‘My First Job’ recruitment fair   706 vacancies available |25 February 2023

The Minister for Employment & Social Affairs has said that there are 706 vacancies available which job seekers, especially the young, can apply for.

Minister Patricia Francourt made the statement during the ‘My First Job’ recruitment fair that was held yesterday at the International Conference Centre (ICCS) in Victoria. 

The fair for young graduates from post-secondary and professional centres was organised by the ‘My First Job’ Unit, within the Employment department of the ministry.

Thirty-five (35) establishments made up of government departments, entities and law enforcements, including businesses from the private sector, mainly in tourism, construction and production, took part in the fair where they displayed their vacancies available. It was an opportunity for the young graduates to learn more on the various jobs available and to also sign up for employment.

“The objective of the fair today is to entice the young population to come to a platform whereby they will be able to access and view for themselves job opportunities. We know for sure that there are 706 vacancies available now and today is the opportunity for the young to come and register and be guided on what they can do if they want to seek employment and getting into employment,” said Minister Francourt, who noted that the response from the young graduates was very encouraging.    

The ‘My First Job’ recruitment fair which is held every year did not take place in 2020 and in 2021 due to Covid-19 restrictions.

Minister Francourt said that the programme, whereby the government contributes towards part payment of the young graduates’ salaries, is one that is very successful given that mostly all who have entered on the programme, and who have shown interest and willingness, have been recruited.  

“It’s a successful programme, it is working very well and the young graduates are being followed very closely with regard to their work condition and progression,” Minister Francourt added.

Apart from the young graduates the recruitment fair was also attended by ordinary job seekers and school drop-outs, who also took the opportunity to search for information or to register for employment. As opposed to employment procedures for ordinary job seekers, the school drop-outs, mainly from secondary institutions, were advised to contact the employment department to register on the re-skilling and skills development programme to build their competencies so as to ease their entry into the world of work.

During her tour of the various stalls where she was briefed on the job opportunities that exist, Minister Francourt also took the opportunity to interact with organisers and jobseekers who were present.

All of the young graduates who spoke to Seychelles NATION said that they were satisfied with the number of organisations present that have offered them with a variety of available jobs to choose from.

Seychelles NATION met up with 19-year-Joshua Clarisse, a Seychelles Institute of Technology (SIT) electrical graduate who had signed up with several organisations in the hope of securing a job as an electrician.   

“I see that there are a variety of jobs available and they are all very interesting. Given that one can also get employment immediately, I think it is an opportunity for people who are looking for a job to come down and see what is available and get into employment,” Joshua said.

The accompanying photos show some highlights of the fair.

Text & photos by Patrick Joubert