لقد تخرجت! فماذا بعد التخرج؟ إقرأ ما سأكتبه وأتمني ان يفيدكم

تلك اللحظه وانت في إتجاهك للتتسلم شهادة تخرخك علي المسرح والأنوار الساطعه التي تحجب روؤيتك من مصوري الفيديو الذي يسجل كل لحظه. نعم اليوم هو يوم تخرخك. لقد انتهيت من الدراسه و جاء الوقت لكي تبحث عن وظيفة

هذه المدونه تتحدث عن تجربتي الخاصة كفتاة إماراتيه تعود إلي بلادها بعد الدراسه الجامعيه في كندا باحثة عن وظيفة احلامي في بلدي الإمارات وكل أمل ان مدونتي قد تساعدكم لتجدوا وظيفة احلامكم

من المعتاد في عالمنا العربي ان نعيش مع والدينا بعد التخرج وفي الغالب نفكر سأجد وظيفه خلال شهر او شهرين. فإذا كنت درست في الخارج مثلي ستقول سأذهب لمقابلة الأهل والأصدقاء الأول الذين لم اراهم منذ فترة. ولكن هذا غير صحيح

القاعدة الأولي: لا تأجيل

فكر في الموضوع هناك العديد من الخريجين تخرجوا في نفس الوقت والكل يبحث ويسعي للطلب والبحث علي وظيفه. انصحك بالتقديم علي وظيفه في بلدك في اسرع وقت ممكن فوراً عند تخرجك

القاعدة الثانيه: ابدأ بكتابة سيرتك الذاتيه بإتقان

يمكنك أن تجد نصائح مفيدة عبر الإنترنت أو من خلال شوؤن الطلبه في جامعتك، يمكنهم مساعدتك بذلك. إبدأ البحث عن وظيفه من خلال التحدث إلى أصدقائك ومعرفة ما هي احدث مواقع العمل الجديدة. لقد تعرفت علي موقع

جرادبيري عن طريق زميلي ونحن نشرب القهوة

القاعدة الثالثه

وبمجرد الانتهاء من تلك المكونات الأساسية تحتاجي إلى البدء في البحث عن وظيفة، كأنه عملك. يعني لا مزيد من الاستيقاظ بعد ١٠ صباحا لأنك قررتي ان تريحي بالك بدل ان تسمعي إلى شكوي امك عن ابنتها العاطله عن العمل.استعدي وابدئي يومك بالتقديم علي الوظائف واحصلي على ملفك الخاص بك على تلك المواقع و الشبكات التوظيفيه

القاعدة الرابعه و هنا اصل لأخر قاعدة

تحدث عن نفسك وهذا ليس الوقت لكي تكون متواضعاً. ان انصح الكل بعدم الكذب بكتابه اي شئ غير صحيح علي سيرتهم الذاتيه ولا علي ملافتهم علي الإنترنت

ما اقوله للناس، هو تعديل وتجميل التفاصيل لا تؤذي أحدا. يجب أن تقول الحقيقة، ولكن كيفية إلقاء وإختيار الكلمات قد تغيير فكر الناس لتتناسب مع الصورة التي ترغبها،. أنا اعمل في مجال العلاقات العامه، لذلك اجيد في جعل الأمور تبدو أفضل مما هي عليه.

حسنا لإنهاء هذا المدونه دعونا اولاً نراجع ما تعلمناه:

لا للكسل.

التأكد بان سيرتك الذاتيه هي أقرب إلى الكمال علي القدر من الإمكان.

ضع سيرتك الذاتية في العديد من مواقع التوظيفيه. 

لا تخجل من التحدث عن نفسك، لابد ان تبني علامتك التجارية الخاصة بك.

