Labor Dept. to hold youth job fair at Plaza San Patricio

By THE STAR STAFF

“My First Job: Youth Job Fair,” the latest mass recruitment event sponsored by the Department of Labor and Human Resources (DTRH by its Spanish initials), will target youth ages 14 and older.

The job fair will take place on Friday, May 19 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at San Patricio Plaza de Guaynabo shopping center, where participants can evaluate job and training opportunities before entering the labor market.

“This initiative aims to support our young people, so that they can get a first job opportunity regardless of their age or minimal experience,” DTRH Secretary Gabriel Maldonado González said. “For this, we have a range of employers committed to this segment of the population who are available to give you that first opportunity in their respective companies. … Beyond a job fair, this activity will be a space for knowledge where self-confidence will be reinforced and [participants] will be provided with tools for achieving a successful interaction with the employer.”

The youth job fair will be supported by 25 employers from various industries, many of whom will interview and recruit job applicants on the spot, to fill full-time and part-time vacancies. In addition, the DTRH Employment Service will also have job openings available.

To assist participants in their search for employment and professional development, there will be educational sessions where topics such as recommendations applicable to interview processes, how to perform in a job and the value of work, among others, will be discussed.

Meanwhile, staff from the agency’s Bureau of Labor Standards will guide attendees on the Work Permit for Minors and the process for completing it.