BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

JOBSEEKERS looking to work in the private sector must assure employers that they will at least stay for a “good duration”, said some employers at Universiti Brunei Darussalam’s (UBD) career exhibition yesterday.

The duration varies accordingly with the preference and requirements of each company.

Daycare centre Kindy Kare “Kare Koordinator” Wardah Jaafar said they welcome jobseekers that have a passion for working with children.

“One does not necessarily need a background in education to join because we believe that we can train them. The bare minimum is just O-levels,” said the 24-year-old at UBD’s Career 101 exhibition.

Wardah, who holds a degree in Childhood, Culture and Education from the University of Birmingham, said Kindy Kare understands new recruits may not stay long but they do prefer them to stay for at least six months.

“For us the preference is six months, not because we are short on staff. There is actually a decent amount of people applying but because of the children. For a child to get attached to someone and for that someone to leave... that is hard (on the children),” she said.

Baiduri Bank Senior Human Resource Officer Norlinda Dee Hj Mohd Taib said applicants must be willing to give two or three to five years of their time to the bank.

She said they would be more inclined to hire those willing to stay at the company rather than those looking for temporary work placement.

Alimin Matyassin, one of the jobseekers at the exhibition, said that he was willing to work for a post unrelated to his course but admitted he could only stay for less than a year if he had the luxury to choose.

“The dilemma is that I would prefer to work in a place where I can apply what I have learnt but this does not mean I am choosing the public sector over the private sector,” said the graduate who recently finished his Masters of Philosophy in Digital Arts.

Some bonded scholars, meanwhile, said that it has been difficult to find work in their areas of studies.

Forensic Science graduate Edmond Lee Edward, who graduated in July 2013, said he has applied for posts at the Ministry of Health, Royal Brunei Police Force, a few private sectors, Autoriti Monetari Brunei Darussalam and Brunei Investment Agency.

“Not to blow my horn or anything but I initially expected (the job search) to be easier because I thought Brunei really needed people of my qualifications,” he said.

He said that he had been applying for various jobs for almost two years but to no avail as his degree does not fit many of the job requirements.

To make ends meet, Lee is working at Delifrance, manning one of the booths nearby the career exhibition in UBD.

“I decided to work in the private sector to fill my time but mostly because I don’t want to be a burden to my parents. I mean at the age of 23, you should at least have your own money for spending,” he said.

The BSc Forensics Science graduate said that he is now considering applying for masters in either Chemistry or any science related subjects at UBD.

“To be honest when I took a Forensic Science degree, it was for the country. It would be a shame as it is the government’s money after all... sending us overseas to study a course which ends up not being utilised.”

The Brunei Times