حظآ سعيداً للجميع

سلام

عايدة

ترجمة: هالة العشي

Illustration by Drew Albinson for Drake Blue Magazine

Leaders are an essential part of every organization. They serve as examples for success. They encourage others to work to their full potential. They are trusted and counted on to be a consistent source of success. It’s easy to recognize a leader when you see one, but how do you become one? Anyone can be a leader when they have a good attitude, a strong desire for success and a willingness to work hard. Leadership skills are essential for success no matter what industry you work in. Follow these few simple steps and start your path to becoming a leader in your industry.

1. Hard work is not optional

The early bird gets the worm. There is no substitute for hard work.  These are all exceptionally true clichés that every leader must keep in mind. Leaders are willing to put in the time and effort required in becoming an industry expert.

In order to become the person your peers and colleagues will want to turn to for advice, questions or ideas, you have to learn the ins and outs of your industry, stay current with trends and keep pursuing opportunities to learn more. In addition to their own continued training and education, leaders encourage the same behavior amongst their team members.

2. Learn when to stay quiet

Leaders let their actions speak for them. When you are facing a dilemma, don’t go around complaining about how unhappy something makes you and stew over the problem at hand. Be proactive in your approach to problem solving. Address problems with actionable solutions rather than possible theories. Encourage an open forum to brainstorm solutions and ways to prevent future problems.

Also, don’t spend your time swimming around in office gossip. Leaders are people who can be trusted and it can be very hard to trust someone, if there is a risk that sensitive information could get out to someone else.

3. Take responsibility, even when it’s not easy

Mistakes are made all the time, in every industry. They are normal and somewhat expected. It’s how we handle mistakes that indicates our level of leadership skills. Some of the consequences could be minor, while others have larger ramifications. Whatever the case may be, it is inevitable that every leader will experience a situation when they or a teammate make a mistake.

Approach mistakes with a learning mindset. Try to see the opportunity for growth and take advantage of the mistake that was made. Ask questions like, “What caused this mistake?” “How could I have prevented it?” “How can I help prevent this from happening in the future?” “How can I help my team out in the future to avoid similar mistakes?” Learn to accept responsibility for your mistakes (and occasionally the mistakes of others) in order to maintain solidarity within the group and prevent the unproductive blame game.

Leadership is vital to every successful business. Not all leadership roles come naturally, but once you start to apply these principles, you’ll be a pro in no time. Becoming a leader might not happen overnight, but when you follow these steps, you’ll be well on your way to being the leader you always knew you could be!

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via College Student Apartments

Undergrad Success is a community that helps students succeed in their academic, professional, and personal endeavors. We speak with Samuel Hershberger, the co-founder of Undergrad Success, to find out what makes him tick.

To start off, could you tell us a little bit about yourself?

I’m a 23-year old budding serial entrepreneur. I enjoy personal development, all things social, men’s fashion/style, and photography.

So you’re actually an industrial engineer and even worked for The Boeing Company, can you tell us how that led you to become an entrepreneur?

My business partner Jessica and I were tired of seeing our peers struggle. Individually, we had helped a few students with their resumes, which resulted in dozens of job offers collectively. That’s when we realized that we had a knack for connecting with our peers/friends and were able to bring out the best in them on their resumes. Ever since then the idea of building something great has pushed us every day.

What is UnderGrad Success and what does it do for future graduates?

We develop undergraduate students into “ideal” job candidates. We help students define their version of success and empower them to prepare for their graduation.

What in your opinion are the most pressing issues that undergraduates are facing at the moment?

We have been told growing up that a degree is enough to get a job. Simply, it’s untrue. Getting a good job when you graduate requires work experience and soft skills, e.g. networking, effective communication, etc. that aren’t often taught in school.

“We are your peers. We are each other’s mentors. Together, we are Undergrad Success.” Tell us a bit about your motto.

Undergrad Success is founded by Generation Y and our audience is Generation Y. It is our belief that all great relationships are a balance of friendship and mentorship. We are creating a self-stimulated community of Generation Y and our communities. Creating and fostering great relationships is a must to successfully do this.

