38 businesses, agencies take part in today’s job fair

About 38 private businesses and government agencies have already confirmed participation in the job fair that will be hosted by the CNMI Department of Labor today from 9am to 3pm at the Pedro P. Tenorio Multi-Purpose Center.

These employers will have the chance to hire any of the 4,000 job applicants that have registered through their website, www.marianaslabor.net, and walk-in applicants as well.

“We hope that we get to all these U.S. qualified workers that are applying for jobs because this is their opportunity. I’m pretty sure most of them will be there,” Employment Services Division director Alfred Pangelinan told Saipan Tribune.

He said participating employers range from major hotels and retail businesses to government entities like the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. and the newly established Commonwealth Health Corp.

According to Pangelinan, job applicants will be greeted by their staff by the entrance. “If you have any questions and haven’t registered at our website yet, we have an information booth that you can go over and inquire from. Our staff will guide you appropriately on what to do.”

While the number of participating employers is “great,” Pangelinan noted that additional employers have called their office and expressed interest in the job fair but could no longer be accommodated due to space availability at the venue.

“We’re all set up now and 38 is the right number of employers that will fit into the Multi-Purpose Center to avoid traffic jam among applicants. We don’t want it to be like the last time when everybody didn’t have enough room,” he explained.

Pangelinan added that those businesses that were not included in today’s job fair will be included in future job fairs that they will organize.

Another good thing about the job fair, Pangelinan said, is that their agency is collaborating with the business sector in a “more interactive relationship rather than an enforcement relationship. We hope that this relationship will continue and develop for the better.”

The division director earlier advised all job applicants to know the kind of jobs they want, bring their resumes, and look presentable to create a good impression in front of prospective employers.

After the job fair, Pangelinan said the CNMI Department of Labor will follow up on participating employers and job seekers if they have been hired through the event.