ABU DHABI // As thousands of university students leave the protective cocoon of academia this month and plunge into the worst job market in recent memory, they face daunting challenges. Their prospects are aided, however, by a springboard of placement offices, advisers and career fairs to help land them a steady paycheque.
At UAE University, for instance, a careers department was launched in September to help prepare students for life in the real world. "They are doing a lot with career development - how do you market yourself, how do you write a CV," said Dr Courtney Stryker, assistant provost and dean of students. "What they are talking about is how you conduct yourself in a professional environment." Up to 20,000 university students are preparing to graduate this year; some already left university last week.
Careers UAE and Tanmia, the National Human Resource Development and Employment Authority, are designed to not just help Emiratis find jobs but nurture them throughout their careers, said Ali Khaled al Hashimi of Tanmia. "We hear a lot of this [worldwide] economic crisis, but the UAE is not segregated from the world. It is suffering as well," he said. Tanmia is trying to encourage students to work in the private sector, as part of its Emiratisation programme. Many other governmental organisations, such as the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Dubai Internet City and the Environment Agency-Abu Dhabi, are also looking for Emirati graduates.
At the University of Wollongong in Dubai, officials collaborate closely with companies to link them with students. The university held a career fair on March 25, bringing in big names such as Deloitte, Dubai Customs, FedEx and Serco, the company which will operate the Dubai Metro. Cornelio Gomes of the university's careers department said students also were coached on how to present themselves and shine in an interview.
"We conduct a series of workshops on body language and interview techniques," Mr Gomes said. "First impressions are important." But despite all these efforts, a tough road lies ahead for graduates, who officials say should be prepared to make compromises in their job search. "They sometimes choose a place that does not have a vacancy," said a Ministry of Economy spokeswoman. "They want a higher salary even if they do not have any background."
Unemployment in the UAE rose to four per cent in 2008, according to the ministry. Emiratis had the highest unemployment rate, at 13.7 per cent overall. Mohammad Hassan, 22, an Emirati in his last year at the University of Wollongong, has no job in the pipeline. He is pursuing a bachelor's degree in business administration and hopes to work in the private sector for an international business in the UAE.
He admitted that he was a little worried. "I have seen students graduate and not find a job since December. They say there are not many openings." Mr Hassan said having good personal skills and qualifications was key to chasing down a job. "I think it is important to have your degree from the university but it is not the main factor - the main factor is the person themselves," he said. "That is why they have interviews. They call you for an interview so they can evaluate you as a person."
Mohamed Basaleep, 25, who studied petroleum and engineering at UAE University, graduated last year and works as a reservoir engineer. "There is a difference between studying and working," Mr Basaleep said. "The most important thing we need to know is the theory, so we can apply it practically in the places we work." Another recent graduate, Rashed Saeed al Matrousi, 23, found his degree in finance helped secure him a job at the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry as a promotions supervisor.
"The university, it helped a lot because they called me three times trying to offer me a job with different government companies, but I already had a job sorted one month before I graduated," Mr al Matrousi said. "But the university is doing well because they are finding people work." arolandi@thenational.ae
