately, Cable and Wireless cannot hire all applicants for summer jobs and this fact tempered Mr. Martin’s enthusiasm about the initiative demonstrated by teenagers.
“The fact that we have to tell so many of them no because we are a limited company, which can only so much and no more make us sad. However we have done quite a bit in terms of providing summer jobs for many students in St. Kitts and Nevis over the existence of the Company,” he stressed.
In interviews with some of the applicants, Mr. Martin learned that they had applied to other companies. This fact made him conclude that the job market is almost saturated, whether for seasonal or full-time employment.
“What is available right now, to me, is far less than the need,” he pointed out. For the young job seekers, Mr. Martin, with 16 years experience in human resource, recommended that they pay attention to simple personal qualities one might take for granted and cultivate them into their own style or brand.
“My advice to these students would be for them to present their personal brand since they often lack the right experience to do the job at hand. When I say brand, the way they portray themselves, the way they dress, their whole demeanour, their behaviour and their attitude and the energy they would bring to the interview,” he said.
Mr. Martin added that there is also a need to provide interview training to young job applicants. Such training would eliminate inappropriate dress, behaviour and attitudes during the interview. It would also give the applicants great tips on how to promote their skills, knowledge, strength and values to match or surpass the need in the organisation of which they are applying to be part.
There is also a need for young applicants to pay attention to their resume and cover letter. The resume, Mr. Martin noted, should not be too long and should be tailored to the job.
“It should not be more than three pages. When you come to sell your brand, to promote your brand, then you say what else needs to be there,” he said.
Applicants should also pay attention to clarity and tidiness of their resume and cover letter. They should also use business like email addresses; Mr. Martin stressed the inappropriateness of an email address such at “sexykikky@ hotmail or yahoo.com.
One other important feature of the application process for the senior human resource personnel is a call to the organisation after the written application has been submitted. Mr. Martin feels the call demonstrates a greater genuine interest in the job.
For the interview, applicants are advised to research the organisation so they can show knowledge of organisation and ask questions. The interview should be more of a dialogue, a conversation, Mr. Martin pointed out.
He added that the interviewee should pay attention to the questions asked and answer appropriately. He noted that one can say too much in an interview especially if the question is a closed question.
After a successful application, the new worker must undergo the required training for the post. At this stage, Mr. Martin recommended one make written notes of important procedures and find creative ways to do what is required.
