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Fresh graudates in the UAE claim it is challenging
to secure their first job.

Passion tops salary for fresh UAE graduates

DUBAI, July 24, 2016

”Doing a job I feel passionate about” is the most important attribute for fresh graduates in the UAE, followed by “competitive salaries” (14 per cent), “opportunities for career progression” (9 per cent), and a “well-known organization” (9 per cent), a report said.

The majority of fresh graduates in the UAE also claimed it was challenging or will be challenging to secure their first job, with 26 per cent of them rating it ‘very difficult’, according to the recently-released ‘Fresh Graduates in the Middle East and North Africa Survey’ by Bayt.com, a leading jobsite in the Middle East, and YouGov, an international research organization.

At around 23 per cent, the soaring rates of youth unemployment across the Mena region, are almost twice the global average of 13 per cent. These figures have led to discontent among fresh graduates in the UAE, who claim that the greatest challenge standing between them and a successful career is the fact that candidates with work experience are preferred (52 per cent).

In addition to employers preferring candidates with work experience, respondents cited lack of understanding regarding how to effectively search for jobs (36 per cent) and lack of knowledge as to where to find relevant jobs (31 per cent) as the main challenges they face when trying to secure their first job.

While finding a job may be challenging, fresh graduates in the UAE are not giving in. Despite what many perceive as a ‘negative outlook’, the largest proportion (40 per cent) claim they will keep looking until they find a job in their industry of choice.

Nevertheless, results also point to a pragmatic youth, with more than a quarter (27 per cent) fresh UAE graduates surveyed claiming they will start looking for a job in another industry, and a further 16 per cent claiming they will look for any job no matter the industry.

Unfortunately, the majority (68 per cent) of fresh graduates surveyed in the UAE feel they would have fared better in the job market had they selected either a different major (28 per cent), the same major from a different school (14 per cent), or both a different major and a different school (26 per cent).

While one in every ten (9 per cent) fresh graduates surveyed in the UAE were unaware of what salary they should expect for their first job, 43 per cent received or expected to receive between $750 and $2,000 per month. As may have been expected, results reveal very different salary expectations across the region, with 53 per cent of fresh graduates in Egypt, for example, expecting a monthly salary of $500 or less, while 46 per cent of fresh graduates in Saudi Arabia saying they would expect a first salary between $1,000 and $3,000 per month.

As for the perceived barriers to getting their first job, those surveyed in the UAE believe the primary barriers for hiring fresh graduates in many industries are their ‘lack of experience’ and ‘lack of necessary skills’ (57 per cent and 32 per cent, respectively).

However, for the industries which do hire fresh graduates, their lower salary expectations (49 per cent), compliance and willingness to follow instructions (36 per cent) emerged as the key motivations for hiring fresh graduates.

“In today’s economic climate, it is important for both prospective employees and employers to be aware of the solutions to finding and creating jobs. When it comes to securing their first job, it would be pertinent for those still in university and fresh graduates to take advantage of internships to gain at least some experience before entering the workforce,” said Suhail Masri, VP of Employer Solutions, Bayt.com.

“According to the survey, online job sites were a popular tool for fresh graduates looking to find their first job. Since its launch, Bayt.com has always strived to provide a realistic overview of the opportunities available within the wide variety of industries across the Mena region. Our website offers numerous entry-level jobs and internships, as well as information about the job market, with an aim to empower the youth and ensure that they are making sound decisions when it comes to their future career paths. We also recommend that fresh graduates bolster their CVs with tests, courses, and conversations that could also take place on Bayt.com, in order to illustrate a better picture to employers.”

“The results suggest that while fresh graduates across the region expect it to be challenging to find a job, many are resilient and unwilling to compromise on their dreams and ambitions,” said Joao Neves, senior research director at YouGov.

“Indeed, the largest proportion of fresh graduates surveyed claimed they would keep looking until their found a job in their industry of choice and a ‘job they feel passionate about’. Unfortunately, aside from the necessary work experience many graduates also lack an understanding of how or where to look for jobs.

“Ultimately, results suggest much benefit could be gained by having employers collaborate closely with educational institutions not only to provide internships to students but also to educate them on effective job searching techniques,” Neves added. – TradeArabia News Service




Tags: Jobs | Mena | Bayt.com | Employment | YouGov | UAE graduates |

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