Make full use of job centre, youths told

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KOTA KINABALU: Assistant Minister of Resource Development and Information Technology Datuk Jainab Haji Ahmad Ayid has encouraged youth to make full use of career development opportunities via the Sabah Job Centre.

Speaking at the launching of Sabah Job Centre with the youths yesterday, Jainab disclosed that to date, as many as 1,113 youths statewide had been interviewed through the programme since its inception in May.

Jainab pointed out that career opportunities in the state were aplenty and it was up to the youths to choose from the 411 job positions registered employers had to offer at the programme, yesterday.

Furthermore, she said the government, through the ministry, was constantly providing platforms for youths to improve their skills, and to look for suitable jobs.

Expressing her disappointment over the poor turnout yesterday compared to the high turnout elsewhere in Sabah, Jainab reiterated how the government was constantly helping the youths improve their skills.

“Sabah Job Centre provides favorable job opportunities for youths with numerous trusted and established companies.

“Companies and employers registered with the Sabah Job Centre enable the ministry to monitor their employment, avoiding problems such as youths being cheated by irresponsible agents,” said Jainab.

She added that the numerous cases where youths were lured into working overseas with lucrative salaries by irresponsible agents, should remind others not to fall into such trap, and grab opportunities such as the ones provided by the Sabah Job Centre instead.

She said although working outside of the state seemed to be promising, youths should keep their eyes peeled for career possibilities in the state as there are as many employment opportunities in Sabah as there are in Peninsular Malaysia or overseas.

Jainab also advised the youths not to be too selective when looking for jobs but rather constantly improve themselves through the various career development opportunities available, such as free consultations and skills improvement trainings.

The one-day programme organised by the Sabah Job Centre unit of the Resource Development and Information Technology Ministry since May this year were held throughout the state and culminated at the 1Borneo Grand Ballroom, yesterday.

The programme consisted of activities such as open interviews, career counseling/consultation, and career talks.

Meeting reporters after the launching, Jainab added that more allocation from Budget 2013 would be allocated for the improvement of English proficiency as well as practical skills for youth to enable them to be more marketable when looking for jobs.

This, she said, would also help decrease the state’s dependency on foreign manpower, namely in the hotel, and oil and gas industries.