Bayt.com brought together some of the UAE’s top companies in an event that shed light on interesting pioneering job search technologies and fresh perspectives at the job site’s annual Employer Seminar at Careers UAE2015. The seminar, entitled ‘Hiring and Retaining UAE Nationals’, took place on Thursday, April30, at the Dubai World Trade Centre.
“Nationalization is at the forefront of the UAE’s employment initiatives, with nationalization in the private sector having a pivotal role,” said Suhail Masri, Vice President, Bayt.com. “We were happy to share the results of the recent Bayt.com Nationalisation in the UAE poll with Career UAE attendees, especially as the poll showed us some interesting insights into hiring and retaining a UAE national workforce. At Bayt.com, we have been working with organizations large and small to assist them in hiring top Emirati talent since we started in the year2000. Obviously, our hard work has paid off, with40% of respondents saying that the most effective way to recruit national talent is through leading job sites like Bayt.com. ”
The seminar also featured a panel discussion that covered topics related to how the private sector can best attract UAE National Youth; the role of internships and graduate training programs in optimizing talent attraction; and the way in which the education system can best embed the private sector culture in the general studies courses and engage students with perspective employers. Regional leaders from various industries shared their opinions in the panel, including; Zuhair Al Haj, Director of Human Resources and Localisation, MENA, Al Futtaim; Abdulmuttalib (Talib) Hashim, Managing Director of TBH Consultancy and Co-Founder of Next Level Consultancy; Khalid Al Ameri, Youth Motivator and Social Columnist; and Mohamed Yassine Otmani, Career Services & Corporate Relations Manager, American University of Sharjah.
Mohamed Yassine Otmani, Career Services & Corporate Relations Manager, American University of Sharjah, said: "Nationalisation is a topic very pertinent at the moment and this forum presents an excellent platform to discuss issues and insights most relevant to the theme, particularly how to incorporate our youth into the workforce seamlessly and how the education sector, private sector and public sector can best source, attract and retain our vital local talent pool."
Zuhair Al-Haj, Director of Human Resources and Localisation, Al-Futtaim, said: "We are honored to participate in the Bayt.com2015 employer seminar and see tremendous value in sharing with key stakeholders and top employers modern best practices in local recruitment drives and discussing synergies in nurturing and fostering and optimizing the employment of UAE talent."
Abdulmuttalib (Talib) Hashim, Managing Director of TBH Consultancy and Co-Founder of Next Level Consultancy, said: "The Bayt.com employer seminar provides an excellent networking and content sharing opportunity for all UAE stakeholders interested in the optimal employment of national talent.”
Khalid Al Ameri, Youth Motivator and Social Columnist, said: " "It was interesting to see that as per the Bayt.com Nationalization poll, the most effective way after leading jobsites and social media sites to hire national talent according to UAE employers is career fairs. Private sector employers need to attend more career fairs, such as Careers UAE, in order to educate and engage the dynamic Emirati talent pool as a stepping stone to attracting them into the growing private sector.”
The panel was supplemented by presentations covering a myriad of topics, from various guest speakers, including, Essa El Mulla, Chief of National Workforce development-Emirates Nationals Development Programme (ENDP); Hisham Al Muthana, Talent Development Leader for GE, Middle East North Africa and Turkey; Reena Sheraz; Human Resources Business Partner and Emiratisation, Al Futtaim.
“It is vital for all stakeholders to engage in and discuss the Emiratisation agenda in the UAE for the benefit of all residents of this country. Our mission is to support the leadership’s vision of increasing the number of Emiratis entering the private sector workforce, thereby growing the knowledge economy. To this end, we are carrying out advocacy with all stakeholders -- the employers, the government and the community,” said Essa Al Mulla, Chief of National Workforce development-Emirates Nationals Development Programme (ENDP)
Asma Mohammed Al Sharif, Director for Exhibitions, DWTC, said, “Careers UAE enables talented UAE nationals, from various industries with different levels of education and experience to gather under one roof and meet potential employers and recruiters from leading UAE companies face-to-face. This event is specifically designed to expose talented Emiratis to varied educational, training and career opportunities within private sector industries.”