IBMers at Cebu

Waterfront Hotel, 21-24 July 2006

Just got back from a Cebu business trip last week. We joined the 2006 EnTOURpreneur Conference at Waterfront Hotel in Lahug, Cebu. IBM was a major sponsor so that meant having a booth allotment at the job fair.

It was the first out-of-town recruitment activity for IBM Business Services so we were pressured to make it a successful one. Our initial goal was to create enough awareness and exposure for the company so that Cebuanos will want to relocate in Manila and work with us. So far, the only white-collar type of work available in Cebu are those from call centers. We're giving them another option.

About a week or so before the trip, we had another goal in mind and that was to get 5-6 hires from the Cebu trip. We felt that was a reasonable number considering the amount of investment IBS had to make. We were then really pressured to come up with quality hires otherwise our efforts will go to waste.

At the end of the 3-day conference, we were able to gather five qualified candidates for the final selection stage. These people are not considered 'hirees' yet, but there's a very good chance that we will onboard them soon. As part of our package, we shall be shouldering their travel expenses, with a little extra for their relocation to Manila.

For the first off-site, out-of-town recruitment project for IBS, I would say it was a job well done for the whole team.

Cheers!