Microsoft, others provide platform for job seekers, recruiter at Career Fair

Microsoft in conjunction with Endive Projects provided an opportunity for potential job seekers to meet with career experts and recruiters at the 2015 Career and Employment Fair, held in Lagos.
On display at the Fair were over 10,000 job openings.
The Fair presented highly practicable learning opportunities, on the spot job assessment for attendees and networking opportunities for both job seekers and recruiters.
It was also an avenue for job seekers to understand the job market, be better positioned and to take advantage of available jobs.
Business Group Director, Cloud & Enterprise, Microsoft Nigeria, Oluyomi Alarape, in his presentation at the event said Microsoft partnered with others on this project as a way of contributing to national development.
“Primarily, we have engaged in this strategic partnership for obvious reasons. That is, a collaboration in providing a connective platform for job seekers to acquire the required skill sets that organisations are looking for and positioning them well for prospective job opportunities.”
We found that technology is pivotal to youth employment and so we have invested in training the youth and to ensure that we have a curriculum that will make sure the youths are relevant after school. That is part of what we have done to accelerate youth employment. We also have the youth employability portal to ensure that youth have the requisite skills to get jobs and to be relevant.”
Speaking at the end of the fair, Ibukun Onitiju, Regional Training Manager, Fistolas Limited; a High Performance Technology Training Company presented a workshop session on CV writing and according to him “I held nothing back. I dissected my personal CV template and explained the psychology behind my CV writing styles which is responsible for delivering top level CVs for my clients in many well-known organisations who pay up to N40, 000 to get me to write their CVs.”
CEO, Endive Projects, Debo Ajayi, said the Fair was a way of giving back to the society and by attending the Fair, participants will get top priority listing on Jobberman.
According to him, “Though unemployment is rampant, there are jobs out there, but people do not know how to get them. What we are doing is to engage with job seekers and teach them what to do and empower them with information that will enable them get great opportunities to be gainfully employed and productive.”
There were also presentations from former Group Head, Human Capital Management & Development, First Bank, Ayo Jaiyesimi, CEO, Inspiro Consulting, Jimi Tewe, Group Head, HR, Rainoil, Tayo Opatayo, among others.
Ayo Daniels, founder and COO of The Lighthouse emphasized the importance of youth development in Nigeria and the mandate of The Lighthouse through her activities to continually raise leaders who can create employment in different sectors of the economy.
“We are called to resolve societal issues and we will not relent in creating opportunities for the youths of Nigeria through our various empowerment initiatives,” he asserted.
“We are partners with Microsoft and our role is to match candidates with their dream jobs. What we do is to let people know that there are opportunities and they need to be qualified enough to get these roles. It is more than applying for the jobs, you need to ensure that the skills and experiences you have match the criteria the recruiter is looking for,” said David Jaiyeola, Partnership Coordinator, Jobberman.
Other partners on the Fair are Fistolas Limited, The Chosen Breed, the Future project, Jobberman, The Lighthouse, MTN, Applied PMT, Radio Continental, Rainoil, JobMag and others.
Commenting on the Fair, Maria Osobanjo, a participant said “It is a wonderful program. There were many things I did not know about CV writing before now, which I learnt today. I’m glad I was able to make it here as every minute spent was worth my while.”
Commending the organisers of the project, another participant, Olamide Olaegbe spoke about his learning, “Among others, I was taught to explore opportunities as well as pre-package myself in readiness for unforeseen job opportunities.”