Online job recruitment pushed

For fresh graduates and students ready to exit school life, finding their rightful place in the local workforce may not be as tough if only more job opportunities were readily accessible to them.

In the case of off-island students, the apprehension to return home after college has been blamed on very minimal chances of landing a secured job on the CNMI.

This common perception shared by Rep. William S. Torres has resurrected the idea of constructing an online site that hosts a comprehensive listing of job vacancies available in both the government and private sectors.

The electronic job recruitment concept was first floated by former Saipan Chamber of Commerce President Lynn Knight.

In a letter addressed to Governor Pedro P. Tenorio, Mr. Torres suggested the possibility of adapting the technology-driven job recruitment scheme, adding it would ensure the government’s return of investment given the number of students it has put through school through scholarships.

The legislator has requested the local chief executive if he could direct CNMI department heads to post their job listings electronically on their respective websites.

“This way our youths in college and high school could still have access to this vital source of information. In so doing, the Commonwealth is assured of a high return on its investment on our youth by means of education from the elementary grade level up to college,” said the legislator.

Mr. Torres further suggested that key government agencies such as the Office of CNMI Personnel, Dept. of Labor’s and Immigration’s Employment Division, Office of Public Auditor, Commonwealth Health Center, Commonwealth Utilities Corporation, Commonwealth Development Authority, Commonwealth Ports Authority, Northern Marianas College, and Public School System be part of the electronic job posting, with other departments to follow in the future.

“For now, electronic posting of job availability is necessary in order to entice college students abroad to return home. If resources permit, active recruitment of graduating college and high school students, both here and abroad, will provide highly beneficial to future employees and employers,” he said.

Speaking in behalf of students attending NMC and off-island schools, the lawmaker told the governor many students are extremely anxious to return home and serve their own islands.

He also underscored on the need for more leaders to take an active interest in seeking, it not creating, job opportunities for our Commonwealth youth upon their graduation, be it from college or high schools.

“This is especially critical for those students who need to know whether they could reasonably find decent jobs at home of make off-island their home because there are no job opportunities available for them here,” he told the chief executive.