There are a few articles on your website about how having a strong academic background does not guarantee job success. What do you mean by that?

Ultimately, your GPA does not guarantee you a job. The “real world” thrives on people who think outside the box, have strong communication skills, and execute relentlessly. A strong academic background will certainly help in your endeavor, but you must also have the soft skills and work experience we get through internships.

Can you tell us about any additional services that you provide?

We currently offer small career based services: resume builds, LinkedIn profile builds, as well as consultations for each. We expect this to be short term, as we are developing student development programs on campuses across the country as well as corporate outreach programs.

What would be your advice for current undergraduates who are still at university?

Don’t underestimate the power of communication and networking. Your ability to connect with another human being will have a much more profound effect on your future job search than your resume ever will. Get involved with national organizations. Student organizations are great, but go to a national event and you’ll be highly regarded just for being one of very few students there. My co-founder Jessica and I have gotten job offers on the spot. Most of all, work hard but enjoy your time. The “real world” begins in college. Don’t wait to start preparing.

***

Have an inspiring entrepreneurial story to share? Let us know in the comments below!

Illustration by Simon Letch for Sydney Morning Herald

Why are motivation and engagement more important than salary for employees? The engaged stay for what they can give, the disengaged stay for what they can get. When it comes to self-driven employees, motivation and passion trumps compensation models and performance management systems.

Cutting corners, doing more with less, right-sizing—no matter how organisations put it, the message across board rooms is unilateral. Marred by economic uncertainty and reminiscent of the tough times during the financial crisis, businesses in the Middle East are exploring ways of increasing employee productivity.

Years of accumulated research and evidence show an engaged workforce equals a more productive workforce. Gallup has reported on the strong correlation between employee engagement and key organisational outcomes. ‘The engaged stay for what they can give, the disengaged stay for what they can get’ as reported in the BlessingWhite’s Employee Engagement Report 2013.

Last month, Google’s stock price broke the US$ 800 barrier making it the third most valuable firm in the world. The company credits its success to its focus on ‘people analytics’ which has helped highlight a need to shift from traditional hunch-based people management to data-based management.

“Employees are engaged when they believe in what they do. The vision and direction of an organisation’s purpose comes from the top leadership and not from HR. When it comes to self-driven, engaged employees, motivation and passion will trump compensation models every time,” said Mohammad Gawdat –Vice President Emerging SEEMEA, Google.

“A large part of Google’s corporate brilliance comes from a move away from a subjective decision-making approach in HR to a more data-driven, analytically-based HR function,” noted Sophie Le Ray, CEO of French deal facilitation group Naseba, and organizer of the upcoming summit.

“Change based on powerful data and actions leads to forward-looking people management that we all should strive to adopt,” Le Ray added.

***

Gradberry thanks the Human Assets Expansion Summit MENA for this post!

Looking to network with HR professionals in the region? Join the 8th Annual Human Assets Expansion Summit MENA 2013. Taking place from May 21th to 23rd at the Westin Dubai Mena Seyahi,  the 8th edition of the summit is bringing together over 120 HR Heads from leading organisations in the MENA region to network, share knowledge and explore new business opportunities. For more information, visit www.humanassetsmideast.com

Illustration by Leendert Masselink

ما هو الشيء الوحيد الذي احتاجه للقيام به لكي ابرز عن العديد من المتقدمين؟

هذا السؤال الأكثر شعبية أحصل عليه بعد لقاءتي او ندواتي او من خلال الصفاحات التفاعليه الإجتماعيه

بالطبع، بالكاد أعرف الشخص الذي طرح السؤال ما هي طموحتهم، أهدافهم، تخصصاتهم وغيرها. حتى أجيب على السؤال فإني اسأل عدة أسئلة. ثم أقدم إجابتي لهذا الشخص بناء على المعلومات التي جمعتها منهم

