1,200 Halloween jobs for grabs at Ocean Park

Ocean Park aims to hire 1,200 temporary staff for its yearly Halloween event with a salary boost.

The hires include 500 roving characters, stuntmen and actors to perform in haunted houses and performance shows.

The theme park hired 800 people last year for the annual event.

"This year's event will be the largest in scale since the pandemic," said events and entertainment director Eva Au Yeung Yee-wah. "We expect our staff to provide the best service to visitors by being open-minded and act according to training guidelines.

"This is not an easy job, but all our staff are happy with their jobs."

Persons with prior experience in the entertainment industry will be given priority.

The remaining 700 posts will be frontline and support staff, performance coaches, technicians and event assistants.

The hourly rates has increased by at least 10 percent - ranging from HK$78 to HK$165 per hour - compared to the previous year, depending on job nature and prior experience.

The hourly wages offered by the park in 2019 before the pandemic was between HK$58 to HK$165.

Working days will be from Friday to Sunday and other holidays for the whole month of October, with flexible hours offered.

Anyone over the age of 16 is welcome to apply. Training will be provided on site to those with no experience.

Candidates applying for acting roles will have to undergo an audition consisting of five panel judges. They will be tested on their ability to control emotions when acting and adaptability to different scenarios.

Angel Yu, 64, is a roving character at the theme park.

Having to rely on a wheelchair for mobility, she said that the park has been very welcoming and has assisted all her needs.

"My coworkers will protect me from all dangers," said Yu, who joined the park last year. "They guard me from visitors when they get too close to me."

Having been a ghost in a space capsule during the Halloween event last year, Yu said her character was tailor-made for her - the character was designed to sit on a wheelchair.

"We do not want people to realize Angel is disabled," said Au Yeung. "So we made the wheelchair one of the attributes of the character, rather than Angel's need."

Au Yeung added: "We welcome everyone above the age of 16 to apply - no matter their occupation, experience and background - as long as they are passionate in performing."

Au Yeung also said that the park is looking for applicants who are well-prepared and understand the job.

A recruitment event will be held on June 17 and 18 in a shopping center. Details are to be released soon by the park.

Performance coaches will share their experiences at the event. Participants will be invited to try on various costume makeup. Job interviews on the spot will be available and offers will be given out immediately to successful candidates.

Relevant information will be available on the Ocean Park Halloween website. Interested parties can register for an interview slot from June 1 until June 19.