With graduation right around the corner, a number of employers set up shop at the University of Guam to recruit soon-to-be-graduates.
With UOG hoping to be a pipeline feeding degree-holding individuals into the local workforce, the UOG Career Development Office Job Fair, held Friday, was an opportunity for employers to build their hiring pools.
“Today we are advertising ramp agent, cargo agent, … mechanic, … chauffeur driver (and) customer service. Each job has a different criteria, but it is kind of easy for everyone to participate and apply. We also have openings for office staff. I am just hoping for more applicants to apply,” Mika Crisfield, human resources, administration and payroll officer for Skydive Guam, told The Guam Daily Post.
Over 70 employers participated in the job fair. It featured companies big and small from various industries in private, public and federal sectors.
Skydive Guam was among them, conducting on-the-spot interviews.
“We are here to participate every year, especially this year. Our company is getting big so we would like to hire more staff, so it’s a great opportunity for us to come here and meet all the possible applicants,” Crisfield said.
“There’s so many great people that we would like to join our company,” she added.
The job fair was the place to be for jobseekers. It was evident as the university’s parking lot overflowed with vehicles outside the Calvo Field House.
The arena was a bustling center of activity as potential employers engaged with dozens of interested jobseekers all under one roof.
“It’s a great opportunity because not only the students, it’s open to the public. We have more chances for all the other people to get to know our company, not just the person interested in (working for) Skydive Guam,” Crisfield said.
The job fair was opened to UOG students, UOG alumni and the public, who were encouraged to dress professionally and bring their resumes.
During the event, the Post met with Joseph Taijeron, who was exploring options at a time in his life when he said change was welcome.
“I am trying to find something better for me and something long term. I’ve been at my job 20 years,” he said, in search for a new career.
Joseph Taijeron said he has years of experience in customer service with his current employer.
“The same field is fine, but if I can find something new, I am always up for something new. I deal with customer service. (I’ve) been doing that for 20 years and I think I want to find something better, something new,” Joseph Taijeron said.
Joseph Taijeron had just begun his rounds of the Field House, checking out the employer booths.
“I just got here, so I am walking around. But there’s already this one lady that came up to me from (Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command), so maybe I am going to check that out. I think I’ll try to find something in the federal government, something new,” Joseph Taijeron said.
The Post also spoke with Brittney Taijeron, who said the event was convenient and informative.
“I always appreciate these kinds of events. It helps with convenience for people. It’s also informative because not everybody is always aware of what positions and what organizations or companies that are hiring,” she said.
Brittney Taijeron was exploring not only her options in her career field, but also what’s offered in other industries.
“I am kind of towards medical, but I am also interested in always expanding my career opportunities,” she said. “I have a Bachelor’s (of) Science in general science. I’ve always been interested in public health, education and kind of expanding health to underserved and minority communities. That’s always been my focus.”
She said the event offered a diverse mix of employment opportunities.
“It’s nice to see both the local, like (Guam Regional Medical City) and (Fresenius Kidney Care Usg), but also the federal side and other civilian opportunities. I am open to whatever opportunity to further my career development,” Brittney Taijeron said.