The Emirati Talent Competitiveness Council (Nafis), in collaboration with the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE), has provided career counselling services to over 5,000 Emiratis from the start of 2023 until the end of March. The services, offered through individual or group sessions, aim to equip Emiratis with the necessary skills to compete in the private sector and work in professions that fit their qualifications.
Ahmad Al Nasser, Assistant Undersecretary for National Human Resources Development at MoHRE, explained that career counselling sessions focus on several pillars, including the benefits of working in the private sector, job search tools, understanding the requirements of the job market, and developing individual development plans to boost applicants’ chances of attaining suitable jobs. By evaluating jobseekers’ occupational tendencies, the sessions aim to introduce Emiratis to the challenges of the private sector and educate them about the skills in demand within targeted economic sectors.
These counselling sessions are vital in enabling Emirati participants to be partners in the private sector’s prosperity and active contributors to the growth of priority economic sectors that support the local economy. More than 4,500 individual counselling sessions were organised for two categories since the beginning of the year: jobseekers (including more than 3,000 UAE nationals) and those working in the private sector with less than two years of experience (around 1,500 UAE nationals).
Three group career counselling sessions have also been held, benefiting more than 500 Emiratis. The first session aimed to develop the skills of those newly employed, employees facing challenges in the work environment, and jobseekers. It tackled self-improvement, how to develop oneself for personal and professional success, boosting self-esteem, developing a sense of self-responsibility, and the secrets to being self-made. Attendees also discussed how to gain experience that enhances a fresh graduate’s competitiveness, how to deal with society’s negative perception of the private sector, and how to overcome the pressures of private sector employment.
The second session was attended by approximately 160 newly employed and job-seeking Emiratis and focused on defining psychological stress and its causes, emotional intelligence, and teaching some skills to relieve work pressures. The session’s attendees discussed how to utilise and develop skills and competencies in the work environment, adapt to work in the private sector, deal with different cultures in the work environment, and manage emotions so that they do not affect the performance of the required tasks.
Around 200 Emiratis attended the third session, which was about creating a competitive and positive work environment. It addressed the concept of quality of life in the workplace and how to put a plan in place to create healthy boundaries that balance personal and professional lives.
Overall, the counselling services offered by Nafis and MoHRE have been instrumental in helping Emiratis gain the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in the private sector and work in professions that align with their qualifications and interests.