JOB LINE: ‘1000 or more’ applying for work at new supermarket

A staggering number of people have queued at a Hervey Bay shopping centre with resumes in hands, eager to receive a position at a new store opening in mid-August.

Hundreds of people have queued inside a Hervey Bay shopping centre with resumes in hands, eager to receive a position at a new store opening in mid-August. Picture: Isabella Magee

This Hervey Bay Shopping Centre was busier than ever today.

But the full parking lots and queues inside weren’t a rush for bargain sales.

Locals lined at Hervey Bay’s Stockland Shopping Centre, blocking entrances to other stores and closing one of the centre’s exits, in hopes to secure a position at the new Fresh & Save.

Picture: Isabella Magee

The business plans to open in mid-August this year, as they accepted “hundreds” of resumes for all sorts of positions ahead of their opening.

Fresh & Save had taken to Facebook, Seek and Indeed to urge anyone who wanted to apply for a position at the new store, to attend the resume drop, which started from 10am and will run until 6pm tonight.

Another resume drop will also take place the same times tomorrow – Wednesday, June 17.

Belinda Dukes will be the General Manager at the Hervey Bay Fresh & Save and said she’s “so excited” for the store’s opening. Picture: Isabella Magee

Hervey Bay Fresh & Save’s General Manager Belinda Dukes told the Chronicle she had “no idea” how many resumes she’d already received at about 11am this morning.

“I would say at least well over 100 (people have applied) in the first hour,” Ms Dukes said.

“We’re expecting anywhere up to 1,000 or more (applicants), we had 2,900 people apply when we opened (Fresh & Save) in Maryborough.”

Fresh & Save are on the hunt for “all different people” to fill varied roles within the store, from cashiers and night-fill staff to managers.

“We’re looking for all different people, which is wonderful … You don't necessarily have to be experienced, we’re just happy for anybody to come down and put their resume in, we just want to get the right team with the right attitude,” Ms Dukes said.

Summer Campbell, 16, applied for a position at the new Fresh & Save. Picture: Isabella Magee

Summer Campbell, 16, who applied for a position at the Fresh & Save, told the Chronicle she has been looking for a job for over two months and finds it “very hard”.

“I’m looking for places (to find a job), it’s been very hard, though,” she said.

“I found out about the job from Facebook, to be honest, I was expecting a lot more people to be here for 130 spots (available at the new store).”

Brendan Cullen, 32, applied for a manager position. Picture: Isabella Magee

However, others applying, like Brendan Cullen, 32, were surprised by the amount of locals seeking employment but was keen to “give it a go”.

“I was surprised to see how many people were here but it’s good to see and everyone needs a job,” Brendan told the Chronicle.

“I’ve found it difficult to find a job … I’ve been made redundant, I was doing management before so that’s what I’m looking for.”

Originally published as JOB LINE: ‘1000 or more’ applying for work at new supermarket