OPPORTUNITIES WITHIN REACH. Across SM malls nationwide,
jobseekers are finding new ways to connect with jobs, skills, and brighter
possibilities.
For thousands of Filipinos,
finding the right job starts with having the right opportunity within reach. SM
Job Fair crossed a major milestone last month while widening access to both
employment and skills training — from marking its 500th nationwide job fair and
bringing SM Group employers directly into communities, to partnering with the
Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) to connect
technical-vocational training with actual careers. Together, these efforts
reflect SM Supermalls' ongoing push to make the whole journey — from preparing
for work to actually landing a job — more accessible to Filipinos.
500 Job Fairs, and Counting
On August 12, SM City Daet
hosted the 500th SM Job Fair — a milestone in SM Supermalls' long-running jobs
advocacy. As of that 500th fair, the program has connected roughly 330,000
jobseekers with thousands of employers nationwide, resulting in more than
42,000 applicants hired on the spot (HOTS). Behind those figures are individual
stories: fresh graduates chasing their first break, career shifters starting
over, breadwinners and seasoned professionals taking their next step.
Through partnerships with the
Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), local Public Employment Service
Offices (PESO), employers, and industry organizations, SM keeps using its
nationwide mall network to put jobs within easier reach of communities.
From Opportunity to Employment at the SM Group Job Fair
ONE STEP CLOSER TO A CAREER. Jobseekers meet SM Group
recruiters face-to-face, turning applications and interviews into possibilities
for a fresh start.
The momentum carried into
August 18 at SM City Fairview, where the SM Group Job Fair connected jobseekers
directly with career openings across the SM Group. Applicants met recruiters
face-to-face, browsed vacancies, submitted applications, and went through
interviews — all in one accessible venue, simplifying the process for
jobseekers while giving participating companies a direct line to talent in the
community.
For fresh graduate May Stephanie, the job search ended with
good news when she was hired by Savemore. “Masaya po kasi mahirap po maghanap
ng work lalo po pag fresh grad ka po,” she said — a small line that carries the
human weight behind every successful match: a chance to start a career, earn a
living, and build toward something more secure.
From Skills to Opportunities With TESDA
SKILLS IN ACTION. Hands-on training turns learning into
practical skills that can open doors to the workplace.
As industries keep evolving,
Filipinos need both access to jobs and the actual skills to keep up in them. In
August, SM Supermalls and TESDA brought the World Café of Opportunities (WCO)
to SM malls nationwide in celebration of 2026 National Tech-Voc Day, connecting
technical-vocational graduates and jobseekers with employers and industry
partners.
READY FOR WHAT'S NEXT. From technology to creative
skills, Filipino talent gets hands-on experience for an evolving world of work.
At the SM Mall of Asia Music
Hall on August 24, more than 1,000 jobseekers met with 54 participating
employers offering upward of 4,000 job openings. Job matching ran alongside
live skills demonstrations in HVAC, autonomous robotics, driving, animation, and
coffee barista work — a fairly concrete illustration of how hands-on training
translates into actual workplace readiness.
For Jeff Justine Geraga, a BS
IT student at the University of Makati who took Computer Systems Servicing
through TESDA, the added skills gave him a real confidence boost in a
competitive job market.
“Definitely tumaas ang value ko
dahil may added skills ako from TESDA, more opportunities for me. Requirement
na po ang upskilling dahil competitive po ngayon,” he said.
A key highlight of the day was
the launch of the TESDA Skills Compass, a career guidance and job-matching
platform built to help Filipinos map out career pathways and connect their
existing competencies with in-demand jobs. For some attendees, that connection
paid off almost immediately.
After traveling all the way
from Mindoro in search of work, Cristyl Faith Robles was hired on the spot as a
barista at French Baker.
“Masaya po kasi last week pa po kami nag-aapply ng work kasi
galing pa po kami sa Mindoro... Para po ito sa magulang ko at sa kapatid ko
para matulungan ko po siya sa college,” she shared.
Employers see the value too. CJ
Bajamunde, HR Assistant at SMC Repairs and Maintenance, said TESDA training and
certifications are among the qualifications the company actively looks for when
hiring skilled workers.
“Nakatulong po talaga ang TESDA
hindi lang sa mga naghahanap ng trabaho, kundi sa aming mga employers din,” she
said.
LEARNING THAT MOVES PEOPLE FORWARD. Free upskilling
brings future-ready knowledge closer to learners in SM communities.
Through the World Café of Opportunities, SM and TESDA are
helping turn skills into actual employability — connecting training, talent,
and industry demand in ways that can lead somewhere concrete.
More Jobs and Skills This September
The momentum keeps going this
September, with SM Job Fair bringing another nationwide lineup of employment
activities to SM malls, backed by government career opportunities and
upskilling sessions with partner agencies.
September Job Fair Schedule
●
September 1 — SM City Sto. Tomas
●
September 3 — SM City Manila
●
September 4 — SM City Sta. Mesa
●
September 7–8 — SM City Butuan
●
September 8–9 — SM City Iloilo | SM City Davao
●
September 9 — SM City Baguio
●
September 9–10 — SM City Cebu | SM CDO Downtown Premier
●
September 10 — SM City Trece Martires | SM Center
Muntinlupa | SM City Tuguegarao | SM City North EDSA | SM City Zamboanga
●
September 12 — SM City La Union | SM City San Pablo
●
September 14 — SM Center Antipolo | SM CDO Downtown
Premier
●
September 16–17 — SM Seaside City Cebu
●
September 22–23 — SM Seaside City Cebu
●
September 23 — SM City Calamba
●
September 24 — SM City Trece Martires | SM Center
Pulilan | SM City Bacoor
*Schedules, venues, and
participating partners may be subject to change.
Upskilling Sessions
Jobseekers and learners can also
take advantage of upskilling activities scheduled throughout the month:
●
September 10 — SM City Trece Martires
●
September 12 — SM Center Sangandaan | SM City North
EDSA
●
September 24 — SM City Trece Martires
More Than Jobs
SM's employment advocacy
doesn't stop at recruitment. Through partnerships with government agencies,
schools, and industry organizations, SM Supermalls has provided free upskilling
to more than 1,600 learners, covering artificial intelligence, digital literacy,
cybersecurity, and other emerging workplace skills. In select malls, SM
Government Service Express (GSE) also brings essential government services
closer to communities, with some locations now doubling as dedicated Upskilling
Hubs.
From hitting the 500th SM Job
Fair to helping a fresh graduate land her first job, and from picking up a
technical skill to seeing exactly where it can lead, August made a fairly clear
case for what happens when employment, learning, services, and solid partnerships
come together.
THE NEXT OPPORTUNITY STARTS HERE. Beyond the 500th
milestone, SM Job Fair continues to connect more Filipinos with employers and
possibilities closer to home.
As SM Job Fair moves past its 500th milestone, the work
keeps going — helping more Filipinos find jobs, build relevant skills, and move
toward better futures closer to home. To learn more about upcoming SM Job Fairs
and free upskilling opportunities, visit the SM Supermalls website or follow SM
Supermalls' official social media pages.
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