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Employers have a day out with women job seekers

DUBAI — Students and alumni of Dubai Women's College (DWC) were interviewed by over 50 companies from the public, private and semi government sectors, that participated in the second annual Employer's Day at the college.

The event aims at exposing graduates to the job opportunities at different sectors, besides encouraging more number of female graduates and alumni to work in the emirate.

This year, more than 54 employers of leading organisations took part in the one-day event and lured students with several full-time, part-time and summer employment vacancies. Employers got to interview and immediately employ qualified UAE nationals. They also networked with the students, faculty and staff, and presented the profiles of their organisations.

Several students and graduates received competitive employment offers from several employers. Nadia A Ali, a student of Year III of Financial Services Management, was offered a job after an on the spot interview.

She said, "I participated in the career fair and Mashreq Bank has offered me a job after interviewing me. My interest is in Marketing and Sales and the company will get back to me within a week."

Dr Aisha Bilkhair, Supervisor at DWC's Career Centre, said, "Since employment of our graduates is a vital priority of DWC, it is very important that we bring the best employers to participate in this event. We want to see our graduates work in every industry in Dubai's market and the companies present today reflect this diversity."

Last year, the first Employers Day hosted 48 organisations which conducted more than 600 interviews during the day. Nearly 81 per cent companies came from the private sector, 17 per cent represented the semi-government sector, while only 2 per cent were from the government sector.

The Career Centre at DWC provides resources and programmes that assist students and graduates to realise career opportunities, personal growth and academic success. Its employment strategies programme includes services such as work experience, career counselling, employment opportunities, and an in-depth programme of job readiness workshops.

Meanwhile, at another event on the campus on Monday evening, termed 'The Entrepreneurship Conference', several successful Dubai-based entrepreneurs urged DWC students to start their own establishments and not be afraid of asking for help while setting up and running them. Laila bint Shabib, the co-founder of Brownbook, an urban guide to the Middle East and Dubai's first online store, brownbag.ae, said, "Do not be afraid of asking for help. Patience and support from family is the key to success."

Talking to Khaleej Times, she said their magazine was the second most popular in the emirate with over 10,000 readers.

Entrepreneurs like Dina Saleh, co-owner of a lifestyle boutique and Hassan bin Jamil, who runs an industrial trading and services business, encouraged students to work as a team and be transparent and open with the staff.

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