Thursday 18 / April / 2024
Muscat: Fresh graduates in the Sultanate wait, on average, for 3.5 years before they are employed in their first jobs, according to Tanfeedh, and recruitment experts say that some graduates lack the experience needed for recruitment.
According to the Public Authority for Manpower Register (PAMR), there are 43,892 active Omani job seekers, as of 26 November 2016, and recruiting experts say most lack experience, and advise that they receive job training.
Speaking to Yara Al Mandhari, Recruitment Consultant at Competence HR, she noted that obtaining a job is not difficult, though some graduates need to gain experience before being employed.
Experience needed
“It’s not that it’s difficult. As a recruitment agency, we cannot really tell people to recruit fresh graduates, because some companies require experience. So that’s why they take experienced people,” said Al Mandhari.
“Some graduates do not agree on salaries, as well as positions – they want something higher,” she added. She also said that some new graduates do not agree to accept a wage of less than OMR800, based solely on the fact that they have a degree. Nadi Hassan, Operation Manager at Elite Global HR Solutions and Services, said that some youths do not have the skills needed in the job market.
“In general, market demands are not provided by the job seekers. The market demands a certain qualification that some don’t provide,” said Nadi.
“Some companies need to achieve an Omanisation percentage, but sometimes they cannot because the job market cannot provide what the company needs,” he explained.
He added that there is always a conflict between demands and what is currently available.
“Some graduates also have an unrealistic expectation that they will land a big job. They must have the mind-set of going into the job market while not thinking about money. Of course money is important, but they need experience first,” said Nadi.
“You wouldn’t be able to land a job with little to no experience. You have to update your CV. Some young graduates don’t stick to one company and keep shifting from one place to another, which will not portray a good image,” he explained.
According to PAMR, 16,152 job seekers have Bachelor’s Degrees followed by 13,792 with GEDs (General Education Diplomas), while 8,178 have College/University Diplomas. Further, 5,676 do not have a GED, while only 91 hold a Magistrate and 3 have PhD’s.
A job seeker, who wished not to be named, said that he graduated last year and has yet to find a job.
“I’ve been looking everywhere with no luck.
“I think it is because of the economy that nobody is hiring,” said the young national.
When asked whether he has experience, he replied, “I don’t have much. I did an internship for a few months and that’s it, but I do have a bachelor’s degree, which should count for something.”
He advised graduates and youth to participate in training courses during their waiting period, to gain some experience.
“Enroll in training programmes; there are companies that give training. Sometimes, that training might end up offering you a job in that company,” she advised.
