Abu Dhabi: An increasing number of UAE nationals are exploring careers in non-traditional sectors such as tourism, medicine and aviation, according to the fifth edition of the Tawdheef 2011 recruitment exhibition.
The three-day fair, which ends today, was organised by the Abu Dhabi Tawteen Council and Turret Media, and held at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (Adnec).
The first two days of the exhibition were reserved for Emiratis. However expatriates living in the UAE have been invited to visit today.
Noaf Tahlak, Marketing Manager, Tourism, Development and Investment Company (Tdic), said: "We have received a large number of Emirati visitors interested in not only learning more about what we are offering but also the diverse range of projects that the Tdic is currently undertaking."
Recruiting
"We currently have 100 UAE nationals working in various sectors across our organisation and are looking to recruit more," Noaf said.
"We are looking to do this through initiatives such as visiting universities to discuss opportunities with us as well as the different programmes we have in place, such as our graduate development programme.
"We have also recently signed a partnership with the Abu Dhabi Education Council (Adec) to provide 150 museum studies scholarships," she added.
While Emirati visitors to the exhibition told Gulf News they were pleased with the diverse range of positions being offered, many indicated their concern about the difficulty of obtaining permanent employment, given that they were fresh graduates with little or no work experience.
Experience
Sarah Omar Al Ameri, who studied Information Technology at Zayed University, said: "I graduated six months ago and since then it's been difficult for me to find a job because organisations want someone with experience.
"However, I was glad to see that there are positions available for all levels of work experience," she said.
"I spoke to several representatives here about the positions they were offering and applied for those I was interested in.
"But I believe that it doesn't matter if you are an Emirati or an expatriate — if you have the qualifications necessary for fulfilling the positions being offered, then you will most likely get a call-back," she added. To address these concerns, the exhibition had included seminars conducted by the Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank and the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation to explore topics including career development, human resources and scholarships.
Additionally, many participating organisations have highlighted the different requirements and methods they use to place Emiratis in positions that fit or are close to their qualifications, such as the Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (Seha).
Shift work
Madiha Al Marzouqi. Head of Recruitment and Manpower Planning, Seha, said: "We have sponsored several majors, such as pharmacy and biomedical, in the Higher Colleges of Technology and once those students have graduated, we place them in various positions within the Abu Dhabi Health Services Company. While we have had some success, we are still facing challenges in encouraging Emiratis — particularly women — to work in the medical field. This is because nurses are required to work shifts."
