Dubai: 13 March 2007: - du, the new telecom operator in the UAE has announced job openings for its call centres and retail outlets, at the 7th Annual Careers UAE 2007 running from 13-15 March. Located in Zabeel Hall at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre, the du stand (Z-F1) is designed to give young UAE nationals the opportunity to compare their professional competencies and gain insights into du as the employer of choice. Fahad Al Hassawi, Executive Vice President, Human Resources, du, said: “The new job openings are a part of our efforts to provide a platform that will spur talented Emiratis on to explore career opportunities at du." “Every recruit will undergo three to six months intensive job training. This will focus on English language training, followed by on-the-job training and other skills instrumental in nourishing a strong work culture,” added Al Hassawi. Visitors to the du stand have the option of submitting hard copies of their resumes or registering online using workstations that will be available for public use. The du stand also has an interview room where instant interviews are conducted and candidates are assessed by trained personnel. du recruitment managers provide information about du’s employment opportunities and training programmes at a chill-out lounge. Says Budour Nasser, an early visitor to the du stand: “I had already decided that when I visit this year’s career fair, I would definitely go to the du stand to learn more about the job opportunities provided by du for UAE nationals. In my opinion, joining du at this stage will give me the advantage to learn the required working skills at a fast pace. du is a new company that presents opportunities for success and growth and I would very much like to grow my career with it.” Bader Lootah has been following du’s initiatives targeted towards advancement of career opportunities for UAE nationals and says: “I didn’t have a chance to visit the du stand at last year’s Career Fair. Since then I have been following up on du’s efforts for UAE nationals and I wanted to make sure that this year I’m among the first few visitors to learn about du’s job opportunities this year.” du has a number of initiatives and programmes focused on empowering promising young Emiratis as part of its commitment to the local community. These are in line with Dubai Strategic Plan 2015, unveiled recently by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, setting out a comprehensive development plan for the UAE, where promoting education and Emirati talent feature as key components. Last year, du launched ‘Masar’, a development programme for young UAE nationals with the aim of providing career opportunities in the company. ‘Masar’ is structured to ensure jobs for nationals with varying educational backgrounds, from high school to post graduate degrees. Initial selections are based on a rigorous assessment round that identifies each candidate’s skill sets, areas of strength and potential to perform. Following a stringent evaluation process that includes interviews and discussions with du line managers, the graduate trainees are positioned in specific departments.