BECCS Quarterly Newsletter, March, Volume 1, 2022

Ministry of Labour, Social Security and Third Sector

Quarterly Newsletter: Barbados Employment and Career Counselling Service (BECCS) March, Volume 1, 2022

Barbados Employment and Career Counselling Service (BECCS) got off to a great start in the first quarter of the year.

December’s activities informed and laid the foundation for departmental activities in January and February, as BECCS prepared for a two-day recruiting event, bringing together local job seekers and international recruiters from Canada and the United States of America (USA). Several logistical plans were put in place and numerous departmental meetings among seniors were held to determine best approaches. In this planning period, the business environment was characterized by recently emerging concerns about the 1

“…the business environment was . characterized by recently emerging concerns about the Omicron variant and a resurgence of heightened sensitivity in public spaces.”

Omicron variant and a resurgence of heightened sensitivity in public spaces.

Concerted efforts were made by BECCS

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recruiting officers who reached out to target audiences to inform them about the upcoming recruiting event, to determine interest levels and to request tailored resumes to be submitted. Some interviews were scheduled ahead of time with BECCS recruitment officers to manage persons in the spaces where the recruiting event was to be held.

Communications were broadcast via social media

social media platforms informing target audiences about job openings. These included Farm Labourer vacancies, as well as vacancies for Housekeepers, Cooks, Servers, Bussers, J1 Culinary, J1 Servers and J1 Front Desk vacancies - J1 is a classification for trainee hotel workers in the USA and successful candidates are required to demonstrate completion of hospitality training with an institution.

Employment contract duration for BECCS overseas programmes is six months to two years, with the possibility of extension.

Staff commitment proved worthy as the

commenced at 9 am and closed at 12 pm with a total average figure of one hundred and forty (140) job seekers completing interviews for job openings. Candidates spoke directly to human resource officers from hotels in USA and farms in Canada.

Overall, the event was a success, as it satisfied the criteria for good attendance event was well and allowed for attended, and was effectively coordinated recruiting and for the two-day period. selection goals to be achieved. Covid-19 Day 1 started at 9 am and at the close of the protocols for social distancing in public day, about eighty (80) job seekers completed spaces were also adhered to. interviews with SHOPNOW Looking at the recruiters who flew in context leading up to from North America BECCS two-day for the recruiting event. Day 2 also 2

recruiting event, it is evident Covid-19 developments and other dynamics yielded a much welcomed increase in international demand for BECCS overseas programmes a tremendous benefit to job seekers. The overwhelming response from the local hospitality skill pool, as well as the high international demand for local hospitality skills and talent from recruiters in USA, demonstrates the value and importance of local hospitality training institutions.

Unemployment on the local front, coupled with high international demand for hospitality skills and talent, helped BECCS to meet North 3

American employers’ recruitment expectations for the period January to March. In the month of March, advertised Housekeeper (Canada) and Room Attendant (Barbados) vacancies attracted a surplus of resumes, which satisfied employer expectations. It is evident that international demand for BECCS existing programmes is trending upward; it is expected that

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with continued streamlining of departmental processes new programmes in other skilled areas will be developed and offered to target audiences.

The addition of technologies and revamping some key administrative and service processes were also established this quarter (January to March, 2022).

These technological, administrative and

customer service improvements played a key role in delivering excellent customer service at BECCS twoday recruiting event on February 17 and February 18. BECCS also made full utilization of Ministry of Labour, Social Security and Third Sector’s social media pages, as well as Government Information Service’s (GIS) social media pages (Facebook, Instagram and Twitter).

Social media marketing tools, technological, administrative and service improvements allowed BECCS to reach a greater percentage of its target audience, and to meet departmental

recruitment goals.

It is expected that resourcefulness, sound administrative processes, new technologies, effective marketing/advertising/ public relations, and high levels of customer service are key factors to BECCS further growth and development. In the coming quarter (April to June), BECCS will

focus on recruiting jobseekers for the end of spring and summer, 2022. USA and Canada will be the main job markets and the focus will be on recruiting new hirers for hospitality and agricultural sectors in those markets.

Follow us on Instagram molbarbados246 or Facebook molbarbados for updates.

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Please contact BECCS for further information about our programmes BARBADOS EMPLOYMENT AND CAREER COUNSELLING SERVICE 1st Floor East Warrens Office Complex Warrens, St. Michael, BARBADOS TEL (246) 535-1540/ 51/ 47/ 48/ 37/ 44 (246)832-0532 beccsjobs@gmail.com

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LABOUR DEPARTMENT 2nd Floor East Warrens Office Complex Warrens, St. Michael, BARBADOS TEL(246) 535 -1500

MINISTRY OF LABOUR, SOCIAL SECURITY AND THIRD SECTOR 3rd Floor West, Warrens Office Complex Warrens, St. Michael, BARBADOS TEL (246) 535 -1400 molbarbados246

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