SHTA, Ministry of Labor and NIPA gear up for 3d Job Fair

The St. Maarten Hospitality & Trade Association, Ministry of Health, Social Development and Labor will be hosting for the third year in a row an all-encompassing Job fair hosted on October 7th, 2017 by NIPA from 10am to 3pm.

This was decided in a meeting of the three organizing parties. With this initiative the organizers once again attempt to bring together job-seekers and employers to find a suitable match. Job Seekers will have the opportunity to meet with various possible employers on St. Maarten. Representatives from hospitality organizations, businesses as well as government and not-for-profit organizations will provide information about their organizations, vacancies and recruitment.

Job-seekers are encouraged to register online on the SHTA website. Registration only takes a few minutes and the possibility of uploading a resume will be available online as well. Participating businesses can pre-select candidates based on their resumes for interviews that can be conducted prior to or on the day of the fair.

Traditionally, as part of preparation and to encourage job-seekers to be properly honed for the application and interview process, The Job Fair will also include free educational sessions. This way all visitors – finding a job or not – will always leave the event wiser than before.

Businesses who would like to participate are encouraged to register for a space at the fair. Space has become quite limited. Any interested establishments are requested to register on the association’s website. Registration fee is set for $100 for SHTA members and $200 for non-SHTA members.

In order to get as much job seekers to work as possible, the organizing parties try to reinforce the event every year by adding new elements. Last year, SHTA reached out to their fellow labor organizations on the Union side to be present to share their opportunities and services in improving the Sint Maarten labor market, as well as all the labor agencies on island. Next to this, SHTA deliberately looked abroad this time to fill vacancies requiring higher education with students finishing their studies in for example the United States or the Netherlands. This search will be further intensified this year.

Another novelty last year was further diversification of types of participants. Next to the labor unions and labor agency LinQ, the Coast Guard was represented by a full patrol, while Dreams Art Gallery was a popular employer-to-be for the more creative job seeker.  Amongst last year’s representatives was La Vista, Westin, Sonesta Hotels, Divi Little Bay resort, Oyster Bay Beach Resort, WIFOL, WITU, Windward Roads, Prime, NIPA, Domino’s, and various other organizations assisting either on location or behind the scenes or sending in vacancies.

Registration for both job seekers and businesses can be done via the website www.shta.com/Events. You will be directed to the Job fair where you can select the appropriate form.

The SHTA is dedicated to bringing quality to all aspects of life on St. Maarten by promoting sustainable economic development for its members in cooperation with the social partners and the creation of a fair marketplace. For more information please contact our offices at 542-0108 by email of****@sh**.com or visit our website at www.shta.com.