Recruitment Show - Tawdheef 2012 Day 3

After two days of UAE Nationals it is the turn of the masses.

From the National Editorial - Feb 1, 2012
Emiratisation is an issue of vocation

Despite several years of awareness, reforms and training programmes on Emiratisation, some old habits persist. At the Tawdheef recruitment show in Abu Dhabi yesterday, many Emiratis were gathered around governments booths. Some told The National they would accept any job as long as it was in the public sector. Booths that offered jobs in hospitality and the private sector saw limited interest.

It is a worrying trend. In Abu Dhabi, there are between 12,000 and 13,000 Emirati jobseekers a year. Many of those have a good education, but they have difficulty finding the right job. To keep up with demand, hundreds of thousands of new job opportunities will have to be created over the next decade.

One of the major reasons for this is widespread misconceptions both on the part of the private sector and jobseekers. Elements in the private sector, as we report today, complain of a "lack of commitment" from Emiratis in their jobs.

Some Emiratis, on the other hand, say that companies are biased against them and employers tend to ignore their potential. They say that companies often do not provide clear criteria for jobs offered, with some merely advertising "there is a job" for Emiratis.

Emiratis entering the job market must be convinced that a job is not just a paycheque, but a vocation. It is not just about the numbers. In many ways, professionals are defined by their jobs, and Emiratis need to have the information and opportunity to find the fields that best fit their talents and aspirations