على الرغم من ذلك من هنا … سأغير جوابي. سأغير طريقتي في الإجابه

لماذا؟ لأن العديد من الشباب غير مستعدون بتاتا لدخول ساحة العمل. يعتقدون ان كل ما يحتاجونه للحصول على عمل لائق هو سيرتهم الذاتيه. إنهم لا يضعون جهدا كافيا في تطوير أساسيات العمل الجديدة وفقا لمعايير إقتصادنا الجديد

والخبر السار: من يرغب في جدية العمل يمكن الاستفادة من وجود هذه الظاهرة. يمكنك فعل ذلك بتخصيص بعض من الوقت كل إسبوع للتطوير الأساسيات للبحث عن الوظيفه الجديدة، فإنها ستعطيك فرصه اكبر عن منافسيك

ما هي تلك الأساسيات؟ دعونا نتكلم عنعها - ونشمل عدد المرشحين بنائاً علي خبرتهم، ونحاول ان نبذل الجهد للحصول علي الحد الأدني من هذه الأساسيات

استكمال مرحله التدريب … او ستة     ٢ من٥ اي ٤٠٪ من الأصوات

نحن نعرف أن ٩ من أصل ١٠ من التعيينات الوظيفيه تذهب لأولئك الذين لديهم خبرة التدريب على سيرتهم الذاتية. نحن نعلم لكي يتم النظر في تعيينك تحت التدريب في الشركات البارزة المثل جوجل او ا.و.ل يجب أن يكون المقدم علي الوظيفه حصل علي الأقل من ٣ إلي اربع تدريبات (فما بالك بالتقديم علي وظيفه) . نعلم أن المدييرون يبحثون عن الخريجيين الجدد ولكن لديهم خبرة في العالم الحقيقي. ولكن ٤٠٪ فقط من المرشحين لا يسعون في الحصول على التدريب واحد؟ وهذا يؤثر علي علي تعيينك

شيء واحد: تخلص من شعورك بأن “التدريب ليس إلزامي” . إذا كنت تريد وظيفة حقيقية، في شركة حقيقية في مجالك … استكمل على الأقل تدربيا واحداً في كل سنة من مرحلتك في الجامعة

اكمال ملفك علي لينكدإن    ١ من ٣ اي ٣٣٪ من الأصوات

وفقا لدراسة حديثة من ميلينيال براندينج تشمل ٢٠٠ خريج تشيير بإن أقل من٤٠٪ من الخريجين الجدد لديهم ملف علي لينكدإن ولكن في الحقيقيه الأدلة تشير إلى أن نسبة الخريجين علي لينكدإن أقل بكثير

هذا يتضمن ورشة عمل يو تيرن اجريتها في إحدي الجامعات حيث طلبت من ١٠٠ طالب برفع ايديهم إذا لديهم ملف علي لينكدإن وكان٩٥٪ من الطلبه في السنه الأخيرة في الجامعة فقط أربعه رفعوا ايديهم

شيء واحد: أكثر من٩٠٪ من المشغلين يستخدممن لينكدإن كمصدر للبحث عن مرشحين . إذا لا يوجد لديك ملف علي لينكدإن فليس لك وجود

الإنضمام إلي مهنه او صناعه محترفه   ١ من٥ اي ٢٠٪ من الأصوات

نفس الدراسه التابعه لميلينيال براندينج تشير بإن ٧٨٪ من الخريجين لم يلتحقوا بأي مهنة بعد. ومن هنا يمكننا ان نشير علماً ان هؤلاء الخريجين بعيدين ليس فقط في مهارتهم

الإجتماعية بل المهنية ايضاً

 شـئ واحد: بعد البحث في مجموعات علي لينكدإن و كتابة كلمات علي جوجل مثل مهنه او اسم المهنه فهي البدايه لإنضمامك إليهم لكسب الخبره والتعلم منهم وتصبح معروفاً

