Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
Four months after its launch, Jobs4Bahrainis.com, the first private sector initiative dedicated exclusively to improving the employment prospects of Bahraini nationals, is proving a big hit for both Bahraini jobseekers as well as companies seeking local talent.
Since late June, an average of 3,000 unique visitors per day have flocked to the portal, on which more than 7,000 Bahraini job seekers have registered their profiles and uploaded their CVs, making it the most comprehensive CV database of graduate and experienced professional Bahraini talent available anywhere.
In addition, almost 600 job vacancies are currently posted on the site. No other online careers portal in Bahrain offers the volume and breadth of information on one easy-to-navigate platform.
Jobs4Bahrainis administration manager Yasmine Shakib said: "The high unique visitor numbers, coupled with a high uptake of registered applicants and job postings, proves that Jobs4Bahrainis.com is achieving its core objective of getting more Bahrainis into the workforce.
"In just four months, the portal has evolved into a flourishing online community providing Bahraini job seekers with all the necessary tools and information to find secure, rewarding jobs in their specialist or preferred employment sectors, which are as diverse as finance, administration, insurance, engineering, marketing, education and even confectionery manufacture!"
Jobs4Bahrainis business development manager Ali Daylami said the sustained growth of Jobs4Bahrainis.com depends on the ongoing support of the business community in the kingdom.
"We look forward to seeing the Jobs4Bahrainis.com community grow as more companies realise how easy it is to find and hire suitable Bahraini talent.
"In the last four months, a significant percentage of Bahrainis applying for jobs via the portal have been hired, several into managerial or technical positions. Employers, who include DHL, KPMG, Bahrain Credit, the Royal Bahrain Hospital and Legal & General, tell us that the profile and quality of candidates on the site closely matches their skills requirements.
"The challenge now is to broaden the portal's reach in the local community. We already enjoy the full support of Bahrain's national airline, Gulf Air, as well as other sponsors such as Al Ghalia, and we are looking at ways to co-operate with the Ministry of Labour and Tamkeen to complement their initiatives and provide more options for Bahraini job seekers."
Next month, Jobs4Bahrainis.com will launch six modular training courses specially designed to help candidates through the job search, application and interview process. These will include improving interview techniques, writing application letters, business ethics, appearance and tips for candidates on how to make an impression in a new job.
The portal is a joint venture between Gulf Connexions, a leading recruitment company in the region, and Al Hilal Group, the kingdom's leading publishing and marketing organisation.
