MIRI: Some 40 people attended the Sarawak Forestry Corporation Sdn Bhd (SFC) interview for the Apprenticeship Programme held in the Imperial Hotel here yesterday.
FORESTRY INTERVIEW: (From left) SFC officials Law, Tan, Arabi, and Japanie who form the interview panel.
The programme was initiated by the SFC managing director and chief executive officer Datu Len Talif Salleh last year.
“These candidates form the third batch of people we are planning to recruit for our six-month training programme from January to June next year,” said SFC (Administration and Finance Division) deputy general manager Thomas Law in the hotel yesterday.
The basic criteria for eligibility for the programme are SPM or STPM and age 18 to 25.
“The first batch of 30 candidates recruited on Aug 18 last year has completed its training and offered permanent jobs with us.
“The second batch, also of 30 candidates, is now undergoing its six-month training programme for May to mid-November.
“There will be two examinations they will have to take, before we decide on who to employ as permanent staff,” said Law who hails from Sibu and has extensive accounting background with an international accounting firm before returning to Sarawak and joining SFC in 2001.
SFC currently has about 700 employees distributed in the cities, towns, districts and national parks across Sarawak, and is the largest state-run corporation since it launched its operation in 2003.
“About 460 applications were received for the year-end batch, from which we will select 30 candidates through interviews to attend the training programme.
“We had conducted similar interviews in Bintulu for 50 candidates the day before, Kuching (150) last week, and Sibu (90) two weeks ago,” he said.
SFC normally advertise its programme early in the year and towards the end of the year for the two batches, through local radio stations and the English daily like The Borneo Post to inform potential candidates.
“We look at the candidates’ attitude, team work, communication and leadership skills.
“In forestry, they will be involved in field work, so they must not be too shy.
“They are also expected to learn about the various species of trees and types of timber,” he added.
SFC (Administration and Finance Division) Human Resource (HR) executive Hazuwani Halil emceed the events that consisted of an ice-breaking group interview session from 9am, and a group activities session in the early afternoon.
At least 11 candidates from Miri region were shortlisted and interviewed individually in the afternoon until 5pm.
SFC Administration and Finance Division HR manager Japanie Bujang explained that the main objective of the programme was a form of company succession plan.
“It offers more direct opportunities in terms of education for young Sarawakians and encouraging them to develop their workplace skills.
“The training will also benefit them in terms of career advancement in the forestry sector – even if they do not work for us they can still work for other forestry companies,” he said.
Forming the four-man SFC interview panel were Law, Japanie, Security and Asset Protection Division operation manager Tan Soon Tiong and Miri regional manager Abang Arabi Abang Amran.