WILLEMSTAD - On May 11th and 12th the seventh edition of FRED Expo will take place in Rotterdam; the Flinx Recruitment Expo Dutch Caribbean (FRED). Since 2012, FRED has been the recruitment and networking event for connecting the islands with Antillean and Aruban students and young professionals in The Netherlands. FRED’s home base has always been the World Trade Center (WTC) in the heart of Rotterdam. The event gives Caribbean employers the opportunity to meet potential future employees face-to-face. And in turn, the students and young professionals get the chance to learn more about career opportunities on the islands in person.
Necessity
The entrepreneurs Tristan Every from Aruba and Quincy Sintiago from Curaçao Quincy Sintiago started FRED back when they were students themselves. Tristan explains why they still organize FRED while having busy jobs of their own: “Despite, or maybe even because of, the adverse economic conditions of the islands, we believe it is our duty to continue to offer this platform. It’s extremely necessary to bring back ‘our’ professionals to the islands to further stimulate the economy here.”
WeConnect
This year FRED is once again partnering up with WeConnect, an organization situated in The Netherlands that helps students and young professionals to secure a job, traineeship or internship back home. According to their Business Leader Tanja Fraai: “We support and back FRED 100%, since we’re both working towards the same goal, bringing back brains. We encourage our entire network of both employers and employees to be present at the Expo on Saturday, May 11th. WeConnect will be there as well, I myself will be moderating several panel discussions on the main stage. Together with several companies, such as Ictual and Kooyman, we’ll also be holding a workshop. It is truly going to be a unique and inspiring event, and I’m speaking from experience!”
Organizations
The expectations are high; with over 20 participating companies, Tristan expects over 500 participants to be there. According to him: “In the last few years we’ve seen quite an increase in participation from Aruban companies. This is due to the strides these companies are making in the direction of innovation and technology. We can really see that from the vacancies they have available.” The sectors being represented at FRED are once again quite diverse: medical, legal, financial, and tech companies from the islands will all be present. With only a couple of weeks to go, the organizers are feeling optimistic. “There are always companies that sign up at the last minute; they may get a bit less PR exposure, but they’re definitely welcome!”
Program
Just as in the last edition, FRED will have a diverse program of speakers and panels on the main stage. The topics that will be covered range from the economies of the Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao, to the questions of short- and long-term opportunities on the islands. Both invited guests as well as company representatives will be participating in the main stage program.
Besides the speakers, workshops, presentations, and the job fair itself on May 11th, FRED also gives companies the opportunity to hold interviews on May 12th. Candidates can be invited by participating companies to come by for an interview, whether it’s to get to know each other or for an actual opening that they have. Register for free on the website to participate at FRED and even have the chance to be invited for an interview: www.fredexpo.com.
