More than 1,100 jobseekers went to the Job Fair conducted by the Office of Valenzuela City Congressman Win Gatchalian at the Valenzuela City Astrodome on Feb. 28 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Out of all the participants, 104 individuals were hired on the spot while others jobseekers wait for the result of their applications on companies, like International Business Machines or IBM and Convergys.
In the eight-hour job fair, applicants were given the opportunity to apply to at least 40 companies from the Recruiting and Placement Agency Association or RPAA. Hiring for local and international employments were available in the job fair as well as direct hiring opportunities to other companies and in call center industry.
Related News: Jobs key to economic growth – Gatchalian
Applicants were also able to get necessary documents for their job application with the one-stop booth of government offices in the job fair including the National Bureau of Investigation or NBI, Social Security System or SSS, Department of Labor and Employment or DOLE, and PhilHealth.
An Accounting Technology student of the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Valenzuela or PLV, Mary Grace Tam, lauded Gatchalian’s effort in putting up a job fair that connects employers to job hunters in one venue.
When asked why she wanted to get a job at an early age, “Gusto ko po kasing maituloy ang BS Accountancy, kailangan ko pa po ng one year sa college kaya naisipan ko po na magtrabaho para makapag-ipon,” Tam said.
“Blessing in disguise po itong job fair ni Cong. Win kasi hindi ko na po kailangang mag-walk in sa mga company,” she added.
Related News: Gatchalian to gov’t: focus on job creation
The PLV student also expressed confidence that her fresh knowledge in Accounting Technology and her young age will give her an edge in getting hired for a job.
“Kasi fresh pa po sa akin ‘yung mga pinag-aralan namin, iyon po ang magiging lamang ko sa iba bukod po sa bata pa ako,” Tam said.
Meanwhile, a 23-year-old Nursing graduate, Rosel Manangan, hopes to land a job that would help her earn and save money for board examination.
“May experience po ako sa pagiging office staff. Sa dati ko pong trabaho ako po ‘yung nag-iinterview at nagko-coordinate ng iba pang staff ito ang magiging edge ko sa iba pang mga applicants ngayon. Pakiramdam ko po matatanggap ako sa trabaho ngayon,” Manangan said.
Last year, Gatchalian organized two job fairs at the Valenzuela City Astrodome, in which a total of 2,139 jobseekers participated in the events.
Related News: Gatchalian’s local programs on job creation
The number of jobseekers, 104, hired on the spot last Feb. 28 in the event were higher than that of the two job fairs organized last year, 97. (Camille Nepomuceno)