Huge number of job seekers crowd expo

JAKARTA (JP): With estimates reaching as high as 25 million Indonesians out of work, it is not surprising that any employment opportunities will attract a high number of job seekers.

Three months after its first successful job recruitment fair, "Career 2000", Asia Expo and its sponsor, Internet recruitment media PT Jobs DB Indonesia, organized another employment market at the Jakarta Convention Center on Friday.

The opening day of the two-day fair brought about 3,000 job seekers, many of them fresh university graduates. They thronged the stands of 40 companies with some expectation that they might end their day with a glimmer of employment or by getting a better job.

After paying an entry ticket of Rp 9,000, the visitors received dozens of brochures and application forms, along with a glass of coke.

By forking out another Rp 9,000, the visitors could also purchase at a separate counter a nice bag to keep their thick brochures in.

When asked, most of those who filled out application forms were upbeat with guarded optimism.

"I hope I can find a new job after obtaining my management magister at UI (University of Indonesia)," Raditya Aditama told The Jakarta Post.

The 28-year-old bachelor said he previously worked at Bank BNN. Raditya came with a colleague who still works at the bank and was worried about losing his job following the merger of the bank with another bank.

Raditya said he could save a lot of money by participating in the fair, because he did not need to buy stamps and other material as he did when sending out job applications by mail.

About 40 companies, including Citibank, head hunter BTI Consultants Indonesia, clove cigarette maker Djarum, state-owned insurance firm PT Asuransi Jiwasraya, pharmaceutical company Pharos Group, pulp and paper producer Sinar Mas, and California Fried Chicken (CFC) took part in the event.

In total the companies offer about 800 vacancies, most of them in the sales division. The first fair was held in March and involved about 20 major companies.

CFC was probably the most generous fair participant. It provided donuts for job seekers as they browsed about or while they were busy filling out application forms.

Catherine Mensana, BTI managing director, said she did not expect too much from the fair as her company is searching for senior executives to be offered to big companies.

Catherine explained to her guests that her company could only store their names in the company's computer and will offer their information to inquiring companies.

"Most of the visitors are young and fresh graduates. As a head hunter, my company is more interested in recruiting people for middle and upper management level. Our participation is more as a public service," said Catherine.

A fact, also stressed by the Ministry of Manpower's Director General of Labor Replacement Din Syamsudin who opened the event, increasingly obvious in the fair was that due to limited opportunities and fierce competition many Indonesians should look beyond the country's borders for employment.

According to Din there are still many job opportunities for young people if they are ready to work abroad.

"Several rich countries in Asia are in extreme need of migrant workers from Indonesia," said Din.

Focus, a training and recruitment company, tried to persuade job seekers to work abroad especially in Hong Kong and Taiwan.

"You can get at least Rp 12 million for your initial salary," its female staff explained to a young man who looked like a physician.

She appeared disappointed when the man told her he was a physical therapist. (prb)