By Serene Luo

ABOUT 3,000 jobs, from shop assistants, customer service officers to managers, are up for grabs at Ion Orchard mall, which opens on July 21.

The uniquely designed 56-storey shopping and residential tower located above Orchard MRT station is the latest outfit to tie up with the Workforce Development Agency (WDA) and the Employment and Employability Institute (e2i), which match and train people for jobs required.

Yesterday, the mall's management launched a recruitment drive to find Singaporean and permanent resident workers on behalf of its 300 tenants, such as Burberry, watch brand Swatch and fashion boutique Club 21.

The agencies involved are pulling out all the stops in the training of potential staff.

Screening by e2i will first match job seekers with work most suited to them. Then applicants are given 'pre-employment' training to prepare them for job interviews.

The WDA will then train and prepare the successful applicants for work, working with the mall to prepare 'a specially customised training programme'. The agency has adapted a Certified Service Professional course particularly for the mall's service culture and retail environment, its spokesman said.

The programme will include etiquette training, grooming, and 'the finer points' of interpersonal skills, an Ion spokesman said.

Mr Ang Hin Kee, the chief executive of e2i, part of the National Trades Union Congress, said such a partnership will 'pave the way in setting new standards to reflect Singapore's status as a retail destination'.

The plan for stringent job training has been well-received by the mall's tenants.

Group chief operating officer Kesri Kapur of fashion and sports brand company RSH Limited, which will be opening Zara and Mango stores there, said: 'More than ever, during these critical times, service excellence holds the key to customer satisfaction and to sustained sales.'

Interested job seekers can apply online through www.e2i.com.sg/events_ION_Orchard or call the e2i hotline on 6474-3777 between 9am and 6pm from Mondays to Fridays. Registration closes next Friday.

This article was first published in The Straits Times.