Expo 2020 Dubai: Top employers tell students how to be job-ready

Expo 2020 Dubai: Top employers tell students how to be job-ready

Dubai: Global employers met De Montfort University Leicester (DMU) representatives at Expo 2020 Dubai to talk about how universities can help get students ready for work in a post-pandemic world. Senior staff from consultancy firms, drinks giants, recruitment and legal experts from across the UAE came together with DMU academics and students to rethink the definition of employability, considering the key role played by soft skills and how they play a crucial role in getting students ready for work. The ability to demonstrate a good work ethic, compassion, understanding diversity, emotional intelligence, as well as being able to value and appreciate differences were some examples of soft skills that employers listed they were actively seeking in potential hires. They emphasised the importance of adopting a growth mindset and resilience in a post-pandemic world with the desire to continuously learn and adapt being the priority. Noor Salman, associate director, Environment and Sustainability at management consultancy firm WSP Global, advised students on how to future-proof their degree. She spoke about how learning about the current pressing issues and future challenges in one’s industry was key to staying relevant, along with being proactive to stay well-connected through networking, meeting industry experts and applying