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VISITORS____________________________________________

- This year's number of FORWARD’s visitors was a key indicator of its success, where more than 59,100 visitors versus 52,000 in 2007. This allowed companies in the exhibition to recruit qualified Lebanese talents that they were seeking.

- The 59100 Visitors were as follows:
          1- 7100 were between the age of 17 and 20; 26,300 were                between the age of 21 and 26; 15,600 were between the                age of 27 and 35; and 10,100 were above the age of 35.
          2- 37% were females and 63% were males
          3- 26% were looking for education, training, and/or internship,                while 74% were looking for job opportunities. Out of this                74%, 69% were looking to shift their current jobs for better                opportunity, while the 31% in between jobs or fresh                graduates.

EXHIBITORS____________________________________

- What distinguished FORWARD 2008 is the heavy participation of Lebanese companies that were recruiting Lebanese talents from different levels. This is unprecedented in the history of FORWARD especially that around 77% of the involved exhibitors were Lebanese despite of the political and the economical situation that the country is going through.

- Bookings were still requested up to the very last minute. On the same day of the inauguration and during the first day of the exhibition when the bookings were officially closed, 6 more companies joined the FORUM. This shows the strong belief in the essence, goals and success of FORWARD .

- The fair gathered around 141 exhibitors on an area of 6,500sqm that was spread as follows:
- 112 Leading Multinational, Regional and local Companies
- 29 Academic Institutions, Training & Cultural Centers

JOB OFFERS___________________________________

Over 10,000 job offers and internships in Lebanon and the region were available in different fields and for all career levels.
For the first time at FORWARD, many companies that couldn’t exhibit at the FORUM and who had job openings were able to post their vacancies on the Jobs Avenue that was designed for this purpose. Successfully, 100s of job openings in different fields were posted for candidate who applied directly. FORWARD broke its own record for the year 2008 in terms of “employment on the spot”.

270 individuals were recruited successfully after onsite screenings & interviews with companies abroad. Local companies found the fair as the initiation of their annual recruitment operation with results continuing for weeks and months to come after the forum. Job seekers were able to apply directly to CAREERS making full use of its all-year job opportunities in Lebanon and the Gulf region.

TRAINING SESSIONS_____________________________

Training sessions were provided by CSP Middle East (www.cspme.com) and Careers Middle East (www.careerslb.com) to equip Global Executives with the latest management solutions to the ever-growing demands of the business world today. These sessions were organized daily as short training courses that took place at FORWARD 2008.

Workshop for a professional appearance in the workplace was held at FORWARD by Imag In which provided a life changing and tangible impact by providing re-looking sessions for professionals in their work places.

CONFERENCES & PRESENTATIONS________________

A series of presentations was organized by CAREERS where exhibitors of local and multinational companies presented their employment opportunities and career paths at their respective enterprises.

A series of presentations was organized by C.O.D. where exhibitors of local and multinational Educational Institutions presented their majors, programs, curriculum, enrollment conditions, tuition fees and scholarships, visa requirements, etc…

NEW AREAS AT FORWARD 2008___________________

- Career Services Pavillion:
Jobs seekers were able to get the lips that directed them to the right job. CAREERS consultants were present to give job seekers adivce on ways to achieve self-awareness, re-format their CVs and to ultimately enhance their career opportunities.

- Entrepreneurship Area:
Organizations with the aim to fund new businesses discussed with visitors their ideas for new projects, their feasibility and applicability. Support from such organizations for potential projects would be translated in terms of financial and/or non-financial help.

- The Jobs Avenue:
Visitors had the chance to check and apply to 100’s of job vacancies classified per field and posted on boards in the “the Jobs Avenue” area. At FORWARDs to come jobs will no longer be limited to the fair exhibitors, but also to organizations in Lebanon and abroad who have openings but cannot be present at FORWARD.

NEW FEATURES AT FORWARD 2008________________

- Speed Jobbing:
Speed Jobbing Spot: Candidates were directed to the available vacancies at the FORUM that suited their experience and education instead of wasting time posting their CVs to companies that don’t have openings for their caliber. This came efficiently to both candidates and companies and helped better direct the recruitment process.

- Self Assesment Tests:
Scientific methods were applied to draw conclusions about human behavior. Personality assessment tests were used to provide interested visitors with descriptions of how they behave, react, and interact under different situations at the workplace and the kind of companies and jobs that suit them.

- Career Counseling:
Career counselors were there to provide visitors with the needed consultations to be exposed to more career possibilities. They worked on fostering the candidates’ potential and generating options to determine their own career track

- Professional Resumé Assesment Center:
CAREERS HR Specialists presented FORWARD’s visitors with a one of a kind opportunity to improve their résumé during personal sessions. Interested visitors were able to take advantage of the presence of career specialists to better present their CV and thus get the job they want.

- Video CV:
Candidates were able to record their qualification and motivation on a Video CV, which is a 60-Second video of a candidate’s profile, explaining what kind of position they’re looking for, what experience and education they have, and why they should be considered for any position they’re applying for.