Free job coaching services at upcoming education and career fair

SINGAPORE - For the first time, the Employment and Employability Institute (e2i) will be partnering the Career and Education Show in March to help job seekers apply for the "right jobs" through free career coaching.

The show is a good extension of what the institute does to help visitors understand career options in different industries, said Mr Gilbert Tan, chief executive of e2i, the National Trades Union Congress' training arm.

Finding the right fit is important because employees who are in a wrong job tend not to stay long, he said. Short job stints can also mar employment chances as future employers may be curious about the short stints.

Besides free career coaching, the institute's staff will also help walk-in applicants navigate the National Jobs Bank, which has about 54,000 listings. Workshops to improve resume-writing, interviews and networking skills will be conducted too.

In 2014, some 130,000 people - a mix of fresh graduates, A- and O-level students and working adults - visited the three-day fair, said Ms Linda Wan, the show's project director.

They wanted to know how they can get better at their jobs in order to be promoted, the type of additional training they may require and the different types of jobs they can apply for with their current education level.

Ms Wan welcomed the addition of e2i's addition, which would make the event more "practical".

"Our objective is to help visitors find the right career path for them... employability coaching, which is fast catching up as a guidance tool to channel job-seekers into jobs that they are best suited for and have a passion for, will be a focus at (the show)," she added. This is the 27th year the show is being held.

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