Job seekers attending career fairs are finding that artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping the hiring landscape.
D Alice Mariah, 27, visited the Johor Human Resource Development Council (JTDC) career fair to gain experience in job hunting.
She pointed out that one of the main challenges in securing jobs today is the increased use of AI in the recruitment process.
“I attended a similar fair in Geran Pata, Johor Bahru two months ago, and this time I returned to expand my network.
“Many companies are using AI to filter applications, such as applicant tracking systems (ATS) that scan resumes for keywords.
“My resume may not match the keywords required by these systems, so I could be rejected,” said Alice, who is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in business administration.
They suggested improvements for future events, such as using QR codes for job applications and providing detailed information about participating companies.
Alice was one of those who attended the JTDC job fair held at Southern University College in Johor Bahru.
During the three-day event from April 3 to 5, 43 employers posted more than 1,300 job openings across 296 job categories. Almost 96% of the positions were in Johor.
Won Young-bin, 22, a final year software engineering student, said she visited the exhibition because she was concerned about her future employability.
“I’m concerned that some jobs will be replaced by AI in the future, so I want to explore the opportunities available now,” he said.
He noted that most employers at the show were from the marketing, sales and mechanical sectors, with limited opportunities for roles related to software engineering.
“There are fewer companies offering software and IT-related positions, making it harder for students like me to find suitable opportunities,” he said.
He suggested that future job fairs be organized by industry more clearly.
Anizan Ali, a senior quality assurance engineer working in Penang, attended the exhibition to find a job closer to his home in Johor.
The 36-year-old mother had been traveling interstate for work for the past three years.
“I always commute by plane, which is difficult and expensive. So, I want to find a job that suits my abilities and stay here forever,” Anizan said.
He said career fairs have made it easier for job seekers to search for opportunities and for employers to find suitable candidates.
She found it easier to find a company’s human resources representative and contact them directly.
“I messaged a few companies earlier, and most said they were not accepting new hires,” she says.
“Here, it was easy to discuss my qualifications and explore available opportunities. I also brought a copy of my resume so that the employer could review it on the spot and point out areas for improvement.”