اكتشف قيمتك الفريدة    ١ من١٠ اي ١٠ ٪ من الأصوات

قليل من الخريجين يعرفون ما يمييزهم الأن، لا يعرفون ماذا سيضيفون في العمل لكي ينمو. إنهم لا يعرفون كيف يسوقون انفسهم. فهم يستنسخون نفس العبارات والمصطلحات كابقيه المتقدمين مثل “سأخذ واعمل اي شئ” التي تدمرثقة المشغلين بهم

شئ واحد: خذ بعض من الوقت واكتب ٥ كلمات تصف قيمتك الفريدة. تجنب المصطلحات مثل الجدية في العمل او دقيق الطبع. كلنا يمكننا ان نقول هذا الكلام . بدلاً من ذلك ركز علي افضل المهارات الخاصه بك وتتدرب مع صديق لك او معلم علي قول هذه المصطلحات . استيقظ ورددالكلامات التي كتابتها حتي تحصل علي تلك اللحظه وتعلم انك مستعد

تحديد مقابلات إعلاميه تثقيفيه ١ من ٤٠ اي٢،٥٪ من الآصوات

كم هو مدهش ان تجري مقابلات تثقفيه فيزداد حلقه معرفتك بالآخرين وتبحث اكثر عن المهنة التي ترغب في الإلتحاق بها ويزداد ثقتك بنفسك. وبرغم من هذا ٢،٥٪ من اغلب الخريجين ينتهزون هذه الفرصه ليجلسوا و يتحاوروا مع شخص مؤثر في مهنتك المفضله

شئ واحد من خلال إلتحاقق بالمجموعات المهنيه او وسائل الإعلام الإجتماعيه او لينكدإن، ابحث عن مهنه تحبها وتحترمها واجري هذه المقابله نعم يمكنك هذا حتي اسأل بن بول

اعرض مهارتك ورغابتك ١ من ٥٠ اي ٢٪ من الأصوات

أصحاب العمل لاحظوا ان الخريجين عندما يبدئون مهنتهم العمليه تظهر عليهم علامات الحزن و اليأس ،هذا يعطي انطباعاً خاطئاً ويعجبون من المرشحين الذي يسعون وراء احلامهم وكلهم مليئين بلأمل

من الممكن ان اصحاب العمل قرائوا مدونة او ربما علقوا علي تغريدة تويتر من قبل المرشح. ربما قد تذكروا هذا المرشح من مؤتمراً سنوياً لمهنتهم

النقطة هي: أنهماالأن تعرفوا بالفعل علي المرشح من عملهم. تري من الذي سيحصل على المقابلة الأن؟

شيء واحد: إلفت الأنظار! يمكنك فعل هذامن خلال المدونات ، وسائل الاعلام الاجتماعية مثل المجموعات علي لينكدإن ستفيدك .. اعرض أفكرك انك تخطط لحياتك المهنية و انك في تفعل و تساهم في المجتمع

ارسال كلمة شكر ١ من ١٠٠ اي ١٪ من الأصوات

في عصرنا هذا قد يبدو الأمر سخيف، و لكن المبادئ لا تتغيير وبالأخص كلمة شكراً. لقد قابلت ١٠٠٠ مرشح ١٠ منهم ارسلوا كلمة شكر ٥ منهم تم توظيفهم ولكن هذا ليس السبب الوحيد لتعينهم كانت هناك عاوامل اخري ساهامت في إتخاذ القرار. هؤلاء المرشحين اهدفهم كانت واضحه وادركوا كيف يفوزون بها

شئ واحد اذهب إلي المكتبة و اشتري علبة كروت مكتوبه عليها كلمة شكراً و ارسلها لأصحاب الأعمال الذين اجريت معهم المقابالات

البيانات وبعض الحكايات لا تكذب: الخريجين لا يستكملون “اساسيات في البحث عن عمل جديد” والبحث عن وظيفة ستكون بلا شك اصعب واطوال

