The Ministry of Youth, Sports and Community Empowerment, in partnership with Prince’s Trust International UK, conducted two ‘Get Hired’ employability programmes from September 28 to October 1, as part of the National Youth Week activities.
Twenty-two young persons under the age of 25 were facilitated during a two-day engagement in the Sky Mall Training Room, Haggatt Hall, St. Michael.
Day one of the two-day session included a pre-empowerment session and on day two, participants received an opportunity to be interviewed by employers in their field of choice.
To ensure the effectiveness of the programme, the pre-empowerment sessions were aimed at ensuring participants were adequately prepared for the upcoming job interviews in the private sector. These sessions included presentations by Human Resources specialists, Atoya Hinds and Celia Collymore.
Mrs. Hinds presented on the ‘Work Ethic and Etiquette’ session, where participants were educated on the qualities and attributes that employers generally look for when hiring staff.
The presentation also featured key elements specific to the current COVID-19 climate, including appropriateness for virtual meetings and interview etiquette.
Ms. Collymore focused her presentation on interview preparation, where she highlighted frequently asked interview questions, and tutored them through the best way to answer and present themselves.
Day two of the ‘Get Hired’ programme featured participating employers, Coral Reef Club, KM2 Solutions, and Barbados Dairy Industry.
They made presentations on their respective companies, which included listing available jobs. These were followed by interviews. Participants are expected to find out in the coming days if they were successful in the interview process.
Participant Kaycia Brathwaite said “it was a great programme for all experienced or inexperienced workers”, while another participant, Chanya Chase, noted that the interview process was “excellent and comforting”.
Coral Reef Club has participated in the ‘Get Hired’ programme since its inception in 2020, and currently employs three of the first participants.
The Ministry of Youth, Sports and Community Empowerment extends an invitation to employers who have available opportunities to contact Programme Coordinator, Elizabeth Bowen, at elizabeth.bowen@barbados.gov.bb, or 535-3835/3863, to participate in the ‘Get Hired’ programme.
Ministry of Youth, Sports and Community Empowerment