The American Chamber of Commerce in Indonesia (AmCham Indonesia) held its 7th annual AmCham Career Fair, in conjunction with the U.S. Embassy Jakarta’s @america center and a number of U.S. companies operating in Indonesia, on Aug 31 and Sept 1.
U.S. companies sponsoring the event included Cargill, PepsiCo, ExxonMobil, Honeywell, Apple Developer Academy, Starbucks, and Vision-Ease, joined by Indonesian institutions the Center for Indonesian Policy Studies and the Jakarta Intercultural School, alongside multinational companies RSM and Colliers. Company representatives engaged directly with Indonesian young professionals, showcasing job vacancies and providing advice for those hoping to start or advance their careers. This year, USAID also joined to promote its programs in Indonesia.
“It is encouraging and rewarding to see so many people want to engage with our companies at this career fair gathering,” said A Lin Neumann, AmCham Indonesia Managing Director. “There’s a real spirit here of wanting to improve, to build a career and try new things.”
The AmCham Indonesia Career Fair began in 2013 and has become an annual tradition, with the support of the U.S. Embassy’s @america platform. As in past years, the two-day event also featured skill-building events, including CV advice and tips on presenting oneself during a job interview. Simulations with HR representatives showed young people how to more confidently and effectively showcase their skills.
U.S. Embassy Jakarta Counselor for Public Affairs Jason P. Rebholz said the AmCham Career Fair highlights the significant economic ties between the United States and Indonesia, especially the impact of American companies based here. “This event not only showcases the diverse talents and skills of Indonesia’s workforce but also underscores the strong and enduring relationship between Indonesia and the United States that is built upon the shared values of democracy, innovation, and economic prosperity, and has progressed into a partnership that extends across numerous sectors.”
Key players in growing industries shared their time with job seekers, providing advice and insight from their own career paths. Zaid Alami, Managing Director of The Boeing Company’s Indonesia operations, spoke about how even though his area of study may have helped him land the job interview, it is also equally important to uphold a good attitude and sharpen creative thinking to be successful in your career.
PepsiCo, which on the first day of the fair announced an investment of $200 million to build a new factory in West Java, shared that it has begun recruiting to help grow its presence in Indonesia. Gabrielle Angriani, Director of Government Affairs, Communications and Sustainability with PepsiCo Indonesia, said that working for a multinational company is a positive experience, as people are valued for themselves, whatever their strengths are.
Phil Wira, a design mentor with Apple Developer Academy, shared his experience of shifting careers from architecture to making it in the tech industry, and highlighted the importance of being comfortable with change.
In one popular session, executives from Cargill and Honeywell explained what traits companies look for in potential job candidates. Aside from soft and hard skills, there are three Cargill foundational values that should be nested in each job seeker – to reach higher, put people first, and do the right thing – according to Cargill Indonesia Country HR Director Maris Rahadiyan. Cargill also looks for people who can consistently become a better version of themselves day by day.
For Honeywell, it is crucial for potential candidates to understand the significance of having an inclusive and diverse work environment, alongside the importance of technology in changing the world and people’s livelihoods, according to Lead Strategic Marketing & Business Development Manager, Honeywell Southeast Asia Iqbal Akbar.
The two speaker sessions were moderated by AmCham Indonesia Board of Governors member and Partner at SSEK Law Firm Stephen Warokka, alongside AmCham Indonesia Corporate Citizenship Chair and Corporate Affairs Director at Mars Wrigley Indonesia Jeffrey Haribowo.
AmCham Indonesia has a dedicated Education and Workforce Development Committee, alongside an active Human Resources Committee. The two committees focus on providing a hub for multinational companies in Indonesia to share best practices in education and human development, connect the private sector with local organizations, and find different ways for private sector players to collaborate with one another in bettering manpower in the country.
Source : The U.S. Embassy
