(MAR. 22)—Almost a thousand job seekers, mostly UP students and graduates seeking job opportunities, flocked to the Ang Bahay ng Alumni in this year’s University Job Fair (UJF) held from Mar. 19 to 22.

More than 90 companies participated in the UJF consisting of private and small scale businesses, government and non-governmental organizations, both local and multinational. 

The UJF is organized by the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs (OVCSA) through the Office of Counseling and Guidance (OCG) in partnership with the University Student Council, college councils and 25 student organizations including the UP Advertising Core (AdCore) and UP Junior Philippine Institute of Accountants. 

It is the biggest interdisciplinary career fair at UP Diliman (UPD) which has provided diverse and holistic career opportunities for the students.

With the theme “Mapping Milestones,” the concept of this year’s UJF “resonates with the UP graduating students’ life as an Iskolar ng Bayan inside and beyond the University” that aims “to give students the knowledge and the values they need to succeed after graduation and serve the country,” according to OCG. 

Meanwhile, Gleeselle Ivy Ann M. Rosales, UP AdCore project head for promotions of UJF 2019, added “Ang vision for UJF this year ay maging official send-off committee ng graduating students. We took off from the idea na bakit ang freshies may University Freshie Month? Bakit ang graduating, wala? Other than promoting iyung UJF week itself, gusto rin naming maging transition kami o right of passage ng graduating students bago sila Sumablay.”

Christopher P. Hernandez, UJF 2019’s chairperson and OCG’s guidance services specialist, said, some changes have been implemented in this year’s job fair. 

Compared to last year, “We put all the events in one venue. Dati kasi hiwa-hiwalay at scattered siya buong taon. What we did is one big event comprising of the UJF, NGO Summit and Grad Studies Summit,” Hernandez said.

The NGO Summit was held from Mar. 19 to 22 while the Grad Studies Summit was from Mar. 21 to 22.

In addition, Hernandez said, “Kung mapapansin ninyo sa Academic Oval, kung iikot kayo, iyung tarpaulin na nakatapat per college speaks of the college. It’s an action word that describes the college. Example, pag nakatapat ka sa College of Music, nakalagay roon Resonate, pag tumapat ka sa Vinzons, Home. Pag tumapat sa College of Education, Catalyst.”

Furthermore, the UJF is now ACLE (Alternative Class Learning Experience) accredited.

“Maraming estudyante ang dumarating. Iyon ang maganda doon kasi ang problema natin sa UJF, maraming companies pero iyung nagiging problema ay iyung paghahakot ng mga estudyante. Pag ACLE accredited siya, siyempre required ang mga estudyante na pumunta so, they might as well pass by here. Mayroong speaker at may specific number of students na nandoon,” Hernandez said.

Hernandez said the UJF team also tied up with Jobs180.com for the real-time registration of job seekers and helped boost the marketing of the companies. According to its website, Jobs180 is a site focused on providing a simple but powerful tool to job seekers, employers and schools.

The organizers also provided shuttle services using the IKOT jeepneys to take the students to the venue. The jeepneys have specific pick-up and drop off points, in particular, at the College of Architecture, National Institute of Geological Sciences, College of Science, Vinzons Hall and College of Arts and Letters Pavilion 3. 

Some of the participating businesses were: ABS-CBN Creative Programs Inc. and Star Cinema, Careers at Ayala Group, Villar Group of Companies, Vistaland, Sycip Gorres Velayo & Co., Shell Business Operations, Kantar Philippines, Inc., Uniqlo, Stellar Philippines, DMCI Project Developers, Inc., MSA Academic Advancement Institute, Nestlé Philippines, Inc., GMA New Media and Globe Telecom, Inc. —Haidee C. Pineda, images by Jefferson Villacruz