Omani students encouraged to opt for training while studying

Muscat: Omani students should consider training opportunities during their study programmes to be better prepared when applying for their first job, Anfal Al Wahaibi, volunteer at JisserOman.com and an engineering student said.
JisserOman.com, a platform for Omani students and job-seekers, is present at the Omanisation Career Fair being held at the Oman International Exhibition Centre. The site works as a bridge (meaning Jisser in Arabic) between graduates and companies offering training opportunities.
Al Wahaibi said JisserOman was established three years ago through the initiative of students themselves. “Jisser is an electronic platform that connects graduates of higher education with training opportunities offered on the job market,” she stated.
“We are working to decrease unemployment levels in Oman. The aim is that students get training and job-seekers will be able to find the right work,” she stated.
Al Wahaibi told the Times of Oman (TOO) that such training will help Omani students become better prepared after they graduate, as requirements of the job market have become increasingly competitive.
“Most job-seekers who apply for their first job admit that they have no prior experience. By undergoing training, they will have a better chance to gain experience,” she stated.
She further said that with a training period during their study programme, students can be even better prepared when they apply for their first job.
“If I study for a Bachelor’s for four years, I will have four chances to gain experience during this period and will then have experience even before I graduate,” she said.
She added that JisserOman.com was started because some students, like those in engineering, have to do training in the last part of their study programme. “Where are the companies where I can find these opportunities? This is where we come in,” she said.
Al Wahaibi further said they mostly offer training opportunities and not jobs, but a period of training might also lead to further employment opportunities at the same company.
“Training helps. I graduated and had to stay at home because I had not undergone any training in the field I had studied. In such a situation, one can lose hope. With training, I know how to use the things I have learned during my study programme,” she said.
According to Al Wahaibi, there are particular specialisations with a lot of graduates, such as in IT. In such a situation, training can help job seekers adapt to the market. “IT is needed in the market, but now the sector is saturated. What will a job seeker do when he does not have any other option?”
Students and job-seekers interested in a training opportunity can register on the website of JisserOman.com and enter all the necessary information, so that companies can find their CV or cover letter to find out if there are candidates who meet the requirements.