من خلال استكمال علي الأقل واحده من ه أساسيات المطلوبة حتماً ستكون في مقدمه المنافسة. خذ بعض من الوقت للقيام بهم كلهم و بشكل جيد … وسيكون لديك الأولويه في تعيينك في عام ٢٠١٣

ترجمة: هالة العشي

Illustration by Joel Glovier

Whether you’re a current student or you’ve just recently graduated, there’s one concern that you probably share with all your peers… cash! Or in most cases, a lack of it. Balancing your studies with a part-time job can be tricky, but when you’ve got rent to pay and debts mounting up, is there really any other option?

Well for a few savvy students and recent graduates, the world of freelancing has been just the answer to their prayers. Working from home on your own terms can bring in that extra bit of income that you’re looking for, and the flexibility of it is something that appeals to pretty much everyone. After all, what sounds better than making money in your pajamas?

When you’re first setting out, it’s difficult to know where to start. Here, we’ll take a look at everything you need to know about starting up as a freelancer.

Why should I do it?

1. You can make extra money
Don’t expect to be making millions overnight! But if you’re willing to put the work in, freelancing can be really lucrative. There are lots of ways to make money for yourself, but if your other options include the likes of cafe or shop work, you could easily turn your own venture into a much more financially rewarding path.

2. You can choose when, and how much you want to work
Traditional jobs can be tiring, and it can be almost impossible to balance them with your uni work. When you’re freelancing, you’re the boss! You choose your own hours, how much you want to do, and what you do and don’t take on.

3. It looks great on your CV
Employers recognize that freelancing takes a great deal of initiative and motivation. Going into an interview with this sort of experience under your belt could really make you stand out. You’re also likely to learn much more than if you went down the route of the usual student jobs.

What exactly can I do?

The possibilities when it comes to the sort of services that you could offer clients are almost endless! Whether it’s copy writing, website design, administration work, or anything in between, there’ll be an option that suits you.

Of course, it’s wise to pick something that you have a skill for and can really excel in. It doesn’t necessarily have to be related to your degree, though that could certainly help when it comes to your future career prospects.

So, imagine that you’re studying for a web development degree and want to pursue this route in the future. By offering these services through your very own freelance business, you’ll make some valuable contacts in the field, as well as having the opportunity to flex your skills!

Where can I find freelance work?

There are literally thousands of companies out there who are looking for high quality freelancers. You just need to get in front of them and show them what you’ve got. Thankfully, the internet makes this whole process so much easier.

1. Freelancing websites
Sites such as PeoplePerHour and Elance are effectively massive online marketplaces where business owners will advertise the jobs that they need doing, and you can contact them and tell them all about what you can do for them. It can take a while to pick up your first assignment, but it’s worth sticking with it. Once you’ve got a good reputation built up, the work can start to flood in.

2. At college or university
You might not think of it as freelancing, but offering your expertise to other students who are local to you is a great way of picking up your first few ‘clients’. The work most in demand here is likely to be essay or exam preparation help, proof reading or perhaps teaching an instrument. Either way, there’s plenty of opportunity here. Simply put up a few leaflets on notice boards in your target departments to get the word out.

3. Your own website
Setting up your own website using a free platform such as WordPress is a lot easier than you might think. Having your own little online space where you detail your services can be great for generating business. Obviously though, you’ll need to promote it. You could use social media, or you might want to teach yourself some search engine optimization skills so you appear in Google searches.

4. Contacting businesses directly
If you think that you’re offering something that certain businesses really need, tell them about it! Put together a brief email or letter detailing your skills and what you can do for them, and make sure that you send it to the right person. You’ll come across rejections along the way, but remember that it’s a numbers game.

What next?

We hope that this introductory guide will have answered the burning questions you might have had about getting started with freelancing while studying. If you take just one lesson with you from this, let it be this: you have nothing to lose, everything to gain! Setting up any kind of business is a huge challenge, but if you’re willing to put in the time and effort, the rewards are out there waiting to be picked up. And who really wants a boss anyway?

