Resolutely, Babauta marched to the table occupied by Fiesta Resort & Spa and handed in his application letter. Trying to overcome his nervousness, he managed to get more information and deftly answered interview questions.
He heaved a sigh of relief and proceeded to look for other options. Babauta told the Variety that he hopes to get a first- hand training and experience with the best chefs in the industry.
Jolyn Ann Pangelinan and Vanessa Deleon Guerrero, seniors from Marianas High School have just submitted two application letters each when Variety ran into them yesterday.
The two friends said they submitted applications to become cashiers.
“We were very nervous at first but we won’t stop here. We are going to submit more,” Pangelinan said.
Damian Andres of Saipan Southern High School submitted two application letters and hopes to land some training with the tourism industry.
“My inclination is more toward the tourism business and I’d like to get direct experience
especially from the Marianas Visitors Authority, where my first application went,” Andres said.
He also submitted an application to the Customs Bureau.
“Every guy I know in school wants to know what makes the Customs tick and how it works, and I’m also interested in that experience,” he said.
Richard Villagomez from Marianas High School was still trying to decide which agency or company he wants to submit an application after the event started for over an hour.
“I’ve checked some companies and I’m still trying to think what I want to do,” he said. He added that he would like to proceed with a course in engineering, something that is not available in the island but he would also like to get work experience at Northern Marianas College.
The students said that the career fair has been a big help to them all.
Although some of them were nervous, more students were at ease talking to the representatives of the different companies and agencies and learning what they could about possible job openings and trainings.
Excellent turnout
Marianas High School teacher/coordinator for Cooperative Education & Training Program Tyce Mister said that he was very happy with the excellent number of students and businesses that came in for this year’s career fair.
“The businesses were very professional in giving advice to the students in various career fields,” Mister said.
He said MHS started the first career fair in 2007 at the school library with just very few businesses. Then they moved the venue to the school cafeteria and finally to Saipan World Resort when more businesses and the community started to get involved.
“The career fair is a tremendous help for the students especially in building their confidence,” Mister said. He said that students are usually nervous when they come in.
The student will be receiving school credits for their cooperative training internship.
“The students have been practicing answering interview questions and filling out resumes, and after two or three interviews they start to feel comfortable. They need the confidence when they go for interviews in a day or two,” Mister said.
He added that the competence mark is the biggest challenge for the students in landing job training.
“Being competent in handling interview questions, getting and revising their resume together is their biggest challenge but since the beginning, all the applicants always get hired for training jobs,” he said.
Mister said that he recommended students to submit at least three applications but some students submit more.
“Since the start of the career fair, thousands of students have been accepted for training and later on jobs at various establishments. We just help set up interviews but the students to do the actual work,” Mister said.
He extends a big thank you to the agencies and the companies who participated in the career fair, which includes Blue Continent Communications dba KKMP, CNMI Judiciary (Adult Probation, Clerk of Courts, Law Revision Commission), Commonwealth Utilities Corp., Delta Air Lines, Department of Public Health-Community Guidance Center, Division of Employment Services, Docomo, Fiesta Resort & Spa, Hard Rock Café, Herman’s Bakery, Hyatt Regency Saipan, IT&E, Joeten Enterprises, KSPN2 News, Law Office of Robert Torres, Marianas Health, LLC, Marianas Resort and Spa, Marianas Visitors Authority, Northern Marianas Housing Corporation, Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, Pacific Islands Club, POI Aviation, Sorensen Media Group (Power 99, 97.9 Kat, TV7), Tan Holdings, Torres Refrigeration, Triple J Saipan, Inc. (Triple J Motors, Hertz Car Rental and Restaurant Group (Tony Romas, Capricciosa, and Truongs), U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the Workforce Investment Agency.
For more information, contact Mister at 237-3248 or email tyce.mister@gmail.com.
