Applicants flock to STAR Career Guide job fair

MANILA, Philippines - An atmosphere of both excitement and hope flooded Hall 3 of the SMX Convention Center yesterday at the 2nd Philippine STAR Career Guide job fair. 

May trabaho ka Job Fair Domestic and International 2012 was co-sponsored by GMA News TV Channel 11. 

At 10 a.m., doors opened to allow jobseekers access to over 50 exhibitor-companies for local and overseas placements.

The event had call centers, IT companies, restaurant groups, retailers, real estate, as well as hotel and entertainment groups represented.

Over 2,500 jobseekers came from far and near, and were of all ages. Graduates fresh out of their togas, professionals looking for career growth, as well as those looking to relocate overseas flocked to SMX.

“First of all, Career Guide is a dedicated job section of The Philippine STAR. It is part of the promotions... to come up with job fairs. We have been doing this three to four years now, and we thought of doing it regularly,” said Bimbo Andrade, STAR marketing manager.

“The Job Fair helps jobseekers. For advertisers, they not only will be advertised in print, we will in fact also be bringing it directly to the applicants during the event,” Andrade added.

Claudine Tecson from the HR Department of GMA Network was enthusiastic with the turnout. 

“There are very good candidates, and we have already scheduled some of the applicants for exams,” Tecson said.  

“There are 300 vacancies in GMA Network alone, mostly in broadcasting and technical, engineering positions,” shared Tecson.

“Job fairs present ideas and expose graduates on how to really look for a job. Aside from job fairs, GMA Network also holds career talks by inviting schools where the network explains what goes on in the broadcast industry,” she added.

The big draw was the international placement opportunities that attracted a huge mass of applicants. Joining the Career Guide job fair for first time, Rochelle Ungos of Ruru Global Recruitment Services is happy with the turnout.  

“There are so many applicants,” she said, pointing to two stacks of CVs, both four inches high.  

“We have urgent positions we need to fill for Singapore. In total, we need to hire for 200 positions,” said Ungos, whose company was the only one with both Middle East and Singapore placements. 

“The Job Fair is definitely beneficial to us, and beneficial to job seekers that have no experience. This is a big help to them,” Ungos said, referring to the task of sorting through applications. 

SPi Global’s Kai Diaz provided insight on the shifting attitude toward call centers.

“Compared to past years, I think people are now more open to the call center industry. Before, when it’s call center, applicants back out. Within an hour, we piled CVs for our customer service voice accounts, and non-voice accounts,” said Diaz. 

Advertising service, kitchen and office staff openings, Mang Inasal, Pancake House Group of Companies, Resorts World and SM Retailer experienced crowding, similar to that of the overseas placement booths.

Registered nurses comprised a big number at the event. Twenty-seven years of age, and currently employed as admitting staff in a hospital on UN Avenue, a female jobseeker attended the job fair to look for overseas placement. After three years of working this is the first time for the Cavite native R.N. to go to a job fair.

“I am both positive and hopeful. The job fair exhibitors were all accommodating and helpful, and I have 3 CVs submitted,” she said.

Twenty-two-year-old Pampanga resident Charlagne Lacanilao, a fresh graduate of Our Lady of Fatima University in Valenzuela, learned of the Job Fair online and commuted two hours to get to the event.

Farther down south, two Surigao natives currently employed in one of Davao City’s big hospitals planed in earlier to Manila in order to get to the Job Fair on time. The two nurses are hoping for overseas placements.

After seven years working as a trader in an Alabang company, a Lyceum business graduate went to the job fair looking for overseas placement.  

“I learned about the Career Guide Job Fair from workabroad.com, and ideally I’m looking for placement in Australia,” the male applicant said. “In the meantime, I’m looking at Singapore for sales or customer service position. I am looking at working abroad to get a bigger income.”

Something must be good with the economy, as seen in the real estate placements. Property consultant of Anchor Land Holdings Inc. Jong Lozada was at the Job Fair to recruit 1,000 sales persons.

“For sales persons, we don’t have high requirements. Just 18 to 30 years old, and conversant,” says Lozada. “Getting applicants in The Philippine STAR Job Fair is good for our business.”

Noticeably, the number of exhibitor-recruiter companies at the Job Fair has increased in number. However, the venue dictates how many can be accommodated. 

“That depends on space and floor area. Others are declined because they cannot be included. This time we had 50 companies,” explained Andrade.

Next up, May trabaho ka Job Fair will go to universities, bringing Career Guide closer to the students. 

“Students know Career Guide has quality companies. Schools have career talks, discussions on professional issues,” he added.

The year-long event will be held eight times a year, skipping Lent, Christmas and the two months of the rainy season.