Resort Job Fairs Are Back: How to Stand Out as Hotels Hire for the Winter Season
Jamaica's hotels are gearing up for the winter tourist season, and that means walk-in job fairs on the north coast. This month alone, resorts in St Ann and St Mary have called for room attendants, cooks, lifeguards, electricians, masons and trainees. If you are heading to one, a little preparation can make the difference between a quick chat and a job offer.
Who has been hiring
Two recent examples show the range of roles on offer, as listed on the jobs site Fiwi Business:
- Couples Sans Souci in White River advertised a job fair for 29 October covering sanitation attendants, gardeners, lifeguards, divemasters, room attendants, housemen, experienced cooks and butchers. It also listed maintenance roles (stove technician, electrician, plumber, AC/refrigeration technician and maintenance team leader) and trainee places in administration, kitchen, food and beverage and housekeeping.
- Moon Palace Jamaica in Ocho Rios advertised a job fair for 28 October for masons, carpenters, painters, plumbers, electricians, an engine room operator, pool attendants and beach cleaners.
Notice how many of these are maintenance and trades jobs. Hotels need skilled hands to keep properties running, and they are competing with rebuilding projects for the same workers. If you have a trade, resorts are worth a look.
Pay is rarely shown in hotel adverts, but some listings do include it. On the tourism job board Hospitality Hub, for example, a spa manager role in Kingston was advertised in October at $250,000 a month net starting salary.
Bring the right documents
The most common reason people get turned away at a job fair is missing paperwork. The two fairs above asked for:
- an up-to-date résumé
- a valid ID
- your TRN and NIS number
- relevant certificates
- a passport-size photo (Moon Palace)
- a Food Handler's Permit (Couples)
If you plan to work anywhere near food or drink, get your Food Handler's Permit sorted before the fair, not after. Some employers also want a soft copy of your résumé on your phone. Couples, for instance, said physical applications would not be accepted, so check each advert carefully.
Make a good first impression
- Dress professionally. Hotels sell service, so recruiters notice how you present yourself.
- Arrive early. Job fairs often start at 8 or 9 in the morning and lines build quickly.
- Know which role you want. Have one main job in mind and a second choice, and be ready to explain why you fit.
- Have a short introduction ready. Say your name, the role you want, your experience and one strength in under a minute.
- Be honest about your availability. Hotels run seven days a week, including holidays, and recruiters will ask about shifts and transport.
No experience? Look at trainee roles
Trainee positions are one of the best ways into the industry. They give you on-the-job learning and a reference you can build on. Pairing a trainee role with a free HEART/NSTA Trust course in hospitality or food preparation can help you move up faster.
After the fair
Write down the name of anyone you spoke to, keep your phone switched on and check your email. If you have not heard back within a week or two, a polite follow-up is fine.
For employers
If you are planning a recruitment drive for the season, Splash Jamaica has just relaunched and posting jobs is currently free, so it is an easy way to tell job seekers about your next job fair or vacancy.
Sources: Fiwi Business, Hospitality Hub.