JOBSEEKERS attending career fairs are finding that artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping the hiring landscape.
D. Alice Mariah, 27, visited the Johor Talent Development Council (JTDC) career fair to gain experience in job hunting.
She noted that one of the main challenges in securing employment today was the increasing use of AI in recruitment processes.
“I previously attended a similar fair two months ago in Gelang Patah in Johor Baru, and returned this time to expand my network.
“Many companies use AI to filter applications, including applicant tracking systems (ATS) that scan for keywords in resumes.
“I may be getting rejected because my resume may not match the keywords required by these systems,” said Alice who is completing her bachelor’s degree in business administration.
She suggested improvements for future events, including the use of QR codes for job applications and providing detailed information on participating companies.
Alice was among those who attended the JTDC job fair held at Southern University College in Johor Baru.
The three-day event, from April 3 to 5, featured 43 employers offering more than 1,300 vacancies across 296 job titles. Nearly 96% of the positions were based in Johor.
Wong Yong Bin, 22, a final-year software engineering student, said he visited the fair because of concerns about his future employability.
“I’m concerned that AI may replace some jobs in the future, so I want to explore the opportunities that are available now,” he said.
He noted that most employers at the fair were from marketing, sales and mechanical sectors, with limited opportunities for roles related to software engineering.
“There were fewer companies offering software or IT-related positions, which made it harder for students like me to find suitable opportunities,” he said.
He suggested that future job fairs be organised by categorising industries more clearly.
Senior quality assurance engineer Anizan Ali, who works in Penang, attended the fair to find a job closer to home in Johor.
The 36-year-old mother has been making interstate travel for work in the past three years.
“It is tiring and costly since I usually commute by air. So, I am hoping to find a job that suits my ability and stay here for good,” said Anizan.
She said the career fair made it easier for jobseekers to look for opportunities and employers to find suitable candidates.
She found it easier to locate and communicate directly with companies’ human resources representatives.
“I tried messaging several companies previously, but most of them said they were not accepting new intakes,” she said.
“Here, it was easier to discuss my qualifications and explore available opportunities. I also brought copies of my resume so that employers could review them on the spot and even point out areas for improvement.”
