THE students of the different CWC member schools line up during the first major job fair of the year which featured a paperless application process.

STUDENTS of the CWC member schools came in their best business attire to join the job hunt, made easy by JobsDB’s paperless application system.

JUST a few short years ago, a job fair was a painful yet necessary step in finding employment. It meant making several photocopies of your resume days before, waiting in line for hours on the day itself, and the long anxious wait for the phone to ring in the following days.

For students of Assumption College, College of the Holy Spirit of Manila, Miriam College and St. Scholastica’s College Manila, all member institutions of the Consortium of Women’s Colleges (CWC), it was as quick as a couple of hours. It’s all thanks to a new paperless system pioneered by JobsDB Phils, Inc. in the recent CWC Career and Admissions Fair 2007 held at the SM Megatrade Hall of the SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City. This development should delight not only young future professionals but also their parents who work hard to send them to school for a productive life.

The fair’s opening was attended by Department of Agriculture Secretary and presidential adviser for job creation Arthur Yap, as well as the presidents of the four CWC member institutions: Sr. Angelica Leviste, St. Scholastica’s College; Sr. Ancille Elvena, College of the Holy Spirit; Dr. Patricia Licuanan, Miriam College; and Sr. Gertude Borres, Assumption College.

The first day was reserved for graduates and alumnae of the CWC member institutions, while the second was made open to the public.

For this job fair, JobsDB introduced the Career Card—a credit card-sized pass to easy application in any one of the 80 companies at the fair. The card contains a bar code which can be scanned at the booths of the recruiters. Each barcode corresponds to an individual’s application which is stored in the recruitment network’s massive database. Applicants were encouraged to register online beforehand, or—if they have no access to the Internet—register on site. Creating a virtual resume was as simple as filling up box forms with personal information required by the companies. ID pictures, sample work and the like were uploaded or scanned, and attached to the resume. For those not as tech-savvy as others, the fair also offered free encoding, done by TESDA volunteers present at the fair. Once registration was completed, jobseekers needed only to hand over their cards to the potential employers for a scan.

Because the paperless system dramatically reduced the time, paper and space often required for the application process, all of the estimated 4,000 students in attendance were easily accommodated by the system. Some were even interviewed on the same day.

“Many people are now familiar with surfing the net for work and sending their resumes online. What the fair aimed to do was bring that same kind of ease, convenience and cost-effectiveness out of cyberspace into the so-called real world of the campuses, convention centers, and trade fairs where the jobseekers and employers actually meet in real time. Like online job hunting, the Career Card and the paperless job fairs are fairly new developments that people will soon take to and become familiar with,” explains JobsDB country manager Jayjay Viray.

An added benefit is the level playing field it creates for all jobseekers, regardless of financial capability or technical training. “First, the less privileged jobseeker can cut down on cost as he no longer has to print several resumes which he may not be able to afford. Second, it can help reduce any avenues for discrimination. Sometimes, even if he is qualified, a poor technical worker’s resume is not screened simply because the quality of the paper is not as crisp or as white as the white-collar applicants,” adds Viray.

The Career and Admissions Fair, aside from catering to the seniors of the member schools, was also open to the juniors in search of practicum or on the job training opportunities.

“It’s a smooth transition from school to work. Many of the steps that were part of the system have been eliminated to make it not just more convenient for the girls but also for the employers,” said Patricia Licuanan, CWC executive committee chair and president of Miriam College, during the fair.

“The mood that’s very prevalent is that of enthusiasm and gratitude. The young girls are quite aware of what the situation is like outside. If they were to go on their own without any help from the institution, it would be tough competition. They really appreciate this,” added College of the Holy Spirit president Sr. Ancille Elvena.

Perhaps giving in to a little bit of indulgence, the Career Card has one final trick up its sleeve—it is also a discount card. In partnership with Rewards Infinity, applicants also get some perks when they go to the member establishments. As for upcoming job fairs, it will just be a matter of showing the plastic.

JobsDB Phils, Inc. is the Philippine branch of the Hong Kong-based employment firm.

For more information about the CWC Career and Admissions Fair, call 914-8000, e-mail marketing@jobsdb.com.ph or visit www.jobsdb.com.ph.

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