Never-ending nightmare for job-seekers

Abdulaziz Al Jahdhami -

aljahdhami22@gmail.com -

During their lifetime, people come across different challenges, some of which are not only puzzling, but also fear-inducing. Such encounters can be a nightmare for those experiencing them.

Getting a job tops the list of challenges. Thousands of youth, especially fresh graduates, face nightmares when looking for a job. These days, getting a job is becoming an impossible dream for many.

Unfortunately, the common excuse most employers cite today is the decline in oil prices. They attribute this reason for the shrinking of job opportunities for graduates and other job-seekers.

I wonder for how long companies keep citing such excuses and deprive Omanis from getting employed. Poor guys (youths), they leave no stone unturned in chasing the possible job opportunities that could “rescue” them. I understand how they feel and how upsetting such a feeling can be.

Undoubtedly, getting a job is of high importance for the youth as it leads the list of other priorities in life. It is very crucial indeed. Having a job is more than just about making a living. It’s s necessary to guard one’s dignity.

It gives the people a sense of self-respect and self-worth instead of being dependent on others, for instance, the family.

For men, in particular, having a source of income is highly important and their top priority in life. Otherwise, they feel useless.

Despite an increase in the number of graduates passing out of colleges every year, the job openings are decreasing. The equation between the number of graduates passing out of different local government and private higher educational institutions and the jobs offered in the market is not equal at all.

The competition is extremely challenging among job-seekers due to a shortfall in jobs. Another factor that makes competition even harder for Omanis is the number of employed expatriates. There is no harm in having expat colleagues, from whom we learn their expertise and proficiency.

However, competition should be fair to everyone, although Omanis must be given priority to contribute in building the future of their country.

Unfortunately, sometimes preference is given to expats whenever there is a job opportunity on offer. Perhaps, this can happen for the sake of getting the expertise of expats or having an advantage of less pay compared with the locals. However, this is not always the case as the expertise sometimes can be found among Omanis too.

In some cases, Omanis aren’t even given a chance to prove themselves or even show their expertise to employers. Sometimes Omanis are undervalued unfortunately.

Seriously, the figures of unemployed and newly graduated Omanis are really frightening as their numbers are increasing by the day.

Believe it or not, some graduates are getting employed in jobs not related to what they have studied or specialised in. They have taken such a decision for the sake of just getting a job and making a living.

Perhaps, it’s a wise decision that they have taken. To them, it’s an opportunity they should not miss as it might not come knocking again.

The government and private employers should come together to support Omani youth by providing them all possible job opportunities. Not only that, new openings should be created to enrol youth in all kinds of businesses and give them an opportunity to help in building the nation.

I am sure the youth will be ready to grab with both hands any opportunity that is given to them regardless of how much the pay is, as long as it’s reasonable.

All what matters to them is to be employed. From their end, job-seekers and graduates should always knock the door for all possible opportunities.