Abu Dhabi University launches first “Career Development Conference”

In a bid to educate students and alumni on job market trends and the essential skills for today’s young professionals, Abu Dhabi University launched yesterday (Tuesday 21^st October) its first annual “Career Development Conference”, which attracted experts and professionals who discussed how graduates can start their careers in today’s competitive job market.    

Dr. Nabil Ibrahim Chancellor of Abu Dhabi University asserted that the importance of the University’s first “Career Development Conference” is that represents an additional integral component to the University’s comprehensive career services strategy. “With today’s extremely competitive and challenging job market, it’s vital for students and graduates to equip themselves with the skill necessary to ensure their dream jobs. At ADU we help our students and graduates in taking a proactive approach to developing their careers, and utilizing all the University’s services to their benefit and professional growth. This conference is a vital addition to our various career development services, which include, employer talks, career fairs, career management workshops, one-on-one recruitment consultations, as well as training on CV writing, and job interview skills. Perhaps the best testament to the success of our career development services is the employment rate of our graduates which reached 92% during the past academic year”, added Dr. Ibrahim.

On his part, David Rigby from Monster Gulf explained that some students and graduates lack the training they need on how to interact and represent themselves during on job interviews, which affects their chances in securing a job after graduation. He added: “Presenting yourself in a successful and memorable fashion during a job interview is a key element of securing a job. In fact, answering questions in a professional manner, dressing appropriately and body language are all elements that employers consider during job interviews.” 

Commenting on the role social media plays in enabling job seekers to expand their network and maximize their chances, Ayman Itani Digital, Social Media Strategist, Founder and CEO of Think Media Labs said: “Companies around the world have started integrating the use of various social media platforms in assessing job applicants even before contacting them for a job interview. They look at their activities on Facebook, Twitter, LinkdIn, and Instagram and gage applicants’ suitability to join the company. Companies in the US and Europe have even started putting interviewees on the spot and asking them during the job interview to log on to their social media accounts so company professionals can assess their activities, their views, their ability to work in a team, deal with changes e.t.c.”

He added: “The best way for graduates to present themselves in a positive manner is to use these social media platforms to expand their network of acquaintances and highlight their professional talents, volunteer work and any activities that can put them at the forefront of the job hunting race”. 

Dr. Mohammed Parakandi, Assistant Professor of Management at ADU’s College of Business Administration explained during his presentation that even the most talented graduates in their fields can fail to secure a job offer if they lack the soft skills that employers are looking for. “Skills are classified into two types: hard and soft skills. Hard skills are identified as the skills and knowledge a graduate earns through his or her degree. While soft skills are classified as the interpersonal skills that define the right personality, being a team player with a proper understanding of work etiquette and having the emotional intelligence to deal with different situations in a suitable manner. Some individuals are born with a natural instinct and know how to navigate through society and how to respond in conversations, contain their anger and frustration, while others need to be professionally trained to excel in these aspects. However, these skills are quite necessary and can cause an employer to overlook job candidates who lack them to avoid having future problems with them”, added Dr. Parakandi. 

Expert advice on career development was also presented during a panel discussion by Jeff Uhlich Director of Human Resources at Abu Dhabi University, Maysa Jalbout Non-resident Fellow at the Centre for Universal Education at the Brookings Institution, and Nora Al Hosani graduate of Electrical Engineering from ADU’s College of Engineering. Exploring entrepreneurship as another choice rather than looking for traditional jobs was also one of the topics of discussion presented by Rima Shaaban Manager of the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Centre “ADU Enterprise”, as well as having proper experience to enhance career development as presented by Dr. Christopher Dixon Assistant Professor of Management at ADU’s College of Business Administration.