They leave with more paperwork than they arrived with – mainly marketing material from companies keen to increase the number of Emiratis in their workforce.
But there are few international businesses at the fair. Most of the exhibitors are government departments, government-linked companies or local, family-run businesses.
Recruitment consultants at the fair say expectations of young graduate Emiratis are high. A starting salary in a government department is about $7,000 a month but many private businesses are not prepared – or cannot afford – to pay that.
And the pressure is on for people to work for less, says Issa al-Mulla, executive director of National Workforce Development who has created a blacklist of people who refuse to take several jobs.
“Their names will be frozen for six months. After six months, when we call them, they’ll say yes, now we are ready,” says Mr Mulla. “Sometimes you need to use the stick or the carrot. Which will come first?”
Back at the telecoms company, Nasser has a different view.
“I would advise my colleagues, brothers and sisters to lower their expectations, be more patient, focus on your education and acquire skills and build good relations with your colleagues – even the foreign ones,” he says.
“In time, you’ll prove yourself and you’ll acquire the recognition you’re looking for. When recognition comes, it comes with a pay cheque.”
But, it seems, expectations will need adjusting on both sides.
There is still a way to go before the government and the private sector will see eye-to-eye on how best to get more locals into work.
