Attending a job fair? Here’s what to prepare
![[FILE] Hundreds of jobseekers try their luck during the job fair hosted by the Lapu-Lapu City government on Friday, June 23, 2023. | CDN Digital File Photo](https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/files/2023/06/356073624_1299321244344054_794317614590307890_n-1024x683.jpg)
LAPU-LAPU CITY, Cebu — Applicants clutch folders of documents while moving from booth to booth, answering quick questions and hoping their credentials would stand out in a sea of jobseekers.
Many Filipinos turn to job fairs as a direct pathway to employment, where multiple companies screen candidates and accept applications in a single, time-bound setting.
With opportunities concentrated in one venue, proper preparation becomes crucial for jobseekers aiming to secure interviews or even same-day hiring decisions.
READ: Do job fairs solve unemployment, or are these short-term fixes?
Preparing oneself
Dr. Roberto M. Cabardo, information officer of the Department of Labor and Employment in Region VII (DOLE-7), said applicants must ensure they bring complete and updated documents to improve hiring chances.
He said essential requirements start with valid identification and clearances, followed by training certificates and proof of educational attainment when available.
Common pre-employment requirements include:
- Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) Birth Certificate
- Social Security System (SSS) Number or Form E-1
- National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Clearance
- Police Clearance
- Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Tax Forms
- Pag-IBIG Membership
- PhilHealth Membership
- Certificate of Employment, if available
Applicants should also prepare a resume that is updated, accurate, and reflective of their actual qualifications and experience.
Anthony V. Aguhar, head of the Cebu City Department of Manpower Development and Placement (DMDP), emphasized that resumes should be personally written rather than copied from templates or generated by artificial intelligence.
READ: Where the jobs are — and why some remain unfilled in Central Visayas
“It should be them [jobseekers] who will make it personally because the recruiters can notice [if it is not authentic],” Aguhar said.
Research is a must
Beyond documents, job seekers are advised to study the roles they are applying for, including required skills and the nature of the company offering the position.
Cabardo said applicants should prepare for interviews by researching employers and ensuring their competencies would align with job requirements.
He added that demonstrating a proper work attitude during interactions with recruiters could also influence hiring decisions.
READ: PH unemployment rate back to pandemic-era high of 5.8%
Job fair on Labor Day
Job seekers can prepare all these for the upcoming Mega Local and Overseas Jobs Fair on Friday, May 1, 2026, at Robinsons Galleria-Cebu in line with Labor Day activities.
The event, organized by DOLE-7 and DMDP, is expected to offer 5,824 job openings, including 2,170 local and 3,654 overseas positions from 33 local firms and six international employers.
Key hiring sectors include information technology and business process management, retail and wholesale trade, and hospitality and tourism industries.
Aguhar said the job fair would also feature booths from partner government agencies such as PhilHealth, BIR, Pag-IBIG, and SSS to assist applicants in processing pre-employment requirements.
Interested applicants are encouraged to pre-register via the QR code posted in their official social media pages.
READ: When skills don’t match jobs
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