Job expo predicts big queues for opportunities

Queues of jobseekers are expected at the third New Zealand Job Expo at the North Shore Events Centre this weekend.

Expo manager Helen Vincent said about 10,000 people were forecast to pay the $20 entry fee. The number of exhibitors is down slightly from 83 last year to 74, mainly because all but two of last year's 29 Australian employers are staying away.

Their absence has been partly offset by new local exhibitors such as Jetstar, Sky City and Labtests, the company taking over Auckland blood testing services.

Kaye Rollinson, general manager of Labtests' Australian-owned parent company Healthscope, said about 40 or 50 positions in the new network were still vacant.

SkyCity human resources manager Grainne Troute said her company would be looking for 20 new apprentices in chef work and hospitality, as well as other staff.

"We have 100 vacancies a month on an ongoing basis," she said.

Tauranga-based Home Instead Senior Care will be recruiting caregivers to look after elderly people in their homes and potential franchisees.

Ms Vincent advised jobseekers to bring copies of their curriculum vitae - on paper and on memory sticks - for exhibitors to upload them on the spot.

"It's worth getting that haircut and practising your 'elevator speech' - prepare how you are going to walk up to someone face to face and promote yourself," she said.

"Kiwis are terrible at self-promotion. But remember that 65 per cent of what anyone thinks of you comes from that first minute when you meet.

www.nzjobexpo.com