The fair, which was staged at the Queen’s College Auditorium between 9 am and 4pm, only attracted a small turnout during the morning hours. Some of the persons who attended the fair also said they expected a better turnout, due to the country’s high unemployment rate. The poor turnout was attributed to the bad weather.
The participating companies included Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL), ANSA McAL Guyana, the Neal and Massy Guyana Group, Hand-in-Hand Insurance, and GTM Insurance.
They sought mostly sales representatives to join their companies and they conducted mini-interviews with interested candidates and set up follow-ups.
Other participating companies, the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo), Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) and the Guyana Power and Light Company (GPL), highlighted their apprenticeship workshops and programmes. GuySuCo provides students with a monthly stipend, food, accommodation, uniforms and the opportunity to work with top class manufacturers who hire them in return.
An official from GPL explained that the utility company has a four-year apprenticeship programme, which allows person between the ages of 15 and 17, who would have a sound secondary education with passes in both Mathematics and English, to unlock their technical potential, in the fields of electrical installation, transmission and distribution, network and designing, metering and engineering services.
General Equipment and Farm Supplies’ Human Resources Manager Gene Valenzuela explained that the last fair, which was held at Marian Academy last year, saw the employment of a differently-abled person who is now a member of their team and who has made a positive impact to the company. Asked what she expects from this year’s fair, Valenzuela said, “more committed staff.”
Some of the companies also used the fair to promote their new products. General Equipment and Farm Supplies introduced its line of John Deere Toys and Books, which are aimed at a generation of future owners.
Global Technology, which conducted interviews for future candidates to fill the positions of tutors in their academic centres and sales department, also launched its new Apple iMac computer, which is available at their stores nationwide.
The computer attracted the most attention when many participants were given the opportunity to have a first hand look at the technology.
