Jakarta, May 10, 2016 – As mid-year is coming to a close, YCAB Foundation and Microsoft Indonesia held “Job Fair 2016: Enable, Engage, Realize” on May 10-11, 2016. With more than 25 companies from various industries, such as retail, beauty products and food, participated in the job fair and provided hundreds of job opportunities for SMA and SMK graduates.
Since 2015, YCAB Foundation with support from Microsoft Indonesia has provided soft skill training to 10,000 SMA and SMK students in Indonesia so that they will be able to develop themselves and find a job. The training includes how to make a CV using Microsoft Word, how to succeed at job interviews, etc.
YCAB Foundation carries out these efforts to help reduce the unemployment rate in Indonesia. Based on data by the Central Statistics Agency, the unemployment rate in Indonesia as of August 2015 was 7.56 million with SMA and SMK students amounting to 3.85 million. This activity also aims to help the government reduce unemployment rates by four to five percent by 2019.
“Job Fair 2016: Enable, Engage, Realize” is YCAB Foundation and Microsoft Indonesia’s concrete initiative to make it easier for SMA and SMK graduates in finding a job. This activity enables them to take their first step in understanding the process of job application, starting from meeting with companies to interviews.
“YCAB Foundation is deeply concerned with equality and opportunities for Indonesian youths to get a job. Hence, YCAB Foundation is working with Microsoft Indonesia to hold a job fair which is also YCAB Foundation’s program to enrich soft skills and experiences,” said Muhammad Farhan, Secretary General of YCAB Foundation.
Ruben Hattari, Corporate Affairs Director of Microsoft Indonesia, echoes Farhan’s statement. “Microsoft believes the young generation of Indonesia have talents and a large potential to keep developing. We want to help them polish their skills in critical, creative and logical thinking by holding YouthSpark and Hour of Code,” said Ruben.
SMA graduates as well as SMK graduates who study more specific subjects can hopefully be able to work. However, the interest to enter SMK is still low in Indonesia even though SMA provides various fields of studies, such as engineering, industry, tourism, communications, nursing and art. The launching of learning platform GenerasiBisa.id is also expected to increase the enthusiasm of youths to study in SMK.
Through integrated activities starting from training to participating in this job fair, YCAB Foundation hopes SMA and SMK graduates will become the future of generations with a bright future in the workplace.