CareerConference@JohnClements: Still Giving Great Advice to Applicants
By Paul Catiang

May 27, 2006 – Fresh graduates and job seekers flocked to the Glorietta 4 Cinema 3 to hear industry experts and experienced recruiters share the benefit of their experience with them. The event served as a precursor to Jobs@D’Mall 2, the job fair held from May 29 to 31, and also to prepare the attendees for all the interviews they would be getting after submitting their résumés at the job fair.

Why Settle for Anything Less?
Mr. Barbie Atienza, the Manila Bulletin’s Head of External Affairs, advised the attendees to make SMART plans: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Time-bound objectives. His talk centered on helping fresh graduates plot out their careers and figure out what they want professionally and how to go about achieving their goals.

English: The Language of the World
John Clements’s Director for Call Center Training Chris Kohlwes spoke on why the BPO industry is booming in the Philippines, mostly owing to the country’s affinity for the English language. He did say that a lot of work needs to be done with regard to learning North American English, as that is the version of English most call center callers use. In addition, the Philippines, he said, does value politeness as a cultural trait, and this makes the country appealing to companies looking for a place to set up their offshore operations.

Lastly, he reminded everyone that English training for call center near-hires is available at John Clements, as part of the company’s aim to bridge the human resources gap in the BPO industry. Training vouchers from the government worth PhP 5,000 are issued by the Business Process Association of the Philippines (BPA/P) to individuals assessed as near-hires, which will then entitle them to English training for near-hires at John Clements.

Salary Negotiation: Getting the Best Offer
Bobby Marquez, Human Resources Consultant for John Clements, showed the attendees the bigger picture where compensation is concerned. After demonstrating to them the practical mathematics of computing one’s annual salary, taxes and tax shields, Mr. Marquez also showed several forms of compensation. He began with performance bonus schemes, moved on to vacation and sick leaves, touched on hospitalization and life insurance benefits and ended with miscellaneous forms of compensation, such as transportation, food, and housing allowances and programs, among others. He reminded all present to leverage their competencies and qualifications in order to get the best employment offer and to be more competitive in the employment market.

Putting your Best Foot Forward
Lou-Ann Young, a John Clements Oral Proficiency screener gave the audience the benefit of her experience with interviewees and applicants with some useful advice on how to stand out in interviews. Her talk began with résumés and the instances in which their various forms (chronological, functional skills, and job-directed) may be used. She then gave some practical, basic advice on how to dress up for interviews and moved on to how to prepare for interviews. This included practical aspects such as getting enough rest and leaving ample time for travel and locating the interview venue, as well as self-motivating techniques that enhance one’s confidence before the interview itself.

Beauty Basics, Smart Fashion and Practical Grooming
Delving deeper into the basics of power dressing, Melanie Cuevas and Victoria Montenegro of Metro Magazine gave several tips on personal grooming. They began with skincare and maintenance, as makeup is only as good as its foundation—the skin. After discussing the relative merits of cleansing, toning, moisturizing and sun protection, they moved on to makeup basics, giving a list of beauty musts, both for extended grooming and for beauty on the go. The presentation ended with a discussion of what’s essential when one is on a budget, weighing the relative importance of skincare versus makeup.

A New Perspective of the News Department
Quite possibly the highlight of the Career Conference, Maria Ressa of ANC spoke on her experiences in media, first with CNN and now with ABS-CBN. The media veteran drew on her familiarity with the media and gave practical advice to individuals interested in working in the press. Ms. Ressa gave the attendees a sampling of her experiences: inspirational events, incidents that prompted second thoughts, insights into the media industry and sage counsel.

John Clements has been hosting Career Conferences over the past few years to enhance the awareness of the pool of talents waiting to be tapped. Another John Clements hallmark is the Business Forum, sponsored talks that tackle the issues concerning professionals, and one such event can be expected in the near future.