Exhibitors report record response as Careers UAE rings off on high note

From across the board, exhibitors who were drawn from all sectors of the industry were highly impressed with the turnout and pulling power of the show. Most of them reported getting far more CVs from prospective employees than they had bargained for, and were of the express opinion that Careers UAE was the ideal platform to attract, meet with and source fresh national talent for their respective companies.

Careers UAE 2004, which is recognised as the largest and most effective platform in the Middle East that brings together the cream of national talent and top-notch employers in the region, this year witnessed record crowds of young national graduates and jobseekers who litereally swamped the venue in record numbers for all three days of the show.

Among the exhibitors who were extremely pleased with the results of their participation was the UAE Armed Forces, who participated with the largest stand. "We have participated in many career fairs, but Careers UAE was the best organised of them all with companies participating from all sectors," said Brigadier General, Juma Khalaf Al Humairi. "We feel we were succesful in letting young people know what we have to offer them in terms of an exciting career option," he added.

"We are amazed at the tremendous turnout," said Khaled Abdulla Al Mansouri, PR Manager of Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Authority. " We have already collected over 500 CVs and we intend to recruit anywhere between 10 to 20 per cent of the candidates," he said.

Hend Al Darwish of Dubai TV was pleased with the timings of the show this year and was extremely impressed with the quality of the visitors, while Waleed bin Shafee of of DAFZA and the Silicon Oasis was of the opinion that participation in Careers UAE has helped his company to save a lot on recruitment costs.

Among others pleased with the turnout and organisation of the exhibition were Chahira El Beblawi of Johnson and Johnson and Shoaib Rahimi of Emaar, both of whom also said that this edition of the show was far better than the previous ones.

For Suhail Arab, who came to scout the employment market in order to be able to make a job shift, Careers UAE was the ideal platform. "Everything is well put together with various companies from each sector located together. The best part is that most of them seem to be willing to recruit," he said.

"I have attended Careers on two previous occasions," said Mona Bu Rahima, a jobseeker, "but this edition seems to have the exhibitors in a more receptive mood," she added.

The cooperation between the DWTC and the UAE University, Higher Colleges of Technology, Zayed University and The National Human Resource Development & Employment Authority (Tanmia), enabled better channelisation of the flow of the best local talent graduating from the universities and higher institutions to the right slots in both the public and private sector.

The increase in importance being accorded to Emiratisation by the private sector was reflected in the fact that nearly 50 per cent of the exhibitors at the show were drawn from this sector. The increase was a direct fallout from the extremely effective tournout at last year's event where banks, multinationals, IT and media companies, semi-government and government institutions all spared no effort to take advantage of the increasing pool of highly trained, disciplined and dedicated Emiratis who were set to begin their professional careers.

Careers this year has set higher standards for national recruitment and offered increased client and job seeker satisfaction according to organisers DWTC.

There was a far wider choice for visitors to the fair with 122 exhibiting companies including banks, multinationals, IT and media companies, semi-government and government institutions all present at the fair in order to tap in to the burgeoning pool of Emirati talent available.