In preparation for a busy Christmas retail period, QIC has launched a national Jobs Fair initiative providing job seekers with an opportunity to access more than 600 potential local jobs from 70 retail partners across three states.
Large-scale recruitment drives will be hosted across 12 QIC centres in Queensland, Victoria and NSW between August and September to help retailers hire new workers.
Prospective candidates have an opportunity to apply for full-time, part-time and casual roles in an extensive range of jobs in fashion and lifestyle brands, local food and beverage businesses.
Stephen Dewaele, QIC’s GM of shopping centre management, said two in three retail businesses have experienced worsening labour shortages during the past three months.
“With Black Friday and Christmas being one of the busiest times of year for our retail partners, this is a great opportunity for local job seekers to gain direct access to active employment opportunities,” Dewaele said.
Applicants are encouraged to register on a pre-booking system to guarantee a time slot while walk-in applications will also be accepted at a number of these major centres.
Participating retailers include H&M, JD Sports, Lorna Jane, Bonds, Grill’d, Witchery, Pandora, Chemist Warehouse, Schnitz, Hoyts and Strike Bowling.
Kathleen Hart, GM of Robina Town Centre in Gold Coast, said, the mall’s inaugural Jobs Fair will provide a seamless and streamlined recruitment process for our community members and retailers alike. A similar jobs fair held at Brisbane’s Brookside shopping centre on 20 July attracted 120 candidates and 12 retailers.
The QIC Jobs Fair launches on 2 August at Robina Town Centre, Castle Towers, Eastland, and Watergardens. From 9 August, other participating centres will launch: Grand Central, Pacific Epping, Hinkler Central, Westpoint, Forest Lake Shopping Centre, Hyperdome, Woodgrove, and Pacific Werribee.
Meanwhile, in another recruitment initiative, Brookside shopping centre management devised an idea to trial a ‘Speed Interviewing’ event. Christian Polglase, Brookside’s marketing manager, said the idea was sparked by the centre’s cafes struggling to keep up due to staff shortages.
“The event was an overwhelming success as judged by all the positive feedback we have received from both retailers and candidates,” Polglase said. “We are looking to hold the event again in the lead-up to Christmas.”
This story first appeared on our sister publication Inside Retail
