Jordan Times
Tuesday, September 21, 2004
Hopeful job aspirants flock to
INJAZ fair
By Dalya Dajani
AMMAN — Employers know a good candidate when they see one.
Nidal Sammour, a 4th year marketing student from Amman Al Ahliyya University,
left Monday's bustling INJAZ job fair with a prestigious post lined up at the
Philadelphia Chocolate Manufacturing Company.
Amidst the frenzy of thousands of young job hunters scrambling to make an
impression on companies “looking to hire,” Sammour never thought he would land a
job so soon.
Sammour was handing out his CV and exploring suitable vacancies at several
booths when his mobile phone rang.
“I got a call from the general manager of the Philadelphia Chocolate
Manufacturing Company asking if I was still at the job fair and to immediately
return to their booth,” Sammour told The Jordan Times.
“I wasn't expecting to be offered a job on the spot but when they told me I was
what they were looking for, I was thrilled,” he added.
With hordes of job hunters keeping their fingers crossed to be hired at one of
the 49 participating private sector companies, the main hall at Le Meridian
Hotel yesterday was a bubbling pot of excitement, tension and anticipation.
Thousands of undergraduates, as well as employed and unemployed young Jordanian
men and women converged from across the Kingdom to participate at the day's
activities.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Industry and Trade Mohammad Halaiqa, who
was accompanied by US Charge d'Affaires David Hale and USAID Mission Director
Anne Aarnes, inaugurated the job fair.
The event included workshops guiding students on how to prepare a successful
resume’, tips on job interviews, as well as one-to-one health and nutrition
sessions with Health Ministry health specialist Alexandra Yashina.
INJAZ, or Economic Opportunities for Jordanian Youth, first brought out its
programme in 2001, leading the way as a nonprofit organisation seeking to boost
the younger generation's practical skills and knowledge of the working world.
Volunteers from different corporations invest some 10 weeks of their time in
public schools and some 15 universities around the Kingdom to do so.
The job fair was a fertile ground of potential employment opportunities for
those still studying, unemployed graduates and even those seeking better job
prospects.
To facilitate the match-making process, INJAZ had already forwarded the CVs of
some 1,320 students to the 49 participating companies for screening and for
future reference.
Muhtadi Zboon, who came to Amman early yesterday morning from Jerash with his
sister, is currently employed at the local Ministry of Education directorate
branch as a data placer.
After four years of working his way up from JD140 to JD160 today, Zboon, a 3rd
year student at Jerash University believes he has to look for something better
if he plans on achieving his goals.
“I'm happy with the government post I have but really need a better income if I
plan to pursue higher studies and get a PhD which I am really striving for,”
Zboon told The Jordan Times.
Following his tour yesterday, Halaiqa told the press the high turnout of
students from across the country reflected a “strong sense of initiative towards
finding a job,” to secure their futures with.
According to the minister, many could have chosen to stay home waiting for a
call from the Civil Service Bureau.
“This job fair led by INJAZ is truly a commendable national exercise that has
encouraged students to explore their options and address a crucial national
problem such as unemployment,” said Halaiqa.
Asked whether it was likely that potential candidates would be hired away from
the basis of “wasta,” the minister pointed that the private sector required
qualified persons to perform successfully and that this sector was seeing
greater transparency.
Meanwhile, application forms piled up at the booths of participating companies,
as students sought their chances.
Currently looking to expand their 3 local branches to a regional level, Home and
Home, an affiliate of Toys and Toys, said they had five full-time posts waiting
to be filled.
Store manager Basma Snobar, 26, said hundreds of applications were handed in,
but they still had not found a person to fit their requirements.
“We received the lists of CVs from INJAZ and have met a lot people today but
haven't quite decided on anyone yet,” said Snobar.
“We're looking for a person who is fluent in English, charismatic, presentable
and most of all with the commitment to handle the vacant posts being offered,”
she added.
Over at the Philadelphia Chocolate Manufacturing Company booth, General Manager
Lina Hundaileh told The Jordan Times, she was specifically searching for a
marketing person. Hundaileh, whose company exports 60 per cent of their products
in the region and Cyprus, said Sammour's well-written CV and presentation
rendered him a “perfect candidate.”
“What took my attention initially was his CV which showed focus and direction.
These are two essential elements in the kind of person we were looking for and
it was a direct hit!” said Hundaileh.
“We called him and hired him on the spot,” she added.
Although a one-day event, INJAZ Programme Executive Director Thoraya Salti said
the job fair provided students the chance to introduce themselves to several
company representatives. In turn, companies would have a data bank of CVs for
future reference.
The health and nutrition station, led by Yashina, was also a valuable platform
for those hoping to adopt healthier lifestyles.
At the Nutrition and Stop Smoking Station Yashina was helping one smoker who was
eager to quit his habit.
Ziad Abu Yousef, 21, told Yashina he wanted to kick the habit but found it too
difficult as it “helped [him] solve [his] problems,” and “relieve [his] stress.”
During her brief session, Yashina helped guide Abu Yousef on the way to tackling
his problem and offered the chance for a prolonged session at a later date.
She later told The Jordan Times that a basic healthy lifestyle and good
nutrition were essential keys to pursue one's goals in life or a career.
For now, however, it appears that luck is on Sammour's side as he eagerly awaits
to begin his marketing career at the chocolate company when he graduates. After
all, the new job serves him more than just a place in the working world.
“I want to work to build a future so I can marry the girl I love, so I guess I'm
very lucky I came here today,” he said.