By Fazeena Saleem
DOHA: Fresh graduates from Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) are optimistic about getting jobs within Qatar and some Qatari graduates say they already have jobs in hand.
Some of them expect an average salary of QR9,000, while others look forward to a salary of as much as QR20,000.
Although expatriate graduates are optimistic about getting a job, they claim some of their seniors are still jobless.
“I am optimistic. I’d love to work for an organisation like the Qatar Museums Authority, they’re involved with culture, art, music, community,” said Noor Suleiman, Jordanian graduate in interior design from the Virginia Commonwealth University in Qatar.
“I would love to be part of what they do.”
She expects QR8,000 to QR9,000 as a starting salary.
But her colleague Aisha Essa Al Mannai, graphic design graduate, said she would like to work for a client where she can work on branding which would show the identity of the client and take on their advertising projects.
“Yes, I have applied to a couple of places. I will be based in Qatar,” she said.
Aisha is a graduate Cum Laude and an Honors student as well. She will be attending commencement in Richmond and expects a salary of QR20,000.
Ahmad Al Salama, a graduate from the Carnegie Mellon University-Qatar, had been offered a position at the Sidra Research and Medical Center.
But he also has plans to start a non-profit organisation. However, he didn’t want to dislocse his salary expectations.
“I have been offered a position working for Sidra Research and Medical Center, where I will be developing in-house mobile applications,” said Ahmad.
“I am also working on a few start-ups in collaboration with a group of Carnegie Mellon Qatar graduates. We are starting a non-profit organisation to teach Arabic to foreigners through an online platform,” he added.
Some of Qatari students who have studied on sponsorship of private companies will work for them at least for five years.
Hamad Al Seliman, a major in electrical engineering, was sponsored by Qapco to study at the Texas A&M University Qatar.
“I will work as an electrical specialist for five years,” he said.
Hamad believes that the experience he would gain from Qapco would support to develop his career.
Shivani Arora, Business Administration/Information systems (double major) with University Honors and Campus Scholar Award from the Carnegie Mellon University Qatar, has a different opinion.
“Right now I don’t know many seniors who do have jobs, however, I have seen a lot of seniors get jobs during the summer so I am optimistic,” she said.
Shivani is looking for a banking job.
The Peninsula
