Job seekers, employers unite at STAR job fair

Economic and political turmoil notwithstanding, the country continues to strive hard to move forward. Thus, for two consecutive days, Megatrade Hall 2 at SM Megamall was abuzz with opportunity, anticipation, success and aspiration as The Philippine STAR held the first-ever JobStreet Classifinder Job Fair 2005. The event has been billed as the year’s biggest.

Secretary Patricia Sto. Tomas of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) graced the event as guest of honor and was welcomed by STAR president and CEO Miguel G. Belmonte and JobStreet.com business unit GM Lisa Gokongwei-Cheng.

The Philippine STAR and JobStreet.com forged a strategic partnership in July 2005 to give birth to JobStreet Classifinder, The Philippine STAR’s Sunday jobs section. Also adding glitter to the affair were top MTV VJs Marc Abaya and Cindy Kurleto, DOLE NCR director Ricardo Martinez and Mandaluyong city administrator Ernesto Victorino.

During the two-day event, thousands of applicants literally walked through open doors of opportunity in search of their dream job, armed only with their credentials, résumés and much-needed optimism. In the wake of political and economic uncertainty, the country’s high unemployment rate continues to be one of the government’s biggest headaches.

Heading the cast of employers accepting applications at the job fair were call centers Accenture, Teletech, Teleperformance, Etelecare and retail giant SM. Business outsourcing is one of the country’s biggest growth industries, with companies in call center operations and the like expected to fuel more employment opportunities for Filipinos in the coming months.

With what the country’s hopeful labor market perceives as a gap between people and jobs, applicants were one in expressing gratefulness to The STAR for organizing the job fair.

"The venue is great, the companies are all big-time corporations, and people here are really excited to land their dream jobs. Job fairs should be a monthly event because the people here are all great minds waiting to be tried and tested," Johnson, a young jobseeker, said.

A first-timer, Kiko shared that his sister found her two-month-old job in a previous job fair organized by The STAR. "I know I will also get my break here," he said.

Ela, another applicant who rubbed elbows with thousands others in pursuit of a dream, said: "It’s good to know that Philippine STAR is concerned about the well-being of Filipinos. It should serve as a role model for other companies."— Karen Sy