Bittersweet job fair for over 100 DFS employees facing displacement

Over 100 DFS Guam employees are now searching for new jobs as the retailer prepares to shut its doors at the end of March. Today, a job fair in Tumon brought together nearly 30 employers hoping to hire the workers affected by the closure.

Friday was a bittersweet day as DFS employees lined up to meet potential employers just weeks before the store they’ve worked in for years prepares to close. With operations set to end on March 31, dozens of workers came face-to-face with employers ready to hire.  For those who have spent years at dfs, the closure comes with mixed emotions. 

Marie Ana Crame, a sales team lead supervisor, said, "Of course, it was sad news for us, but then again, we look forward to a better opportunity." and product sales manager Dioni Rosario added, "It was very shocking, very sad especially as this is our family here at DFS. Like I’ve mentioned, I’ve been here more than half my life."

For Rosario, DFS Guam is where she started and built her career. This year would have been her 19th year at DFS. "This is my life. I’ve been here forever," she said. "But I’m so happy about this job fair, that so many people came out to support us during this transition. So it’s making it a little easier."

The Guam Department of Labor partnered with DFS to host the job fair, bringing together nearly 30 employers from a range of industries looking to fill open positions. Catherine Galsim, DFS Guam human resources director, said, "Since we announced it in November, we’re looking at a little over a hundred employees that will potentially be displaced. We have long tenured employees that have actually served since we have been in this building for 33 years."

Galsim says GDOL has been working with employees for months through its Rapid Response Program. She also thanks the overwhelming community support, saying, "It’s really important for us to empower them to drive their future careers and really treat this as a beginning, not as an end."

So while the closure marks the end of an era on Guam, the job fair is helping ensure the people behind the store can move forward to their next opportunity. sales tea, lead supervisor Marie Ana Crame shared, "There’s life after DFS that we shouldn’t worry about. We carry on that flagship of being at DFS as strong, well equipped and we can fly high - soar high."