PESO in Mandaue coaches job hunters

CEBU, Philippines - Did you know that jobseekers in Mandaue City are coached before they apply for a job?

City Public Employment Services Office (PESO) head Musoline Suliva said his office offers coaching of applicants for one hour for free.

He said the coaching focuses on how to handle job interviews and write application letters and resumes.

PESO attributes the 12,000 job applicants that were employed last year to coaching.

But nailing a job doesn’t come easy.

Suliva said call center companies seek PESO’s services but many applicants it recommends do not get hired because of lack of skills, such as fluency in English.

He said job mismatch remains a challenge.

“Call centers have high standards,” he said.

Aside from call center companies, malls and other firms also hire applicants with PESO’s help.

Last year, Peso matched 12,263 jobs, mostly in the government.

Many of those hired worked as job order employees at the city hall. The office matched 801 jobs in 2011 and 1,444 in 2010.

Unlike last year, government jobs were not include in the two previous years, said Suliva.

Its office also helped match jobs offered abroad, mostly in the Middle East.

Suliva said high school graduates and college dropouts who wish to find jobs can go to the PESO office at the third floor of the Mandaue City Sports Complex.

Firms conduct job interviews and examinations and hire applicants on the spot at the PESO office.

Suliva said his office coordinates with the Department of Labor and Employment and the Philippine Overseas Employment Agency. (FREEMAN)