Empty promises

By ALI KHAN | JEDDAH

This is in response to the story “Empty promises about jobs for Saudis” (March 9).  The writer complains about the lack of available positions for Saudis in the job market.

However, he chooses to ignore whether Saudis deserve the jobs available in the market. I believe the only way Saudi youth can get decent jobs in good companies is if they are well-educated. Nobody hires under-qualified people, even if they’re nationals. Foreigners get good jobs because they are well-educated and are willing to work hard, but that is not the case with the Saudis. Now, under the dynamic leadership of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah, things are changing with universities coming up, proper funds being earmarked for education sector. But it will still take at least a decade for qualified, well-educated Saudis to establish themselves and make an impact on the job market. Saudis should also realize that they will not get jobs simply because they are Saudis.

A positive change in mentality is also needed and that has in fact begun as we see young Saudis making their way up in good organizations. Until then, foreigners will rule the market because they are just the right people to be working for the top posts at the moment. It’s all about being qualified, not being a Saudi.

 

Comments

ABUL HAARITH

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Mr. Ali Khan you are quite correct in your letter. I have been through at least 600 resumes, all of which are Saudis, and I personally would never hire or recommend for hire a single one of them. Due to the Saudi-ization laws, we're forced to hire unqualified people. But what's worse than this, the lack of proper work ethic amongst the vast majority of young Saudis. I do not mind hiring a person who has lesser qualifications when I can train them. I mind hiring a person who thinks that because he/she is Saudi they can come at any time, sleep on the job, speak bad to other employees, etc.

I've been on the educational end of the stick and I found many of the students to be careless and lacking problem solving skills. In fact, it's more about how a lot of the students simply do not care. But then I guess many wont care when they are getting paid a stipend and do not have to pay out of pocket for their education.

The problems are not only rooted in the lack of education, it's rooted in the upbringing, the society, and the individuals. Even though the laws are skewed towards Saudis (Saudi-ization), the companies prefer expats. Unfortunately expats do not get their true worth from these companies.

ABDULLAH

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I would say about my saudi friends that this country is yours and we the expat will go back one day to our respective countries. "First Deserve, then desire"

SCOTTY

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As an expat working with Saudis I can see the problem.
The vast majority of Saudis I have met at work, who have their jobs due to saudisation simply do not care about their job.
They turn up late for their shift, leave early, and more often than not, when they are at work are asleep.
It's no wonder employers don't want to hire them, they bring nothing to the company they work for except an increased wage bill.
Until Saudi youths develop a work ethic there will be low employment.

ZSRPRIEST

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There are a lot of Saudis who got their job due to wasta, not Saudization. I am a Saudi, with a background in American Law. An AAs, a BS, Certified by the Amercian Bar Association, I have education and certifications and YEARS OF EXPERIENCE in contracting. But I am a female, divorced mother of five Saudi children. The last job I applied for was given to another Saudi, with a degree in a completely different field, no work experience, no children to support, but a well connected daddy. She doesn't show up on time, refuses to do any 'hard work', and leaves work to go shopping when ever she wants. Then others look at her and say, 'See, this is why we don't like to hire Saudis, and Saudization is forcing us to take unqualified people.'. There are qualified and hard working Saudis, but we are usually the ones without wasta, who actually had to work hard in school, and for everything else.

MERLIN

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@ZSRPriest

Sadly, I have to agree, I have been involved in training Saudis in a technical role, most of them would arrive at work (when they did arrive that is?) in a brand new high end luxury/ performance car. Even qualified people, in the jobs they were training for, could not afford cars like that. They only wanted to get a certificate to silence wasta'd up daddy, who got them into the programme, they have no intention of earning a living with their own hands!

There are thousands in Saudi, who would want the same opportunity to EARN a living, but the Wasta Boys make sure they never get the chance.

Eventually Saudi Arabia will need to accept that this corruption is comonplace, I hope the situation is addressed by the authorities before it's too late for you ZSR.

My sincere best wishes to you.
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