UNDP Saudi Arabia participated in the second Annual Career Day held for two days during May 2008 by the College for Women at Prince Sultan University (PSU). This day was organized to provide employers, recruiters, and training providers with an excellent opportunity to meet a diverse selection of quality candidates.   

This year, the theme represented leadership, power, and influence being the key words in the corporate world. The career day exhibition was organized to present the diversification and maturity of the students’ projects. It aimed at providing an opportunity for students to explore and realize their individual aspirations and potential, creating a framework for rising as skilled and well-informed professionals.   

During this event, a session on Employer Information was held to give all the participating entities the chance to meet the university management, department chairpersons, directors, coop coordinators, faculty and administrative members and present information about their companies and organizations in an informal setting. 

UNDP took part in this session to provide the audience with information on the organization’s structure, the employment opportunities for the students, the available career paths with the United Nations, the quality sought in applicants, and the existing training programs for fresh graduates and employees as well as a general overview of the recruiting process.   

UNDP’s participation in the PSU Career Day came in two forms. UNDP got an exhibition booth to display all of its publications, brochures, reports, posters, etc. Students and others participants were highly interested in learning about UNDP’s mandate in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and were keen on exchanging information with UNDP’s representatives.   

The other way UNDP took part in this event, as mentioned previously, was through its participation in the Employer Information Session. Two UNDP Staff members, Ms, Salwa Jazzar, Human Resources Associate; and Ms. Thuraya Ismail, Programme Coordinator; delivered two presentations to a large audience.   

Ms. Jazzar’s presentation addressed “Saudi Women’s Opportunities at the United Nations Organization”. She highlighted the paths of a few successful Saudi Women reaching senior positions in the UN, and talked briefly about the recruitment & selection process in UNDP, the reasons for joining UNDP, as well as the Global & Regional Opportunities that exist within the UN system.   

On the other hand, Ms. Thuraya Ismail delivered a presentation on the “Diversity at the UN Workplace”. She started by defining “Diversity”, listing and explaining its types (gender, age, cultural, etc.), and supporting this information with some statistics and graphs. She then used valid examples to highlight the opportunities, the challenges, and the ways to manage as well as be a positive member in such diversities in the workplace.   

The interaction with the audience throughout and following both presentations was very positive and enlightening.