MB Job Fair applicants get ‘answered prayers’ and new careers

Career advancement, jobs on the spot, and answered prayers were in the conversations of job seekers yesterday as the two-day 10th Manila Bulletin (MB) Classifieds Job Fair 2015 came to a close at the TriNoma Mall Activity Center in Quezon City.

One of the job hunters, 45-year-old JC Genevieve Nosidal, who was hired on-the-spot by West Contact Services, Inc. as a Customer Service Representative (CSR),

called it an “answered prayer” and an “advance birthday gift.” She will turn 46 on Sept. 23.

“Sabi ko nung pagpunta ko rito, sana tulungan ako ni Lord, at ayun nga, sa awa Niya, Monday na ko magsa-start (I prayed that the Lord would help me get a job, and with His grace, I will be starting on Monday),” said Nosidal, who added that her being hired is an advanced birthday gift.

This is the first time that Nosidal had gone to a job fair and she was hired on the spot.

“I have been hearing about the MB Job Fair on radio and television advertisements, and read about it in newspaper ads,” she said. She said she has worked for 18 years as a telephone operator and two years as a CSR in a business processing outsource (BPO) company. She thinks that work experience must have given her the edge.

Nosidal said she works to sustain the needs of her family, with four of her five children still in school. “At my age, I could still do a lot before retiring. I might get sick if I just stay home. I’m working not only for my children, but also for myself,” she said.

Long-term jobs Hundreds of job seekers were hired in the two-day event of the Manila Bulletin, said Ramon Ting, assistant vice president of the Metro Manila branches of the MB Classifieds.

The MB Classifieds Job Fair is really for job seekers who look for long-time careers. We want to help them secure their future by landing long-term, secure jobs, said Ting.

‘Answered prayer’

Another “answered prayer’ at the MB Job Fair was given to a fresh graduate. Rochelle Louilla Manangan, 24, who just graduated with a degree in Physical Education from Taguig State University, was also hired by West Contact Services Inc.

She said the job gives an opportunity to earn money while she waits for the licensure exams next year.

“I have always wanted to be a call center agent. I also wanted to earn money while I wait for our licensure exams next year,” she said.

“Applying for jobs is much better when you go to job fairs like this rather than personally going to BPO companies. When I applied before, it took me until 1 a.m. just queuing for a job vacancy,” she said.

West Contact Services, Inc., the company which hired Nosidal and Manangan, is a fifth-time exhibitor in the MB Classifieds Job Fair.

Aside from the two job hunters, 13 other applicants were hired on-the-spot at the MB Job Fair, said Carlo Cruz, a human resource practitioner from West Contact Services Inc. The new hires will report for work on Monday.

We are not looking at the applicants’ skills too much because we believe that we can still modify their skills during the six months of probationary period. What we’re really focusing on is the attitude,” said Cruz, who has been interviewing applicants in five MB job fairs already.

He added that the applicants’ willingness to learn and adapt, and openness to coaching is a huge point for them.

Recruitment Associate Jackilyn B. Almario of Teleperformance, another BPO company, supported this, saying that while skills of the applicants is an advantage, she looks for those who are dedicated to their work.

“For a BPO company, of course we are looking for applicants who are good communicators, but more important, we also want those applicants who are professional, who are dedicated to their work,” said Almario.

Positive attitude is the “number one” trait that we look for in applicant, Almario said.