UAE nationals would most like to start a career with Masdar or ADNOC, a new report announced at Hult International Business School has revealed.
Universum, an employer branding consulting firm, surveyed 8,000 students across the UAE and KSA to look at their hopes once they enter the job market. And when it came to UAE nationals, it was Masdar and ADNOC who were the top two preferred places to start a career.
The survey findings were announced on Tuesday at the annual Universum event at Hult International Business School in Dubai. It was also revealed that professional training and development, a creative and dynamic work environment and employee respect are the top three attributes desired by UAE nationals seeking employment.
The event, named the annual employer branding seminar and Universum awards now in its second year, is designed to focus on what employers can do to attract, recruit and retain emerging graduate talent. It also featured a first-hand best practice case study from Etihad Airways’ VP Learning and Development, Wissam Hachem, as well an interactive panel discussion lead by some of the UAE’s biggest employers including Emirates, EY, Du and LinkedIn.
Looking at the interviews overall, 85 per cent of the students surveyed believe that their work should be based on ambition rather than money.
One respondent said: “Status is no longer about a sky-rocketing career and getting rich. Instead it’s about following your dreams, personal development and working with new, and exciting things. It’s about self-realization through education and career choice, while at the same time helping others.”
Huseyn Charif, who is Executive Director of Corporate Relations at Hult International Business School said: “While the talent pool of graduating students in the UAE is large, we mustn’t forget that employers need to recognize that they are fighting to attract this talent, not only here in the UAE, but globally.
“This event was a fantastic opportunity for some of the UAE’s biggest employers to get together and discuss the results, as well as sharing their own best practice on how they work to attract the attention of this emerging talent.”
Claudia Tattanelli, Global Director, Universum, added: “The recruitment landscape in the UAE is a very challenging one, made up of different groups that organisations need to address, so localising key messages towards the target audience is vital.
“We found the ideal work and life balance is the number one career goal across the board. Our respondents don’t want to compromise, and are more focused on personal development, career satisfaction and embracing new and exciting opportunities, rather than status as may have been the case before.”
The Universum survey saw over 8,000 students across 30 educational establishments throughout the UAE and Saudi Arabia audited on career and employer expectations, over a six month period between February and June 2014.
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