Sun.Star Cebu

Jobseekers share struggles of job-hunting

- GINALYN ASTUDILLO / CNU Intern

There are millions of jobseekers today, but there are also millions of inspiratio­nal stories about jobseekers who clawed their way to the top.

However, staying positive to get a job amidst all the rejection is both tricky and tough.

“Mang-apply ka karon pero mao gihapon di ka tawagan (You can apply but sometimes they never call you back),” said Michael Avenido, 39.

He was one of those who went to the IEC Convention Center in Cebu City last Tuesday for the Labor Day job fair.

Avenido, in recalling the many struggles he faced in looking for a job, said that a lack of good looks might lead employers to discrimina­te against you.

“Didto na seguro nila makit-an imong potential inig interview na ug sa imohang credential­s pud ba (They might not see your potential in the interview or your credential­s),” he added.

Avenido finished a business administra­tion course in 2003.

He first worked in Andoks Litson Corp.

In 2005, he was hired in Immigratio­n Network Services and worked there for a year.

He then went to Saudi Arabia in 2008.

He came back to the Philippine­s recently and decided to work here.

Having a family to raise, Avenido braved the long queues in the

IEC Convention Center together with hundreds of other jobseekers in the hope of landing a job.

Junel Machica, 26 and Jay Cariel, 27, who are both call center agents, also joined the job fair.

They said their company is currently in a “floating status” that’s why they decided to look for another job.

“Lisod ron kay usually graduate of a four-year course man ilang gipangita unya three years ra man ko,” Machica said.

Machica finished a three-year academic curriculum in Bachelor of Science in Marine Transporta­tion. He, however, was not able to have his apprentice training.

Machica lived in Ginatilan town before moving to Cebu City, where he hopes to find a job that will allow him to support his family back home.

He is the eldest in a brood of seven.

Cariel, on the other hand, is an orphan. Having no one to rely on, Cariel has to support his everyday needs.

“I really have to find a job because I have no one na man jud,” he said.

 ?? SUNSTAR FOTO / ARNI ACLAO ?? APPLICANTS. Jobseekers submit documents to representa­tives of different firms during the Labor Day job fair held at the IEC Convention Center.
SUNSTAR FOTO / ARNI ACLAO APPLICANTS. Jobseekers submit documents to representa­tives of different firms during the Labor Day job fair held at the IEC Convention Center.

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