By Daniel P. Tapaoan, Jr. 

Graduating students of the Mariano Marcos State University flocked to the University Student Center today, July 1, to apply for employment opportunities offered by various government agencies and private companies in the province.

Organized by the Office of Student Affairs and Services - Career Hub Unit, the MMSU Job Fair 2022 accommodated 37 booths of government agencies, private companies, supermarkets, hotels, banking and finance firms which are looking for manpower from the university.  

Also present in the job fair is the one-stop shop that provides various employment services for free. This includes the provincial Philippine Statistics Authority, PhilHealth - Local Health Insurance Office, PAG-IBIG Fund Office, Department of Trade and Industry, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, and Civil Service Commission. 

The annual activity is made more efficient by the university’s Career Directory page, which consists of employers’ booths and their respective company profiles. Using the directory, students can browse and immediately see job opportunity postings. 

MMSU Career Hub Chief Geraldeen Pascual hopes that more graduating students will be employed by the recruiting agencies through the activity. 

Prior to the job fair, graduating students participated in the pre-employment coaching activities from June 27-30. 

First, they enrolled to Accenture’s Skills to Success Academy, a high interactive online training program that helps learners build skills and confidence, find fitting employment, and succeed in their chosen careers. 

Second, they attended a webinar on various topics on workers’ rights, labor market information, possessing basic etiquette in job application, and a workshop on writing winning resume and cover letter. This was followed by a mock interview facilitated by faculty members of the College of Arts and Sciences - Department of Languages and Literature. 

OSAS Director Jan Rich Guira said the program is the university’s way of preparing students for their future work by equipping them with the needed knowledge and skills for them to be ready in real-life job market situations.

This year’s pre-employment coaching and job fair program is themed, “Becoming Future Proof: Remaining Relevant by Navigating through Uncertainties.”

The annual event forms significant part in attaining academic excellence in the university, one of the ACHIEVE agenda of MMSU President Shirley C. Agrupis. (HLY/JVBT)