300 hired right away in BPO fair

• Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/business/2017/09/11/300-hired-right-away-bpo-fair-563414
• Monday, September 11, 2017

(RVC)

MORE than 1,500 individuals participated in the first Cebu City job fair intended for those who wanted to work in the business process outsourcing (BPO) industry.

The Office of the Mayor, through the Cebu City Call Center Program, organized the fair and held it last Sept. 9, a non-working holiday in the city in honor of former president Sergio Osmeña Sr.

Nanette Garong, the City Government’s consultant on the BPO sector, said that at least 300 jobseekers were hired on the spot.

EPerformax, for example, immediately hired 31 individuals who will start the job immediately and also arranged for 18 to undergo training, before they can start work.

A total of 21 BPO companies participated in the job fair.

“This is our first job fair that is exclusive to BPO companies, because the City now has a program for call centers. Mayor Tomas Osmeña has been clear on his thrust toward supporting call centers,” Garong said.

Coaches were also present in the Cebu City Sports Center to assist the applicants who need to improve their skills.

Garong said those applicants who were almost hired will undergo coaching so they can qualify during the next job fair, while those who lacked the required skills were given modules to help them study.

Helen Retuya, 70, was among the senior citizens who tried their luck in last Saturday’s fair. In an interview with SunStar Cebu, Retuya said she was curious about call centers. Although she is now retired, Retuya said she is willing to work if she gets hired.

“So I went here and, to my surprise, senior citizens were allowed to apply,” she said. As of Saturday, Retuya was still processing her application. She was a public elementary school teacher for 43 years.