The Career Services Division of the Office of Development and Alumni Affairs at American University of Sharjah (AUS) presents the Job Search Preparation Day (JSPD) in partnership with and support of senior human resources managers and CEOs from multinational companies. Held today, November 8, 2012, the event prepares recent graduates, graduating seniors and junior students for career opportunities in today's challenging job market.

The inauguration ceremony announcing the launch of the AUS Career Services Portal was followed by a keynote panel of speakers including Sultan Al Hajji, Vice President, Total; Saeed Al-Salkhadi, Managing Director for the Gulf and Middle East, The Protocol School of Washington; Marwan Al Serkal, CEO, Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq); Humaid Al Shammari, Executive Director, Mubadala Aeronautics; Ammar Hattab, Partner, Ernst & Young; Ziad Makhzoumi, Chief Financial Officer, Arabtec, Holding; and Yaser Obaid, Senior Vice President HR, Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company, du.

"We are looking for people with drive. Not just for a job," said Marwan Al Serkal. "If you're just looking for a salary at the end of the month, you're not going to have a lot of success. At the end of the day, I spend nine to ten hours with my employees-more time than I spend with my family. If you don't give the job the effort it deserves, then you will have a miserable life."

According to Yaser Obeid, "Look for something that you're going to really enjoy. I would also recommend that you find out the areas where you need to improve your skills. In many organizations, human capital is just a tool for economic growth. That's not how we do things at du. At du we look at how we can develop you as an individual. Take risks. If you don't like your company or your position, search for something else."

The day-long event focuses on developing specific skills in job searching and interviewing. Students and alumni attended presentations on job search strategy, interpersonal skills, career exploration panels on engineering and business, and mock interviews.

The goal of the event is to build understanding and confidence through knowledge and practice in honing job skills. AUS job seekers build understanding in the theory and techniques of job seeking, so that they can present themselves in "natural" ways with confidence in interviews, which should increase their chances of success. Topics that will be discussed today include what to present in a resume and cover letter, how best to present oneself in face-to-face interviews, and common mistakes to avoid. 

Encouraging AUS students, Ammar Hattab said, "Be confident in yourself. You should respect and be loyal in every organization you work with. Work hard. I receive 100 to 200 resumes every year. At Ernst & Young, around 300 interviews are conducted every six months. AUS students are always in the lead in every interview. Most of the candidates who join us are actually from AUS."

Throughout the day, senior human resources and business development officers from leading firms will present CV and cover letter writing skills and interview techniques, as well as conduct workshops on job search strategy, communication in the workplace and interpersonal skills. 

Participating companies included UAE Central Bank, General Electric, Siemens, Schlumberger, Canon Middle East, 3M, IBM, Standard Chartered Bank, Unilever, Procter & Gamble (P&G), Henkel, HP, Halliburton, du, Abu Dhabi Accountability Authority (ADAA), Arabtec, Transmed and Naseba.

Present at the opening ceremony were Dr. Peter Heath, AUS Chancellor; Dr. Nada Mourtada-Sabbah, AUS Vice Chancellor for Development and Alumni Affairs; Salem Al Qaseer, AUS Vice Chancellor for Public Affairs; and other senior AUS officials.