The UP Career Assistance Program for Engineering Students (UP CAPES) once again exemplified its commitment to shaping the future of Filipino professionals through its flagship event—JOBFAIR 2025. Held from March 10 to 14, 2025, in partnership with Analog Devices, it provided students from UP Diliman and beyond with various career opportunities, valuable company insights, and meaningful conversations to guide their professional journeys. It opened doors for students to connect with industry leaders and explore the diverse possibilities that await them after graduation.
Throughout the week, Melchor Hall buzzed with energy as students explored company booths and networked with industry leaders. From tech and construction to banking, retail, energy, and consulting, students were introduced to a wide spectrum of career paths. Each booth offered an opportunity to connect, inquire, and apply—often with fun games and prizes to make the experience even more memorable.
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JOBFAIR 2025 brought Melchor Hall to life with career possibilities, industry insights, and meaningful conversations that shaped the future of Iskolar ng Bayan
A Week of Exploration and Connection
The event officially kicked off on March 10 with an opening program that set the tone for an exciting, opportunity-filled week. The ceremony featured welcoming remarks from representatives of UP CAPES and Analog Devices, followed by the symbolic ribbon-cutting to mark the start of the event.
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JOBFAIR 2025 Project Managers Sarah Gatment (center-right) and Patrick Rivero (left) with the Analog Devices Inc. representative during the Opening Ceremony, joined by UP CAPES President Erwin Gerona (right)
The day continued with two cornerstone sessions—Internships 101 and Fresh Grads 101—designed to equip students with practical knowledge about internship applications, workplace expectations, and the transition from university to professional life. These talks featured seasoned interns and recent graduates from the UP community, offering firsthand insights on navigating early career opportunities.
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Across the five-day event, the heart of JOBFAIR came alive at the company booths, transforming Melchor Hall into a lively space where students had the chance to network, inquire about job openings, discuss company culture, and submit resumes on the spot. These booths served more than just recruitment posts. Many featured interactive games, freebies, and welcoming conversations with recruiters from a wide range of industries, encouraging students to explore new industries and career tracks—including technology, finance, manufacturing, energy, retail, consulting, and more— beyond their comfort zones!
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Complementing the company booths were the Company Talks—a curated series of sessions held from March 11 to 14, offering students front-row access to the inner workings of leading organizations. Speakers coming from a diverse range of industries—including Accenture, JP Morgan, Maya, Shopee, Toyota Motor, Analog Devices Inc., Emerson, Jollibee Foods Corporation, Huawei, Shell, Golden ABC, Seven Seven Global Services, D&L Industries, AXA Philippines, IBM, and CBS Techno Co., among others—took the stage to share insights on their projects, workplace cultures, growth strategies, and hiring pathways. These talks empowered students to align their personal and professional goals with real-world opportunities while gaining a deeper understanding of company values, industry trends, and potential employers—equipping them to make more informed choices about their careers.
Fast-Tracking Future Careers
Beyond the booths and talks, students had the chance to fast-track their job applications through On-Campus Recruitment Events. Throughout the week, participating companies hosted screening sessions, offering students the opportunity to submit their resumes and engage directly with recruiters—turning conversations into tangible career prospects.
Through these recruitment opportunities, JOBFAIR 2025 proved to be more than jus an introduction to potential employers. It became a platform where students could transform aspirations into action. By the end of the week, many walked away not only with new insights and connections but with real opportunities that could shape the first steps of their professional journeys.
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As the week wrapped up, JOBFAIR 2025 proved to be much more than a recruitment event. It was a testament to the importance of collaboration, mentorship, and active career development in every student’s journey. Behind this large-scale success were the hardworking individuals who designed, coordinated, and delivered an event that opened new doors for the UP community.
Voices Behind the Scenes
This year’s JOBFAIR was not only about connecting students with companies, but also about collaboration, inclusivity, and growth. Behind every booth, talk, and workshop were months of planning led by passionate student organizers. Let's hear insights from JF25 Project Manager Sarah Gatmen on her experience leading UP CAPES' largest event of the year:
“Mounting Jobfair 2025 has been one of the most unique and fulfilling experiences in my university life. From deciding I was going to be a part of the project to officially wrapping up through evaluations, Jobfair was a poetic end to my college experience. Coming from the EBD 2023-2024 term where my fervor for CAPES, its projects, and its people skyrocketed, it became important to me that others had the chance to have a similar experience. When I first committed to becoming a project manager for Jobfair 2025, I had one clear objective: try new ideas to build up the pool of knowledge for future CAPES leaders. Early preparations reflected this, as each idea and succeeding step was thoroughly vetted, integrated into a work plan and timeline, and documented in execution and evaluation. Looking back at the proceedings of the event, I have two main takeaways. First, always savor moments of learning, whether they are borne from success or failure. The former will allow you to find joy when things go well. The latter will remind you that even instances of the best outcome can always be made better. Second, take inspiration and learn from the people around you. Learning and growth does not need to happen in isolation. Sometimes, the best practices are an amalgamation of what everyone around you does. ”
As the event came to a close, the success of JOBFAIR 2025 stood as proof of what strong academic-industry collaboration can achieve—bridging the gap between university and the world beyond, one meaningful conversation at a time.
Each year, JOBFAIR continues to solidify its role as a cornerstone of early career development at UP Diliman. From sparking a student’s first professional interaction to connecting them with future employers, JOBFAIR 2025 once again demonstrated that preparing for the future is a collective effort
Looking Ahead
UP CAPES remains committed to building bridges between the university and the professional sphere, ensuring that JOBFAIR continues to be a vital platform for shaping the next generation of Filipino professionals. These events do more than open doors to employment—they serve as stepping stones for both personal and professional growth.
The journey doesn’t end here—stay tuned for MIXER 2025 this May. RSVP through the links below and be part of the hottest networking event of the season! ☀️
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Written by: Angelo Gabriel Santiago