Nestle sharpens the minds of future Omani graduates with vocational training course

Twenty Senior Omani graduates were given an invaluable insight into how to secure a dream job after completing their degree, thanks to Nescafe's latest training initiative.

The course was formulated by Nescafe, in conjunction with Oman's leading training company, the National Training Institute. The selected 20 Omani graduates received assistance in maximising their job-hunting experience, through effective communication of their educational skills and qualifications to prospective employers.

Raid Essa Al Jabri, a Business Management Degree Senior student at Gulf College attended the course and has since realised that just having a good CV is not enough. "Our country is currently undergoing massive developments, with policies and regulations changing to suit today's globalisation movement," says Al Jabri. "Oman is in a progressive phase and developing extremely fast so, as a young Omani, I need to take these changes seriously by working hard to attain the qualifications necessary to succeed.

"In such a challenging environment with many skilled applicants applying for the same job, a good CV may get you a 'foot in the door' in terms of an interview but if you don't conduct yourself well in a face to face meeting, you will be out of the door just as quickly as you entered."

Each specially selected student was given the chance to perfect their inexperienced interview techniques, as well as obtain tips on how to stand out from all the other applicants in the room.

Al Jabri said, "During an interview you need to carry yourself in a professional manner, be well prepared and knowledgeable about the position, as well as being up-to-date with issues in the market that may affect the company in question. The course also taught us how to put ourselves in the client's shoes and look at the interview from another perspective. Ultimately, the whole experience opened my eyes and broadened my mind with regard to understanding the job hunting process and presenting myself as a professional."

At the end of the training program, each student was given a Certificate of Completion as well as a Nescafe gift basket.

Emile Al Douaihy, General Business Manager of Nestle Oman Trading said, "Companies in Oman are beginning to seek a high caliber of employee, a highly qualified individual who can keep up with the fast moving progression of the country and help take their own business forward with it. Although educational qualifications are a key element of this, there are also areas that are not sufficiently covered by the education system. We call these the "Quality Differentials" and with courses such as this, we can equip our future graduates with the necessary differentials to stand out and succeed."

Students that attended the course are hoping their educational institutions will look at including the training program as part of its curriculum. "Our colleges must start to provide a truly holistic educational experience - a mix of educational and invaluable vocational training," said Al Jabri. "With the Sultanate becoming a key player in the world business forum, we need to produce a generation of all-round business professionals and courses like this are an ideal way of achieving this."

With this initiative, Nescafe, Nestlé's premier coffee brand, is making great efforts in bringing the world of business, closer to the youth of Oman, and adding value to the Omani community, as part of its on-going corporate social responsibility program.