For more advice about working for yourself, read this article by Save the Graduate.

Have you ever considered freelancing? What’s stopping you from giving it a go?

Image source: Crafts Unleashed

May is an exciting time for graduates. Not only are students receiving their hard-earned degrees, they are stepping into the professional world. But before pushing them into the real world, you may be thinking to give them a nice graduation gift come summertime.

However, you don’t want to give your new graduate any gift. Because they are entering the real world, you may want to give them something that will make their life easier, or at least help them professionally come Summer.

Decor

As the month of May ends, students are joining the apartment hunt to find a place they can afford and one that “won’t cramp their style.” If you have ever seen the inside of a new grad’s apartment, you probably noticed the definite lack of furniture and a surplus of open, unused space. To make your new grad feel at home, you may want to consider giving them a few furnishings that will make their apartment look inviting. A few ideas to give new grads would be storage ottomans, bookshelves, sofas, futons and furniture with multiple uses.

Transportation

Some parents give new grads the gift that keeps on giving, a car. Not only do cars help new grads get from place to place, but reliable transportation is now essentially mandatory to get a good job. However, most parents can’t afford a new or used car, but that’s fine.

In an interview, when you’re asked if you have reliable transportation it doesn’t necessarily mean if you have a car, it’s just another way of asking “can you get to work on time?” Now more than ever, people are using public transportation and bikes to get to work, thus reducing their carbon footprint. Ideally, a great gift for a new grad could be access to a form of transportation, whether it be a car, a monthly bus pass or a bike (don’t forget the helmet!).

Professional Development Counseling

Some students don’t know where to start when they’re looking for employment. This is usually a matter of haste and is most often researched months prior to graduation. A good professional development counselor could be just what a new grad needs.

Professional Development Counselors (Career Counselors) give students a sense of direction that will help them in the long run. They help students refine their resume, create an extraordinary cover letter, build a captivating portfolio and LinkedIn profile and get them in touch with the right people.

Travel to Develop

After graduation, many students decide to go backpacking across a continent of their choice with their parents’ support; but does this really help new graduates get their life started? Not only can students wipe their savings account but it also holds them back from testing the waters of the real world. However, just because it’s not advisable to give new grads a vacation as a gift, does this mean traveling is off the table?

Some of the best internships available to new grads are usually found in far off metropolitan cities such as Los Angeles, Boston, New York City, Seattle, London, Paris, Madrid and even Milan. So, instead of giving your new grad an all expense paid vacation, why not send them off to an amazing internship that could potentially build their resume, enhance reputation and credibility and perhaps offer them employment?

If you’re looking for a great gift for the new grad, it may be best to take his/her interests into account as well. Also, never underestimate the value of research when looking for deals on your gift so you don’t end up breaking the bank. Whatever you decide to give them, make sure it helps them in the long run, allowing them to transition smoothly into adulthood.

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About the Author: Amanda Green is an online writer who normally writes on the topics of finance, business, education, and technology. Although those are her preferred topics of writing you can sometimes find Amanda writing on pet blogs and health sites! Amanda’s goal is to someday write for a worldwide publication and provide content to the masses. 

Illustration by Mohamed Gehad

According to a report by Bayt.com, 64% of employers in the Middle East are hiring in the next 12 months. With such an influx of job seekers, how do you think this impacts the role of HR in making sure they hire and retain the best available talent?

Good HR is always focused on hiring and retaining the best. If policies succeed in creating the right environment, there need not be any worry of talent drain or attracting the right talent.

Compared to previous generations, employee retention rates are considerably lower now. Why do you think this is?

The millennial generation prefer job satisfaction and growth. A fresh challenge and fulfillment are seen to be more important than money or job security. In fact the huge number of career options available makes job security redundant any way. In addition, there is no stigma attached to failure or to paradigm shifts in career, which makes mobility that much easier.

