by Malissa Agnes Strauch
Nearly 90 job hunters participated in the Barangay Job Fair Caravan held last August 26 at the Public Employment Service Office (PESO), Los Baños Municipal Hall, Brgy.Timugan.
Companies located within the Laguna area, such as Dunkin Donuts, PeopleServe, Optimum, Eaton Industries, Generika Drugstore, Robinsons, and Savemore, participated in the Job Fair.
Although the event focuses on addressing the needs of Brgy.Timugan residents, applicants from nearby barangays and towns were also welcome to participate.
According to PESO employee Kathe Lyn Tamisin, local job fairs like this provide multiple benefits to the community.
“Yung maganda doon [ay] yung mga kompanya ay pumupunta dito mismo, (the good thing [about the job fair] is that the companies are already the ones who go here,” Tamisin added.
Compared to the traditional job hunting process, the job fair is more efficient since it provides applicants a selection of job offers in a single place, saving them both travel time and money. Another benefit is that the applicants have the ability to weigh their options. Since different companies are lined up side-by-side, choosing and comparing job offers is made easier.
. “… at least ang mga tao sa Los Banos direct na agad sila, hindi sila mag-recruitment agency (at least the people of Los Banos can directly [apply], without the need to go to a recruitment agency,” Tamisin further mentioned, noting the efficiency of the job fair.
Although there is a possibility for an applicant to be hired immediately, some companies inform job hunters that they may have to wait a few days before the official results may be released. This waiting time varies from company to company and may range from two to seven working days.
Some companies post the list of qualified applicants on their websites, other employers inform the accepted applicants via call or text.
21-year-old Brgy. Mayondon resident Crystal Deposa sais that she is currently hoping for a phone call from Savemore, where she applied as an accounting assistant. As a first time job fair participant, Deposa says that the event was beneficial; however, she noted that there were too many applicants and too little space.
This job fair is one of the many employment opportunities regularly offered by PESO, others including livelihood trainings and seminars to equip unemployed individuals, especially PWDs, former drug users, senior citizens, and undergraduates with essential livelihood skills.
PESO directs these programs towards the LB residents who might be discriminated in the workplace because of their age, educational attainment, or civil status.
Through its livelihood program, PESO gives these individuals an opportunity to earn a living by teaching them how to make handmade products such as soap, candles, and boxes.
PESO also offers three-month vocational courses that are open to anyone interested in increasing their livelihood opportunities and developing their skills.