Family services host job fair for unemployed clients

(CNS): With local unemployment figures continuing to increase the department of children and family services has joined the fight to try to get people back to work, according to a government release. Nearly 20 jobseekers and potential employers attended a job fair hosted by the department’s STARSS (Support Towards Autonomy Retraining and Self-Sufficiency) programme recently. Coordinator Cassandra Parchment said the fair was held to help participants land actual employment. However, there was no indication on the release that any of the attendants had actually secured a job from the half dozen employers who came to meet the job-seekers, though officials said the fair had assisted.

“We felt it was a good way to help our clients to get connected with potential employers and possibly land jobs following their training under the STARSS programme,” Parchment said.
STARSS is a career development programme run by the DCFS for its clients. The programme assists the with their job search by improving self-esteem as well as practical training in resume writing; communication skills; customer service; dressing for success; interviewing skills; conflict management; work ethics; budgeting and stress management.
DCFS Director Deanna Look Loy encouraged the attendees to use the skills they learned through the STARSS programme to do well on the job.
“It is sometimes easier to land a job than keep it; use the skills you have been taught to resolve any conflict that may arise in the workplace, and always ensure that you observe the dress code of any organization where you work,” Look Loy said.

The director also asked the employers to be patient with the participants as they were just getting back into the workforce and were still engaged in a learning process.

Six companies and the Department of Employment Relations participated in the fair. The companies included Ritz Carlton; Cayman Distributors Limited; CL Flowers and Sons; Superior Auto; AL Thompson Limited, and Fosters Food Fair IGA. Cayman Distributors Human Resource Manager Cindy Downing said the company participated in the fair in an effort to play its part in supporting the community during this tough economic time, when many are out of work.
“We have a few positions available that we are now advertising; we know it would probably be a good place to find persons who are interested and motivated to work,” Downing added.

STARSS client Tatiana Ow said the STARRS programme and the job fair had been helpful in preparing participants to re-enter the work world and said she was more hopeful of gaining employment in the near future.