Minister Michael Fahy Remarks: Bermuda Job Board

Good Morning,

Today I am here to announce some exciting changes which have been made to the Bermuda Job Board.

As you will recall, the Bermuda Job Board, which launched in November 2013, is an online, user‐friendly platform available to Bermudians seeking employment. The introduction of the Bermuda Job Board has significantly enhanced the job search process for Department of Workforce Development clients and the entire community. Likewise, it has assisted employers in identifying qualified local resources.

Over the course of almost two years we’ve had the opportunity to track user experience on the site.  We’ve listened and incorporated feedback from Employers and Candidates to improve the Job Board model. 

There are now 1113 employers and 6530 clients registered on the Bermuda Job Board....and there are currently some 150 jobs listed. To date, the total number of applications submitted through the job board is 36,400.

So, what are some of the new changes to this tool which I am here to tell you about today? First of all, there has been a software upgrade, which will further improve functionality for both users and administrative staff. The upgrades help the Job Board to remain current with technological and security advances while enhancing function and user interface. They will also mean lower costs when making any future enhancements to the Job Board.

Second, information on expiring work permits will now be displayed to include the job title and work permit expiration date and job details from the original job posting. This will allow for candidates to prepare themselves for upcoming potential jobs by ensuring their skills are relevant to the required skills needed.

Third, the addition of a new 'Resources Tab' will link Users to relevant and current information on Resume Development Tips, Cover Letters, Interview Skills, Dressing for Success, and General Employment Information. The Resources Tab provides an excellent opportunity to share information with job-seekers, ultimately equipping candidates with strategies to build a strong profile and application for consideration.

Fourth, there will now be a mandatory field on the job board requiring employers to report on recruitment through the Job Board by responding to the question: "Have you hired a candidate for this position that applied via the Job Board?"  This will enhance reporting on recruitment activity.

There will also be direct links to the Department of Workforce Development’s website and enhanced “Applicant” reporting for employers which is required for the Work Permit Policy. The enhanced applicant reporting will enable us to obtain current feedback on recruitment efforts from employers and successes experienced by applicants.

Overall we have maintained the look and feel of the website as much as possible to maintain user-friendliness, however the enhanced features will incorporate minor changes to the look and functionality.

The new features will go live on Saturday January 23rd, 2016.

I would like to thank several organizations for making these changes possible...Fireminds, LANSA, W&W Solutions Ltd., Government’s Information Technology Office, E-Government, the Department of Immigration Team and the Department of Workforce Development Team.

I would also like to take this opportunity to remind employers that, with the implementation of Bermuda’s new Work Permit Policy on March 1st 2015, all employers are now required to advertise all available positions (prior to applying for a Short Term or Standard Work Permit) for a minimum of eight consecutive days on the Bermuda Job Board.

In closing, I would like to encourage all individuals looking for work to register on the Bermuda Job Board and at the department in order to increase your chances for finding available job opportunities.

Individuals seeking assistance with registering for the Bermuda Job Board should contact the Department of Workforce Development helpdesk directly at 297-7714 extension 1820 or by email to dwd@gov.bm.

Thank You.