MB Job Fair draws both young and old
When it comes to giving opportunities, age doesn’t matter at the Manila Bulletin (MB) Job Fair, applicants said during the opening of MB’s first job-hunting event for this year, yesterday, at Trinoma Mall in Quezon City.
“Hindi nila tinitiningnan ang edad. Kaya ito, tumitingin ako ng puwedeng trabaho (They do not judge you because of your age. This encouraged me to try)” said 60-year- old Alejandro Mauricio, who just heard about the job fair when he came to Trinoma to watch a movie.
Counting the years of experience, the retiree believes that age is just a number and at the end of the day, your skills will be the ones to define you.
“Parte kami ng programming. Ako, when I started wayback, ang Windows noon 95 pa lang. If you have the talent, why not? Kaysa nasa bahay ka, wala ka naman gagawin (We've been part of the programming. When I started, we only have the Windows 95. If you have the talent, why not? Instead of just staying at home with nothing to do),” Mauricio stated.
According to MB Product Head Dante Mijares, the job fair houses a lot of opportunity for both the young and the old, and even for persons with disabilities.
“Our aim is really to give opportunity to those who are unemployed to make changes on their lives through legitimate and descent jobs.... We don't have age limit. This is open even to persons with slight disabilities. We are not discouraging them as there are a number of jobs that they are capable of doing. And there are employers who are able to hire as long as they can do the job,” Mijares noted.
Meanwhile, for the young ones who have tried a number of jobs already, the job fair gives them a lot of chances in finding the perfect careerpath for them.
“Dati naghouse keeping ako, banker. Sa office, secretary, clerk, marami na rin.... Dito, sana sa office (I've tried house keeping. I've been a banker, secretary, clerk, among others. Here, I hope to find an office job),” said Shara Mae Venosa, 24.
“I have no job right now. Maliit kasi iyong suweldo [doon sa dati kaya umalis ako]. Sana mashare ko iyong ability ko [rito sa job fair] (I have no job right now. The salary is too small in my previous job. I hope I can share my ability here),” shared Doris Joy Mapili, 32.
Being around for 116 years, the Manila Bulletin has gained the trust of many. “Eversince, kasama na kami sa job fair, from 2012 yata. Regular kami exhibitor. Si Manila Bulletin is stability wise at mas sikat compared sa other na nagoorganize ng job fair,” said Donald Tienzo, a recruitment associate from Sitel Philippines.
“We've been looking for job fairs before... They found out that the Manila Bulletin is holding a job fair. We got a good deal. And… the whole Metro Manila knows the job fair being held in Trinoma,” said Jayrose Timpile from the human resource department of Asia Travel.
In yesterday's job fair, the event has 51 confirmed employers; the biggest number in a Trinoma-held event, and close to the biggest one which involved over 60 employers.