Since last year, Karen has been teaching e-commerce and elite training classes at Taiwan Tech University. Since these are courses commissioned by the vocational training bureau, the students are almost all people who lost their jobs due to the pandemic. Each person has their own story, and when they talk about their past, they often shed tears... This series of courses lasts three to four months, and after the course ends, students must choose to return to the workplace or start their own business or take a different path in life.
Everyone has their own story — maybe talented individuals who had to return from overseas due to unforeseen circumstances, married mothers working in department stores who were forced to leave due to the pandemic's impact, middle-aged uncles who are career changers, or aspiring writers. Each person's talent is irreplaceable, but what they might be lacking is perhaps just a stage, an opportunity to match with employers, and a useful platform.
Recently, my students finished the course. Some are looking for jobs, and now it's also the post-New Year career change season. Companies are opening up large numbers of positions, and talents are increasingly expecting good jobs. So where would be most suitable for them?
Recently, I discovered that 518 Job Bank has transformed into "518 Xiong Ban." The mascot bear is named BEN, making it more relatable and endearing to people's hearts. Actually, "Xiong Ban" (熊班) is a Taiwanese pun for "shang ban" (上班 — going to work), which is quite cute when you think about it XD. As you browse through the interface, Bear Ben keeps waving at you — it's so adorable that I want to recommend it to everyone.
How do you use 518 Xiong Ban, and how does it differ from other job banks?
It turns out that in the past, the term "job bank" was used for convenience in searching, but times are truly changing. When you think about it, "manpower" seems to suggest merely filling a position, and individual characteristics and distinctiveness get diluted. "Bank" also gives the feeling that resources can be withdrawn, so "job bank" actually limits the talent pool in the labor market.
518 Xiong Ban is no longer a job bank, but rather emphasizes "talent." By leveraging the platform's own advantages, it focuses on service-oriented talents in food service, retail, administration, and customer service sectors. It ensures that frontline talents who directly interact with customers have their distinctive qualities highlighted and utilized. Whether you're an enterprise or a job seeker, you can quickly find matches through the platform's "Xiong Kuai Tou" (rapid application feature), letting Xiong Ban help you find a job.
The most fun part I found when using it personally is an animal personality psychology test. My test result was "penguin personality type."
I think it's quite accurate XD and I encourage everyone to take the test and discuss results together. It can help you better understand yourself.
- Filling out resumes is more convenient — Xiong Kuai Tou completes registration and application within 30 seconds
During my recent trial, registration only required simple entry of my ID and phone number. Since I had used 518 to find jobs during university, my data was retained — my profile photo and information were all still there. With just simple modifications, I could quickly submit my resume to suitable job openings, making job hunting very simple.
When a platform no longer treats talent as mere manpower, employers' attitudes when posting vacancies will also adjust. They'll place greater emphasis on talent development benefits, the competencies of service-oriented talents, and career advancement. I'm delighted to see 518 Xiong Ban's transformation, setting a benchmark for other job banks, ensuring that talents seeking work and a good stage won't be overlooked.
