Bermudians seeking employment in a sparse job market were given a leg up yesterday at the "Right Here; Right Now" employment workshop at the Bermuda College.

Approximately 150 unemployed Bermudians came to the event, which was sponsored by the Department of Labour and Training, to learn about job training, job placement and to get some career advice.

Held in the college gymnasium, representatives from various Government organisations and some from the private sector, including the Bermuda Police Service, the Department of Corrections, the Bermuda Regiment, Bermuda Fire Service and others were on hand to answer questions and provide information about careers in their respective fields.

Senator David Burch, the Minister of Labour Home Affairs and Housing, who hosted the event, said: "If you are unemployed, we want you employed, if you are underemployed we want you fully employed, if you lack your high school diploma we want to help you achieve your GED, if you lack certification in your trade we want to help you achieve your certification."

People young and old from all kinds of backgrounds came out for the workshop, many of whom had recently lost their jobs due to the global economic downturn. The crowd included people as young as 18 as well as those well into their sixties, but despite their differences in age and background they all had one thing in common – the need for a stable, secure career.

One gentleman in his late fifties from Southampton, who declined to give his name, said that he had just been laid off from a company where he had worked for 29 years.

"New management came in, they re-evaluated the way the company runs and they decided that they no longer needed me," he said. "So here I am after 30 years of having a steady job and a steady paycheque I am back to square one. I should be retiring in a few years – not starting all over from scratch."

Another gentleman, Chris Chiappa, 30, from Pembroke, said the dwindling number of visitors to Bermuda forced the company he worked for to let him go.

"I need to find steady work," he said. "I got laid off from my job at a bike rental shop because of the lack of tourists on the Island. I have copies of my resumè ready to give out and I am just trying to find a stable career – no more dead end jobs."

A large portion of the people in attendance had worked in the construction industry.

"Things are tight right now, so I am here seeking a job," said Shawn Showers, 38, a recently laid off construction worker. "Ideally I would like to build a career working for Government because I need benefits like insurance, etc. For me, the problem with working construction is that the work is not always steady and there is no guarantee that my job will be there forever."

Phillis Fowler, a former secretary from Pembroke, said: "My job was made redundant after 13 years – one day it was just 'bye bye, see you later'. I have always enjoyed my work so I said to myself 'let me go out today and see what kinds of opportunities are out there'."

And Sen. Burch urged those seeking work to keep an open mind saying that having any job – even one that is not ideal – is better than no job.

"Worldwide new job growth has stalled," he said. "The story is no different in Bermuda. If you are unsuccessful in landing a job Right Here, Right Now our goal is to prepare you for jobs that will become available in the near future. Do not despair. Take a chance, be willing to step outside of your comfort zone. Reinvent yourself."

He added: "Bermuda, the world has changed, the job market is far more competitive. We no longer have to leave Bermuda to face global competition. It meets us the moment we step outside our door. Reinvent yourself into being the person who retains their job, works harder, is punctual, consistent and reliable.

"At the end of this event, it is our hope that some people will have established good leads towards employment, but most important of all – that we know who you are, know what your skill sets are and where to find you.This will not be our last event to assist the people that need the Department's help. I urge you to stay tuned as we continue to roll out the Building the Employee of the Future series."