JEDDAH, 3 October 2003 — Some 40,000 applicants lined up for 80 job vacancies at the Ministry of Finance over the last five days.
According to a report in Al-Watan newspaper yesterday, the application process for the level 2 to 5 positions involved a written exam and an interview.
However, an official denied the vacancies were limited to 80 and said further jobs might become available while applications are being evaluated.
The official told the newspaper the ministry had made the job descriptions and requirements available well in advance.
The estimated 40,000 applicants included the unemployed as well as people looking for a better position with the ministry, the paper added.
Gathered at a Riyadh sports facility barely able to cope with the crush of hopefuls, some applicants spent several days attempting to register.
“It was very crowded,” said M. Al-Aed, a high school graduate. “I’d been trying to register for three days, but what with the pushing and shoving, I didn’t get to submit my papers until Tuesday.”
Naser Sultan, another applicant, said the reason for the difficulties was a lack of crowd control, especially since many applicants had reserved places since early in the morning on Saturday, the first day of registration.
“If people could have taken a number when they came in so that those who got here first were given priority, there would have been less congestion,” he said.
A ministry official said on condition of anonymity that the crowds were only a problem on the first day because applicants were in such a hurry to register. “Registration on the last day was extended until the evening instead of the original 12.30 p.m. deadline,” he added.
He said the names of the successful candidates would be announced after the evaluation process has been completed. “There are several stages once everyone has registered. First we categorize the applicants according to the vacancies. Then we organize them according to their qualifications and experience, which is followed by comparative evaluation based on the written test.
“We then interview candidates who have passed the written exam. Once all that has been done, the names will be announced.”
The vacancies include data processor, librarian, operator, store manager, bilingual typist, security officer, printer technician, assistant printer technician, and others.
