Friday, 23, November 2007
By: Kholood F. Al-Rhamah
Many Saudi female graduates still try to find a position in teaching, but the lack of availability in the field has lead many women to start spreading their professional wings.
Over the past few years, Saudi women have been proving they can do well in a variety of jobs. Young employees, who are finding a lot of contentment in being part of the workforce, are willing to stretch themselves in order to keep up with today’s demands.
Dalal Kutbi has a bachelor’s degree in marketing and is studying for her masters in business administration. Kutbi has been working in a company as a support specialist for over a year.
"My thesis is about job satisfaction, and it has helped me a lot in my work the past year," she said.
Kutbi’s job is all about handling clients' orders and becoming the link between the clients and the main branch of the company. While there’s no room for a promotion, she got a raise a few months after she started working.
The Saudi woman believes family life is very important and she said she would take a temporary leave of absence if she got married.
"Children are more important to me than any thing else,” Kutbi said. “If I have to, I'll come back after a few years."
Amani was another employee who was involved in customer services for her company’s medical division. She received complaints about the company's products and tried to deal with them through the appropriate channels. An average day meant checking her e-mails and answering any queries. She also made phone calls and kept track of when the field workers answered customers' calls.
With a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and masters in measures and testing, Amani felt unsatisfied with her job because it had nothing to do with her specialty. After working in the company for about three years, she left for the United States to get her PhD in psychology.
Translating is a popular profession for Saudi women who know English or any other language. Doaa Al-Qourashi is a full time employee in an international company where she works as a document translator. She has been working there since she graduated a year ago.
"Filling in contracts with information about new employees, translating contracts or documents and answering phone calls is how I usually spend my days at work," Al-Qourashi said.
Although it might not be her dream job, she said she has learned new things and has been given a good opportunity to work in an international company. Her ambitious streak is pushing her to develop her translating skills so she can open her own translation office.
"Even after I get married, I will not leave my job, because it is what I need to accomplish my dreams in life."
Wafaa Mohammed has been a bank operator assistant for about a year. She has a bachelor’s degree in English literature from King Abdul-Aziz University and is thinking of doing her masters in translation soon. Mohammed handles the salaries and assists the bank operator to transfer them to employees’ bank accounts all over the world.
"I hope I can do my masters in translation in Britain soon, so I can find my ideal job,” Mohammed said. “I'd never think of leaving my job if I get married. I count on my work for personal satisfaction."
Other women, like Asmaa Ayoub Al-Dahlawi, work as operators or support specialists. Al-Dahlawi’s job means dealing with costumer complaints, distributing faxes, and working at the help desk.
"I feel more than satisfied with my job and I’ve been working for about a year now. I am thinking of taking more computer courses to help myself get promoted," Al-Dahlawi said.
With a degree in English literature and linguistics already tucked under her arm, she is hoping to start her masters in linguistics or sociology soon. She is aiming to apply for a scholarship in the UK. She wants to do her masters now, but feels it is sometimes better to wait and take a break from studying.
"If I get married, I won’t leave my job. I will feel bored at home, I need something to fulfill my needs," Al-Dahlawi said.
By: Kholood F. Al-Rhamah
Many Saudi female graduates still try to find a position in teaching, but the lack of availability in the field has lead many women to start spreading their professional wings.
Over the past few years, Saudi women have been proving they can do well in a variety of jobs. Young employees, who are finding a lot of contentment in being part of the workforce, are willing to stretch themselves in order to keep up with today’s demands.
Dalal Kutbi has a bachelor’s degree in marketing and is studying for her masters in business administration. Kutbi has been working in a company as a support specialist for over a year.
"My thesis is about job satisfaction, and it has helped me a lot in my work the past year," she said.
Kutbi’s job is all about handling clients' orders and becoming the link between the clients and the main branch of the company. While there’s no room for a promotion, she got a raise a few months after she started working.
The Saudi woman believes family life is very important and she said she would take a temporary leave of absence if she got married.
"Children are more important to me than any thing else,” Kutbi said. “If I have to, I'll come back after a few years."
Amani was another employee who was involved in customer services for her company’s medical division. She received complaints about the company's products and tried to deal with them through the appropriate channels. An average day meant checking her e-mails and answering any queries. She also made phone calls and kept track of when the field workers answered customers' calls.
With a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and masters in measures and testing, Amani felt unsatisfied with her job because it had nothing to do with her specialty. After working in the company for about three years, she left for the United States to get her PhD in psychology.
Translating is a popular profession for Saudi women who know English or any other language. Doaa Al-Qourashi is a full time employee in an international company where she works as a document translator. She has been working there since she graduated a year ago.
"Filling in contracts with information about new employees, translating contracts or documents and answering phone calls is how I usually spend my days at work," Al-Qourashi said.
Although it might not be her dream job, she said she has learned new things and has been given a good opportunity to work in an international company. Her ambitious streak is pushing her to develop her translating skills so she can open her own translation office.
"Even after I get married, I will not leave my job, because it is what I need to accomplish my dreams in life."
Wafaa Mohammed has been a bank operator assistant for about a year. She has a bachelor’s degree in English literature from King Abdul-Aziz University and is thinking of doing her masters in translation soon. Mohammed handles the salaries and assists the bank operator to transfer them to employees’ bank accounts all over the world.
"I hope I can do my masters in translation in Britain soon, so I can find my ideal job,” Mohammed said. “I'd never think of leaving my job if I get married. I count on my work for personal satisfaction."
Other women, like Asmaa Ayoub Al-Dahlawi, work as operators or support specialists. Al-Dahlawi’s job means dealing with costumer complaints, distributing faxes, and working at the help desk.
"I feel more than satisfied with my job and I’ve been working for about a year now. I am thinking of taking more computer courses to help myself get promoted," Al-Dahlawi said.
With a degree in English literature and linguistics already tucked under her arm, she is hoping to start her masters in linguistics or sociology soon. She is aiming to apply for a scholarship in the UK. She wants to do her masters now, but feels it is sometimes better to wait and take a break from studying.
"If I get married, I won’t leave my job. I will feel bored at home, I need something to fulfill my needs," Al-Dahlawi said.
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