It was a remarkable scene at the Monrovia City Hall on 13 June as scores of UN staff turned up to take advantage of the third job fair organized by the Integrated Mission Training Centre (IMTC).

Several potential employers were on hand to meet staff members interested in seeking employment outside of the UN Mission in Liberia.

“The UNMIL job Fair, which is the third this year, is an event that brings together potential employers from the Liberian market and UNMIL staff members so that the employers get to interact with them. This has been used as a strategy considering our downsizing because it helps the employers meet the UNMIL staff. When UNMIL is closing they will have staff members for possible employment in the future,” said Anne Wangui Njoroge, IMTC Staff Development Officer.

Potential employers turned out in numbers and were excited to hold one-on-one discussions with interested candidates. IMTC staff, prior to the exercise, had handed out toolkits to staff attending the job fair. The toolkits among other things provided tips and guidance and also interview techniques that could be helpful when meeting employers.
“We have employers like Golden Veroleum, the Sinohydro, Liberia Agriculture Company, Putu Mines - these are employers that are looking for employees, especially with technical skills,” Njoroge added.

One of the companies, the Liberia Agriculture Company, was represented by its Human Resources Assistant Manager, Harry Attoh. “We earlier submitted positions that are currently available on the plantation in the technical areas; we are also looking for people to fill positions as operators for yellow machines, graders, etc. We are also looking for other administrative positions. We are expanding in all aspects of our operation. When you do that in an institution or organization you will continue to look for people to fill positions,” said Atto.

For Maersk Liberia Limited Human Resources Manager, Joseph Siaway, the job fair is a welcome venture that will help potential employers see people, especially from the UN circle that come with qualifications and an eagerness to contribute to the running of any organization, pointing to his organization as benefitting from the first fair.

“This is a very valid and pleasant idea, trying to integrate national staff. We benefitted from the first fair. It is an occasion where people don’t have to spend to get staff, meaning to advertise, radio announcements and so on but by attending the job fair that brings together potential employers and job seekers. We were able to recruit one UNMIL staff who is currently serving in the Account section,” said Siaway.

The employers participating in the job fair included Action Aid International (AAI), American International School, BRAC Liberia, Embassy of the Republic of South Africa, Firestone, Golden Veroleum Limited (GVL), Liberian Agriculture Company (LAC), Maersk Liberia Ltd., Medical Teams International, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Posts & Telecommunications, Plan International, Putu Iron Ore Mining Inc., UNDP,UNFPA, United Nations Volunteers -Liberia, US Embassy, World Health Organization (WHO), Sinohydro, Ecobank, and West Ingenierie Ltd.