Jobs for the taking
Employment fair-type events look to lure winter workers to stay on for summer
As part of Hospitality New Zealand’s (HNZ) ongoing collaboration with government employment, education and training website Connected.govt.nz and Go With Tourism, the organisation is pulling out all the stops to encourage South Island winter resort workers to stay and work over summer to help alleviate the looming shortages.
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To this end, job fair-style events in Queenstown and Wanaka have taken place in an effort to keep the winter workers in town before their contracts finish and their accommodation leases expire.
HNZ Chief Executive, Julie White said there will be heaps of jobs coming up in summer and the local businesses need as many of these people to stay and help.
“But so far, we’re struggling,” she said.
“In Queenstown, just 100 turned up to consider 624 jobs on offer across hospitality, tourism, retail, construction, and aviation.
“Some people left with job offers, others with interviews arranged, but it’ll be nowhere near enough to solve the shortages.
In Wanaka, Ms White said at least 60 jobseekers came through the doors, half of those straight from their shifts on the mountain, to meet with 35 employers with 330 jobs on the table.
“Most employers walked away with at least one promising candidate with interviews and follow up arranged,” she said, adding both nights had an exciting and positive vibe with employers excited to meet potential candidates and employees amped at having so many opportunities in front of them.
Mike Parker-Brown is a UK-trained and qualified journalist and an award-winning travel communicator with more than 30 years experience.
Since 2002, Mike has worked as a freelance writer and PR consultant providing his services to major organisations in Australia and internationally in the tourism, aviation, hospitality, recruitment and export marketing sectors.
