Due to open on March 8, Capella Singapore is aiming to fill both managerial and rank-and-file jobs with a two-day walk-in recruitment drive which ended yesterday.

Among the job-seekers were freelance workers, people looking for a career switch, and retrenched workers.

They included Mr Salim Sajimin, a 50-year-old technician who lost his job last year.

Two of his four children have just finished their O levels, one is studying in an Institute of Technical Education and another is looking for a job. 'I have to look for a job, no choice,' said Mr Salim, whose wife is a canteen vendor.

Among the job-seekers were those who have been waiting for a chance to break into the hotel sector.

Filipino Emie Andanar hopes to join the hotel as a guest relations officer. 'I tried earlier but there was no vacancy in August or September at other hotels,' she said.

The large number came as a surprise to 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, Capella Singapore's general manager.

Those who applied for jobs will have to wait three weeks before they know the results.

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

But it was not hard to feel that the odds were long. Looking at the 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 a job.'