"Within two hours of the inauguration at 10 am yesterday, we received around 300 job applications," said Moinuddin Ahmed Mamun, marketing executive, JobsBd.com.

The JobsBd stall has openings for executives at their Dhaka office and a number of positions are also available for a Japan-based firm.

"We are receiving applications from both Bachelors and Masters degree holder, although we had stated we preferred graduate candidates over the under-graduate ones, people are still willing to try their luck," said Mamun.

The fair saw over 1,200 visitors until 3 pm yesterday.

"Most of them are fresh graduates from public and private universities looking for entry level jobs, and others looking for better offers than the ones they already hold," said an official of Inpace Management Services Limited -- the fair organiser.

Most of the job seekers are not sure how their applications will be reviewed.

"I hope that the authorities of the various stalls I applied to will consider my cumulative grade point average (CGPA) rather than any previous job experience," said Ehtesham Baten, a student of North South University's (NSU) Computer Science and Engineering Department.

Baten said he did not have job experience.

"I believe my chances are rare as most of the entry-level positions require prior job experience of at least a year or two," he said.

His sister, Tanzima Baten fears that her applications may not be considered because of a low grade.

"But I expect to receive some response as I have experience as a teacher," she said.

Sharaf Ahmed, another job seeker who possesses a Bachelors Degree from University of North Texas, Denton, USA, has a different problem.

"Most employers relate my foreign degree with high remuneration and in order to keep the costs low, they do not even consider my application, let alone employing me," he said.

Employers said they classify applications based on CGPA or division, educational qualification, job experience, and extra curricular skills.

"Once an employer feels that the applicant has met with all or most of these requirements, only then will the candidate be called for an interview," said Mamun of Bdjobs.com.

The fair was an effort by Inpace Management Services Limited to aid both job seekers and employers in the city.

"We are acting as an interface between the two groups. Depending on the success of this fair, we may arrange more in the future," said Md. Kamrul Ahsan, managing director, Inpace Management Services Ltd.

Around 20 stalls along with SKY bd, Inpace Communica-tions, Opsonin Pharma Limited, Channel 1, The New Age, The Samakal, Aim in Life, BDJobs.com, Jobslinkbd.com, Access Telecom and Transcom Group participated in the fair.

The fair ends today.