Searching for a job is the most important concern for final year university students and recent graduates, so they are keen to search for job opportunities and training to hone their skills.
Universities are also keen to provide students with these opportunities, through several channels, most notably holding employment and training fairs, which provide an important platform for students and graduates to meet potential employers, learn about the job opportunities offered, the requirements for applying for them, and interact face-to-face with representatives of companies and institutions, which is… A starting point for building a successful career.
On the other hand, students expressed their fear that the participation of some companies or institutions would be limited to promoting the institution or company without providing any actual job vacancy for students, suggesting monitoring the results of companies’ participation in these exhibitions.
In detail, the majority of universities in the country are keen to organize employment fairs on a regular basis, with the aim of bringing together employers in the public and private sectors under one roof, to provide the opportunity to showcase the training or employment opportunities they have, and to open channels of dialogue between them and students from various specializations.
Universities strive to hold these exhibitions on an annual basis, to provide the opportunity to benefit from them, and to create direct channels of communication between students and employment agencies.
Under the slogan “Your Way to the Future,” the United Arab Emirates University organized the 2024 Career Fair, with the aim of providing an interactive platform for the university’s students and graduates to meet with the 40 most prominent institutions in the government and private sectors, in the Great Hall of the Crescent Building on the campus. The exhibition witnessed a large turnout from students and graduates, and included… Training workshops and dialogue sessions aimed at developing the skills of students and graduates, and providing them with the necessary tools to succeed in the labor market.
Zayed University confirmed that the university’s job fair constitutes a strategic platform compatible with the Emiratisation goals set by the UAE government, by providing the necessary support to students and graduates, through cooperation with employers and strategic partners, ensuring that they have access to the best opportunities in the labor market, noting that This annual initiative embodies the university’s commitment to enhancing students’ employability and contributing to the development of a vibrant, competitive, knowledge-based economy.
She stressed the importance of this annual event for students and institutions alike, pointing out that it organizes two career fairs annually on its campuses in the Emirates of Abu Dhabi and Dubai, each of which includes a group of government and private companies from various sectors, to provide job opportunities in all university specializations, as the exhibition allows students to conduct interviews. Immediate contact with recruitment companies to obtain permanent or temporary jobs.
Al Ain University stressed that the annual career fair it organizes is a vital platform that supports employment, skills development, and building career bridges, which contributes to achieving the success of students and graduates in their career paths, noting that the annual career fair works to attract a variety of employers and government companies. And private, which provides direct opportunities for students and graduates to discover available career opportunities, in addition to expanding communication networks, as the exhibition represents a valuable opportunity for students and graduates to build relationships with potential employers and expand their professional networks, which may ultimately lead to future employment opportunities.
Abu Dhabi University indicated that the annual employment fair, which it organizes, enhances Emiratisation efforts and opens its horizons to specialized national cadres and university graduates in various disciplines, as it contributes to increasing their employment opportunities and demonstrating their skills in leadership, effective communication and logical thinking, and allows them to communicate directly with authorities. Participation work, so that these companies can choose according to what suits their vacancies.
The Career Guidance Department at Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi stated that the annual “Astrolab” Employment Forum is a valuable platform for students and graduates to explore various job and training opportunities, with the participation of organizations from various sectors. This event is in line with the efforts of Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi to empower students and graduates professionally, by providing… The opportunity is for them to meet business owners and provide effective career guidance. It also provides various workshops attended by students from different majors and years of study, in addition to a free career counseling workshop.
The Abu Dhabi Center for Technical and Vocational Education and Training is also organizing the “Abu Dhabi Polytechnic and Partners Employment Forum” with the participation of specialized and distinguished governmental and international institutions, to attract students and graduates of Abu Dhabi Polytechnic, affiliated with “Abu Dhabi Tech,” in specialized training courses that end with employment after graduation.
The center indicated that the forum comes within the framework of its strategy to build and create national competencies in industrial and engineering specializations, as the institutions participating in the forum provide specialized training and appropriate employment for citizens in important industrial specializations that meet the requirements of the future and new jobs.
On the other hand, recruitment officials in government and private agencies confirmed that employment fairs are an important event for every job seeker, as they provide the opportunity to meet potential employers. However, conducting interviews at the employment fair requires special preparation that includes knowledge of registration methods, preparing a CV, and how to conduct interviews. The process also includes a number of fixed questions, which the student or graduate must prepare for, and develop convincing answers that explain his qualities, noting that the most prominent questions include giving a personal overview, the reason for his interest in obtaining a job in this particular company, and talking about his strengths and weaknesses, The achievements that he is proud of, his vision for working within a team, how he overcomes work problems that he may face, and his future goal after employment.
On the other hand, university students and new graduates, Hamad Al-Saadi, Bilal Al-Balushi, Muhammad Matar, Noha Hamid, Khawla Rashid, and Moza Saeed, confirmed that university employment fairs are among the most important gatherings of interest to university students, especially the last batch and new graduates from various specializations, as they play It plays an important role in informing students of the requirements for obtaining a job, how to apply and conduct job interviews, and providing all the necessary information about different work environments, in addition to providing some jobs and training opportunities for them. However, it needs greater support and follow-up so that it does not turn into an event for promoting companies only.
They pointed out that the participation of companies or institutions is limited to promoting the institution or company, without offering any actual job vacancy to students.
They said that there are some institutions that apologize for not receiving applicants’ CVs, under the pretext of their intention to register electronically at the institution, which reduces students’ confidence in the exhibition. They demand oversight of the participating companies and obligating them to announce the number of vacancies they offer, their specializations and conditions before participating in the exhibition. An announcement will be made after the end of the exhibition about the number of employment contracts signed by each company, provided that the university confirms the names of the employees who held these positions and that they are actually students and graduates participating in the exhibition.
Professional relationships
Career consultants: Muhammad Nasser, Sanaa Farouk, and Khaled Azmi confirmed that university employment fairs are an excellent opportunity for students looking for work, as they allow them to apply for vacant jobs, train and communicate directly with employers, conduct practical interviews, and build a strong network of professional relationships. It is also an opportunity for employers, as it allows them to meet a diverse group of talents, and form exceptional relationships that guarantee them the employment of suitable young national cadres, and ensure the fulfillment of the requirements of the Emiratisation file in the country.
They pointed out that benefiting from university employment fairs is not limited to obtaining a job, but also extends to providing opportunities for students to obtain professional guidance and advice from experts in their specific professional fields, which helps them direct their future steps. The fairs also help them learn about market requirements. Developing their self-confidence through training on conducting job interviews and preparing a CV, in addition to motivating them to develop their professional goals and determine the paths they wish to follow in the future.
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