Job Fair Boosts ISCOS Members' Hiring, Skills Training

ISCOS (Industrial & Services Co-operative Society Ltd), in collaboration with JobStreet.com, is organizing the ISCOS Job Fair 2010 on 8 May 2010 from 9:30AM to 2PM at the National Volunteer & Philanthropy Centre (NVPC) Auditorium, #04-88 The Central.

The career fair is specifically open to all ISCOS members and their families and provides the platform for them to find gainful employment opportunities and subsidized training courses to upgrade themselves.

The event will be graced by Mr Masagos Zulkifli Bin Masagos Mohamad, Senior Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Education and Ministry of Home Affairs as Guest-of- Honour.

Other companies who have signed up for ISCOS Corporate Doors will also be attending the event. Corporate Doors is an initiative of ISCOS and the Singapore Business Federation and was launched last year by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs, Mr Wong Kan Seng. The initiative aims to get companies to hire at least 1 ex- offender in their company to assist the disadvantaged in their reintegration process.

Participating employers at the job fair have the following job vacancies to offer ISCOS members: operations executive, administrative positions, telemarketers, consultants, service/kitchen crews, laundry operator, stewarding crew, operations executive, and office cleaners, among others.

For members who wish to undergo training/retraining to stay employable, they can apply for financial help through the ISCOS Skills Assistance Subsidy Scheme (SASS). They can sign up at the job fair for subsidized training on any of the following courses: Certified Service Professional Course, Certified Operations Specialist / General Manufacturing Skills (Logistics) Course and WSQ Landscape Operation Course.

To provide inspiration to job-seekers, an ex-offender will share his story on how he overcame the challenges of job hunting. With only an ‘O’ level certificate which he earned in Prison school during his incarceration, ISCOS helped him to be hired as a car polisher in Mister Glossy, a project started by ISCOS. After learning the ropes of the business, he started his own small car grooming business and is now able to meet his family’s needs. He also equipped himself with other skills which eventually led him to obtain Class 4 and Class 5 driving licences.

With the many challenges ex-offenders face today, community support is very important to help them in starting anew. This brings them hope and will lead to a more peaceful and safer Singapore.