We can work it out

Let me start with an analogy: imagine a thousand cars cramming themselves into one lane. That is one way of describing the job-hunting scene. Before, there was less competition and perhaps more jobs available, and all you needed was your diploma. But now, there are more graduates every year, less opportunities, and more skills needed. Yes, more cars on the job-hunting highway.

We must assert, though, that there are other means of looking for a job other than flipping through classified ads (which is so old school). With just a few clicks of the mouse, you can search jobs via the Internet. You can also create your résumé and read tips of the trade.

A site that serves as an online portal for jobseekers is JobsDB.com. This is the largest online recruitment network in Asia, which Mr. Samuel Sung, CEO and chairman of JobsDB started in Hong Kong in 1998. Aside from the Philippines, JobsDB also covers other countries such as Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and America.

Recently, the Career and Education Fair 2006 was held at the World Trade Center, Pasay City. This partnership project between the government’s job creation program and JobsDB.com showcased a hundred companies offering more than 20,000 jobs to around 10,000 job-hunting professionals. President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was present in the opening ceremonies together with Secretary Augusto Syjuco of the Technical Education Skills and Development Authority (TESDA) and the Technology Livelihood Resource Center (TLRC).

"We are very excited with this project with JobsDB because it is an important strategy in creating jobs," says presidential adviser for job creation Arthur Yap. He explains that the VAT collection goes to the job-creation programs, and that they make sure that these programs are sustained.

"We bring technology to the relevant applicant and try to match people with the right jobs," says Edwin Coseteng, president of JobsDB Philippines. And the great thing about the fair is that they made use of the Microsite system. This enabled companies to streamline their recruitment process, create their own job database containing resumes of past and potential candidates, immediately match job requirements with skills, and work experience.

Jobseekers were provided with something more substantial. Industry experts from top companies interacted with members of the academe and the community of job-hunting professionals. There were career development seminars, which focused on issues like global competitiveness, the art of marketing oneself, tips for career advancement, and employment as a jump-off point to entrepreneurship. Plus, free assessment tests in English skills and personality development were given to jobseekers to make their choices clearer.

"We live in a very competitive environment where globalization and the information revolution make the constant upgrading of knowledge and skills essential," says JobsDB Philippines general manager Jay Jay Viray. "That is why JobsDB has a wider coverage in Asia Pacific and we constantly develop new technologies every year with the support of Mr. Sung."

To remain as industry leader, JobsDB has to offer the best product among competitors. Sung says, "By anticipating market needs and delivering the most professional service are the key to JobsDB’s success."

Thus, a wider job-hunting highway for job-seekers.

* * *

For more information, log on to www.jobsdb.com.