By LEDEDRA MARCHE
Senior FN Reporter
lededra@nasguard.com
At least 28 Grand Bahama applicants were hired on the spot over the weekend to fill vacant posts at Four Seasons Resort in Great Exuma.
A team of resort executives were on island for a job fair at the Ministry of Tourism Office in the International Bazaar designed to fill immediate openings for 36 positions.
Among the spots were director of human resources, Kids for All Seasons manager, security officer, pest control technician, seamstress, laundry wash attendant, hair stylist, cook, pastry cook, steward, restaurant manager, assistant golf superintendent, private bar attendant, hostess, mechanic, kitchen mechanic, chef de partie, painter, laundry valet technician, pool manager and landscaper.
Here to conduct the various stages of the interview were General Manager Antoine Chahwan, Human Resources Assistant Director Natalie Roberts, Director of Food and Beverage Philippe Larrieu, Executive Chef Billy Akunna, Director of Security Leroy Major, Director of Guest Services Girish Seghal, Training Manager Karla Ranie, and Shef Concierge Sharmain Deveaux.
Human Resources Assistant Director Roberts said the job fair was moderately well attended.
Grand Bahama residents were given first preference at the job spots this year in light of the ruination and increased jobless rate caused by two hurricanes last month.
While some 28 had been hired by the time of this interview at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, Roberts pointed out the possibility that there could be more before they left that afternoon.
"We would like to see more people but of course at the same time, our time is limited," she told The Freeport News Saturday on the last leg of interviews.
Drug screens were conducted on site which, Roberts says, helps to speed up the process. A nurse travelled to Freeport with the executive team.
"We work very closely with Dr. Nicholas Fox for the MediCentre in Nassau. He has a clinic in Exuma and it was easier to have a nurse come along," she said.
The next step after the team travels back to Exuma is carrying out further personal background checks.
The drug screen paper work is then matched with the application, and if the tests come back positive then he or she is out of the running already, she assured.
"If they meet those requirements then we'll be calling those persons that we hired these last two days," she said. "We'd be calling them on the first of November."
As far as the security positions, Roberts revealed that the resort will also be conducting its own checks.
The resort was looking to hire technical people in the key departments such as engineering and the food and beverage. They were successful in the food and beverage and have some prospects in engineering.
"Since the director of engineering nor his assist could be here, those applications are going back with us and those people here will be called by Tuesday to take that further, she explained.
A decision has yet to be made on whether the team will be returning for more recruits.
Roberts says they are just one year into getting the resort property up and running and its going to take a while for it to get up to standard.
The resort property employs some 500 people. Its goal is to get up to about 600.
"We are very happy to come to Freeport. Our organization is very keen on hiring qualified Bahamians who are interested in the hospitality industry," she said.,
The human resources executive added that once applicants come with a smile, a good attitude, well groomed, well spoken some experience of some sort and are willing to accept the Four Seasons training, the resort is willing to give them a chance.
"We have a lot of policies and procedure and they are in place for a reason," she pointed out. "we've been a very successful company worldwide and that comes with having everything in place and in order so that we can service our guests, giving them the best service they come looking for."
Ministry of Tourism Training Manager Grand Bahama Jackie Gardiner expected more people would turn out, particularly with the closure of the Royal Oasis Resort as a result of the hurricanes.
"So I was somewhat disappointed, even with the application forms, because only 20 to 25 per cent of the persons who came here to apply for positions were from the Royal Oasis," she said.
Samuel Gardiner, Ministry of Tourism, Grand Bahama, Senior Director, was pleased with the role the ministry was able to play in the exercise.
"As far as we are concerned, even though it may seem as if Grand Bahama may be losing some of its expertise for the time being, the more qualified people we can put throughout the far reaches of the industry, the better the industry for the whole country," he stated.
One young woman leaving the job fair after learning she got the job was all smiles and was given congratulatory salutations and a round of applause by fellow applicants.
YOU'RE HIRED — Four Seasons Human Resources Assistant Director Natalie Roberts was on island with a team of executives this weekend to hire several Bahamians for vacant positions.
(Staff photo by Lededra Marche)
