In need of candidates in health, Guyana and Mayotte arrive at the Paris job fair

Every year, 20 000 candidates flock to the Paris job fair, the main French recruitment fair. The 22^e edition is held from November 21 to 22 at Place de la Concorde, in Paris. For the first time, the territories of Mayotte and Guyana are present. On site, the recruitment needs are immense, particularly in terms of health.

In the medico-social and early childhood sector, 80 positions are to be filled immediately in Mayotte. “We are looking for specific professions: specialized educators, speech therapists, psychiatrists, occupational therapists… These are professions that we have difficulty finding, which is the reason for our presence at this show”, explains Kassandrah Chanfi, the communications director of Mlezi Maoré, an association which works with the most vulnerable in Mayotte.

But to attract talent, the Mahorese community must promote its island and try to erase the bad image, particularly in terms of insecurity, which sticks to 101^e French department. “Instead of relying only on the negative, there are plenty of positive things in Mayotte. Life, especially the people! argues Ikbal Mondroha, responsible for partnerships within the Mayotte delegation in Paris. We base ourselves on these arguments to bring in candidates.”

The regional agency of Guyana and the three university hospitals of the territory are also present at the show. They offer nearly a hundred positions. Attracting candidates to Guyana is not so easy and several measures aim to make the offers more attractive. “There are plane tickets that we cover for professions in shortage, accommodation solutions that we also put in place,” explains Colette Ilmany, pioneer of care coordination at Guyana University Hospital.

But if recruiting is already an obstacle course, keeping employees on site is an almost impossible mission. “Where we have a difficulty is in building loyalty, recognizes Colette Ilmany. The professionals will stay three or six months. (…) We attract, we bring in, but people don’t necessarily stay.”

Health, commerce, industry, logistics, cybersecurity… Nearly 2 000 recruiters are present at the show. This year, 500 positions are to be filled in Guadeloupe, Guyana, Martinique, Mayotte and Reunion.