Forty companies and 250 jobseekers went to the job fair of the CNMI Department of Labor at the Pedro P. Tenorio Multi-Purpose Center in Susupe last Saturday. <\/p>\n
Labor Secretary Vicky Benavente said a wide arrange of businesses participated: 40 companies representing hotels and restaurants, construction, security services, manpower, child care providers, and others.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re very happy to see 250 people came in with the intention of applying. We are happy with that turnout. There\u2019s a lot of job openings today,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
She noted that the applicants were a combination of young adults and high school graduates.<\/p>\n
\u201c[There were a] lot of questions about what type of jobs and skills do [the companies] need from the applicants. From the employers, what kind of skills do you have, experience, education,\u201d the Labor secretary said. <\/p>\n
Benavente said it\u2019s critical to show efforts by the business community and the community at large that the CNMI is doing its best to look for qualified employees who are U.S. citizens.<\/p>\n
Benavente said it\u2019s been a long time since Labor held its last job fair.<\/p>\n
Jennifer Dela Cruz, human resources administrative assistant at the Pacific Islands Club Saipan, said they talked with more than 20 applicants.<\/p>\n
There were also a lot who just picked up application forms and decided to later fill it out and turn in at PIC, Dela Cruz said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think it\u2019s pretty successful. And we\u2019re very glad that Labor was able to conduct this fair,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n
A new high school graduate said he has been turning in applications to several hotels and restaurants, but most of them don\u2019t even bother to call him and arrange an interview. He hopes that, with the job fair, he will finally get a part-time job because he is still studying at the Northern Marianas College.<\/p>\n
Patrick G. Candoleta, who serves as the assistant district director for Guam and the CNMI at the U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division, was the guest speaker at the job fair. <\/p>\n
Candoleta talked about hour and wages and U.S. Labor\u2019s working relationship with the CNMI Department of Labor. <\/p>\n