The Capella is due to open on March 8 and has started a two-day walk-in recruitment drive for managerial and rank-and-file vacancies.

The drive was jointly organised by the Singapore Work Development Agency (WDA) and The Capella.

Among those seeking jobs were freelance workers, those looking for a career switch, and retrenched workers.

Mr Salim Bin Sajimin, 50, said: 'In Singapore, we really need to work till we say bye-bye. We don't have a backyard, cannot do gardening, so the only thing we need to do is work.'

Mr Salim, a technician with a maintenance firm, was retrenched late last year.

While most like him were trying their luck in the hotel industry, there were some who had been waiting for an opportunity to work in the hotel line.

Said Filipino Ms Emie Andanar who hopes to join the hotel as a Guest Relations Officer: 'I tried earlier, but there was no vacancy in August or September. The quota was filled up.'

The huge turnout surprised the hotel management.

'With the present situation, people are looking for jobs, so we anticipated many. But this is more than we expected,' said Mr Michael Luible, General Manager of The Capella.

Those who were interviewed at the drive will know if they have been shortlisted in about three weeks.

Selected hopefuls will move on to the next round of interviews.

Looking at the big turnout, Mr Jimmy Teo Choo Siong, 60, said: 'I don't think I will get a job, so many people. Old already, hard to get job.'