A Bayt.com survey reveals the reason most employees change jobs is the fear of being fired. Around 46.6% feel if companies offered reasonable job security, then talent retention would increase. Why do you think there is this perception? And what can HR do to alleviate such concerns?

This seems to be a trend reflecting the general economic environment and may not hold true in all situations. The role of HR is to source the best talent and ensure this talent is retained and productive. If there is an issue with productivity, HR should make all efforts — including coaching and development — to ensure that talent performs. However, I do not think it is advisable to carry ‘deadwood’ at any time. Having said that, clear policies and communication of what is expected, and what success means, allay the fear of retrenchment to a large extent and have been shown to increase employee engagement considerably.

Most organisations recognize global mobility as an important tool to support top strategic business issues — including emerging markets, increasing globalization and competition. 70% of business and HR stakeholders believe global mobility in their organisation is under performing. How can companies in the Middle East readdress their mobility strategies?

In our experience, mobility, especially issues around repatriation, taxation, growth expectations and performance management are pain points in organisations across the world, and not just in the Middle East. Growing organisations are able to manage this better as there are so many more opportunities to absorb the growth aspirations of the talent. Building a strong talent pipeline, linking mobility with talent management and reward strategies and most importantly, paying attention to the soft issues (spouse and family issues, for example) make assignments more effective, help to contain costs and increase the success rate.

Experts predict a revolution in talent management technology that promises to cut through operational processes, enabling a new generation of HR professionals. How do you think regional HR departments will cope with this challenge?

In my opinion and I could be wrong, technology is only an enabler. A new generation of HR professionals is being created with the explosion of social media, the way HR is evolving (the millennial generation mentioned above for example), globalization and the consequent demands, to name a few. Technology will enable the solution of the above but may not be the solution itself.

Research by Mercer shows workers in the Middle East consider health benefits a top priority. Do you think it is a viable solution to offer flexible packages that empower employees to choose the benefits that match their specific needs?

The current trend is a ‘cafeteria style’ approach wherein a ‘menu’ of benefits is offered for employees to choose from, depending on their individual needs.

With an expected pay raise of 5.4% for 2013 across the Middle East, how are companies gearing up to meet employee expectations?

Pay increase expectations, again, are linked to the general environment and consequent impact on demand and supply of talent. Money has time and again proven to be only a temporary ‘bandage’ to the problem of employee engagement. It is not a solution. The solution lies in developing innovative, customized benefits, humane implementation and managing the expectations of staff.

The female employment rate in the MENA region is estimated to be around 20%. How important is it for companies to focus on diversity in the workplace and how does it affect business performance?

I will stick my neck out in answering this question – concepts such as diversity should be based on local, cultural considerations. In my view, they need to not be forced down the throat of organisations just because they are important in the west. Focusing on any issue, be it diversity or minority, at the cost of productivity or suitability will affect business performance negatively. If a segment needs to be encouraged, that should be a long term initiative to first develop suitable capabilities, following which they will automatically form part of the talent pool. HR policy should attend to the needs of any segment (as long as it is practically feasible), paying special attention to those important as per business strategy.

What role do you think the upcoming Human Assets Expansion Summit MENA will play in furthering the role of HR in the region?

I hope that by bringing the brightest HR minds together in one place, there will be enough catalysts to generate an explosion of innovative ideas.

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Gradberry thanks the Human Assets Expansion Summit MENA for this post!

Looking to network with HR professionals in the region? Join the 8th Annual Human Assets Expansion Summit MENA 2013. Taking place from May 21th to 23rd at the Westin Dubai Mena Seyahi,  the 8th edition of the summit is bringing together over 120 HR Heads from leading organisations in the MENA region to network, share knowledge and explore new business opportunities. For more information, visit www.humanassetsmideast.com