300 Students Begins Annual Vacation Jobs in Liberia

ArcelorMittal Liberia

The vacation job scheme is intended to provide young Liberians with an opportunity to improve their leadership skills and acquire new skills. It is also meant to provide a working environment where young people can gain hands-on work experience and understand the responsibilities of being in employment.

ArcelorMittal Liberia has announced the hiring and recruitment of 300 college and high school students under its Annual Vacation Job Program.

ArcelorMittal is the world's leading integrated steel and mining company, with a presence in more than 60 countries. The company is the leader in all major global steel markets, including automotive, construction, household appliances and packaging, with leading R&D and technology, as well as sizeable captive supplies of raw materials and outstanding distribution networks. With an industrial presence in over 20 countries spanning four continents, the Company covers all of the key steel markets, from emerging to mature.

A release issued said the one-month program was first piloted in 2010, and is offered every year by the company's corporate responsibility department. The students selected have been placed at various ArcelorMittal sites around the country.

In addition, the company said this year some of the students are being seconded to several government and private institutions, but will receive compensation from ArcelorMittal Liberia.

The recruitment process began with advertisements on the radio, in the newspapers and with flyers posted on bulletin boards in universities and colleges, instructing applicants about the application process, deadlines and where to submit their applications.

The applications were then sorted, based on the quality of the application. Some of the key factors the committee considered were: age, birth certificate, letter of recommendation from current school and grade or report card. Preference was given to females as means of creating a gender balance.

Unlike past years, when students were assigned to ArcelorMittal's Liberia central office, this year emphasis has been placed on the placement of students according to their academic and career interests. Students therefore have a wider range of choice of placement sites including ArcelorMittal Liberia, the Ministry of Lands and Mines, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, UMARCO Shipping Lines and other private entities.

The company indicated that with many young people in Liberia not having the opportunity to fulfill their potential, it aims to create an avenue for young people to acquire knowledge and experience to help them achieve their goals.

The program also serves as a recruitment vehicle for internship students. Based on their performance, students who stand out will be offered internships or full-time jobs. With each student receiving a stipend of $US125, the program is also vital in helping students pay for their educational expenses when the new academic year begins.

Through its core values of sustainability, quality and leadership, ArcelorMittal commits to operating in a responsible way with respect to the health, safety and well-being of its employees, contractors and the communities in which it operates. It is also committed to the sustainable management of the environment. It takes a leading role in the industry's efforts to develop breakthrough steelmaking technologies and is actively researching and developing steel-based technologies and solutions that contribute to combat climate change.

In 2012, ArcelorMittal had revenues of $84.2 billion and crude steel production of 88.2million tonnes, representing approximately 6 percent of world steel output.

ArcelorMittal is listed on the stock exchanges of New York (MT), Amsterdam (MT), Paris (MT), Luxembourg (MT) and on the Spanish stock exchanges of Barcelona, Bilbao, Madrid and Valencia (MTS).