The latest edition of cpjobs/JiuJik Job Fair, jointly organised by cpjobs.com and JiuJik, took place at Citywalk 1, Tsuen Wan on July 30 and 31. The event attracted more than 1,500 visitors with over 30 exhibitors in attendance to provide jobseekers with the opportunity to meet potential employers face-to-face.
One of the largest and most established recruitment events in Hong Kong, the fair brought together some of the biggest names in the city’s private sector from a wide range of industries. Among these major players were Ricacorp, Swire Resources, Cathay Pacific, Adidas and HKT Teleservices. In all, there were more than 1,000 job vacancies on offer at the fair.
Those looking to carve out a career in the public sector were not disappointed either. Three government agencies, the Immigration Department, Hong Kong Correctional Services and the Customs and Excise Department, had booths at the fair to meet prospective jobseekers.
In addition to earning a secure living, working in the public sector can be a most rewarding way of contributing to society. Staff from the three agencies gave separate talks on their respective career prospects, outlining job descriptions and the recruitment processes.
Recent editions of the fair have seen a marked increase in the number of first-time exhibitors, reflecting a growing preference among employers for face-to-face interaction with candidates – many first-round interviews are offered based on brief meet-ups at fairs. Participation can also help build a strong brand awareness among jobseekers.
Among the newcomers was Williams Lea Tag, which managed to make a favourable impression. “We are a global company that offers business process outsourcing to large companies,” said Karen Leung, HR business partner at Williams Lea Tag. “We work with many of the world’s greatest brands and most admired companies. It is our mission to help our clients enhance their workplace efficiency, improve their customers’ experience and strengthen their brand reputation.”
Leung said that Williams Lea Tag were aiming to reinforce their back-office team. “We provide our clients with top-notch back office support,” she said. “Our services are mainly related to general office, mailroom, administration, desktop publishing and reprographics. To keep up our good work, we need to strengthen our team on a regular basis and that is the very reason the company attends this fair.
“We now have many associate openings on offer. DSE graduates are welcome to apply for any of the posts as listed on our recruitment flyer. No formal qualifications are required.”
Another newcomer to the fair was Hong Kong Adventist Hospital (Tsuen Wan). Ever since its establishment in 1964, the hospital has served the Tsuen Wan community. Tracy Pang, HR assistant at the hospital, said its recruitment drive had previously been mainly focused on newspaper advertising and the job vacancy page on its own website, meaning taking part in the job fair constituted a more pro-active approach to attracting employees.
“I believe a fair is the best place to speak with jobseekers. We are looking to reinforce the hospital’s frontline team. At this moment, there are numerous posts that need filling, including registered nurse, records clerk, radiographer, technician, pharmacy assistant and customer representative. The basic requirements vary with each opening. Above all, what we value most in each employee is their commitment to the hospital’s cause.”
Paley Wong, the hospital’s communication officer, said the local healthcare industry has long been facing a medical staff shortage, and successful recruitment does not come easy. “However, we have an edge in this regard as the hospital offers great benefit packages, which compare favourably with other healthcare organisations in the market,” said Wong. “Also, our staff retention policy is quite effective. For instance, anyone with a strong sense of upward mobility would find ample opportunities for advancement.”
Designed as a comprehensive recruitment event, the cpjobs/JiuJik Job Fair aspires to be a one-stop shop for career changers, students and graduates alike. On top of an impressive list of exhibitors and an informative series of presentations given by career experts, there is also a free CV Surgery, where applicants can have their CV or application form checked and receive professional advice from expert CV consultants so they can market their work experience and skills more effectively in the future.
Jessie, a student, was one visitor who availed of the CV Surgery. “The CV consultants showed me how to hone my CV and how to sell myself to potential employers in a more positive light,” she said. “I think I will be a much better interviewee now. By better, I mean more presentable and employable. I live in Tsuen Wan. It is the second time I have visited the cpjobs/JiuJik Job Fair. Last time I landed a temporary job here with one of the exhibitors. It was my first summer job. Now I am looking for a part time job again. I am saving for my gap year travel. I think I will get one here as there are plenty of temporary positions on offer. The most important thing to me is that the workplace is close to where I live.”
