Colleges hold career fair for students

The ninth annual joint career fair was held yesterday by Abu Dhabi Women's College and Zayed University at the Officer's Club. The fair was attended by representative from over 30 companies from both the private and public sector.

Students visited stalls set up by the companies and learned about the job opportunities available. Most students submitted their CVs to the companies and were busy filling out application forms.

"The fair was a very good opportunity for students to explore careers in the UAE I think it helped us plan for the future," said May Laith Al Taei, a third year student at Zayed University.

An employer panel addressed the students. The panel members were Dr Emil Thies, Assistant Dean of Business at Zayed University; Christine Bond, ABC recruitment; Sultan Al Haji, TotalFinaElf; Sheikha Al Maskari of the UAE Offsets Group and Hind Al Ali from MashreqBank.

Christine talked about issues concerning emiratisation. Her speech was entitled Building Tomorrow and Today.

More women are joining the workforce. Some 3,000 HCT students and 370 students from Zayed University are expected to graduate this year, which means more and more competition for jobs, she said in her address at the exhibition.

"One untouched sector is the private sector. I am amazed how only very few want to join this sector," she said.

"This is where opportunities exist. I encourage UAE nationals to work in the private sector. There is a huge misunderstanding of the leeways that exist in the private sector." Most students interviewed by Gulf News said that they still preferred to work in the public sector.

Afra Al Mansouri, third year student, said: "I would prefer to work in the public sector because of the greater benefits it offers." Hana Al Mansouri, another student, said the public sector is more convenient for married women because of its flexible work hours.

Dr Nicolas Gara Garrow, director of the Abu Dhabi Women's College, described the fair as a chance for students to stretch their boundaries.

"It is your future. Your opportunity to meet employers and to meet other students," he said. Sultan Al Haji, of TotalFinaElf, said despite all the social constraints, women have managed to emerge in a predominant way in all sectors.

"It has given us a better idea of what to expect in our career and how to prepare for it. I found it a very interesting and beneficial experience," said Reem Yousif, third year student at Zayed University.