University students and other job seekers learned about employment opportunities with beneficiaries of the V.I. economic development program at a job fair Tuesday morning hosted by the Economic Development Authority and the University of the Virgin Islands.
Economic Development Authority beneficiaries receive tax benefits from the Virgin Islands government for meeting certain criteria, including hiring local workers and buying supplies from local vendors.
Margarita Benjamin, applications director for the Economic Development Commission (a division of the EDA), said one mandate of the EDC is to develop the workforce and the beneficiaries are required to interact with the community.
“Most (beneficiaries) have vacancies,” she said. “We’re hoping to find qualified Virgin Islanders and reduce the need to go outside to hire. We hope the students are exposed to what the company does and how to present themselves.”
Representatives from 18 companies and the V.I. Department of Labor and the V.I. Board of Education talked about their work, job vacancies and internships to scores of interested community members on St. Croix.
The Labor Department provided a variety of resources, including job search websites, information on resume writing and career building workshops, and VIEWS: the Labor website for education and job seeking services.
Prudence Truitt, Labor’s rapid response coordinator, said prospective workers can contact employers directly about jobs on VIEWS without having to involve the Labor Department.
According to Benjamin, several companies received resumes and conducted preliminary interviews, including the V.I. Telephone Company and Ocwen Mortgage Servicing. Tionee Veira, an Ocwen recruiter, said there are 13 positions open on St. Croix for home retention consultants and two openings for capital markets analysts.
One of the job hunters was Shalanda Clarke, who works at the Divi Casino but is looking to “expand her horizons.” Clarke earned a degree in health services last year and is studying for a master’s degree in health care administration. She is looking for something in the health field or customer service and talked to the Caribbean Kidney Center, the Labor Department and Ocwen.
“Every job fair helps,” Clarke said.
Richard Difede, one of the founders of Gold Coast Yachts, said he was representing his company and the governor’s Marine Industry Economic Development Council to educate the community about boat building and employment in the marine industry. Difede and his partner, Roger Hatfield, are looking for qualified people to slowly take over management and design responsibilities for the company, he said.
Karen Rasmussen of Cane Bay Partners VI, a financial consulting and management company, said she talked about the company’s internships for UVI students studying math and science.
“We’re trying to get the word out,” Rasmussen said. “I had a good experience today – a couple of resumes and talked to good people.”
Other EDA/EDC beneficiaries participating in the career fair included The Buccaneer, Seven Seas Water, St. Croix Renaissance, Divi Carina Bay, International Capital and Management Company, Innovative, GCI Management, Kazi Management St. Croix, Professional Holding Company VI, St. Croix Financial Center, St. Croix One, and Virgin Islands Paving.