KUWAIT: It has been almost two years since the economic earthquake hit the world and the employment market across the world is still continuing to feel the aftershocks. Although Kuwait was less affected than many other countries, a significant number here still lost their jobs. As businesses began closing, new work options began appearing though, with an increasing number of the highly-talented people who were recently made redundant choosing to see this as an opportunity to strike out on their own, either starting their own businesses or moving towards self-employment in other ways.

There are also more local organizations and bodies these days offering support to young Kuwaitis to help them open their own businesses, while banks are more willing to provide start-up funding for small businesses and more and more young people are choosing to launch their businesses online, keeping costs to a minimum. However, not every newbie to the employment scene or recently laid-off worker has the original business ideas or the entrepreneurial talent to launch and run their own business.

The Kuwait Times quizzed some young people on their opinions about the employment problems and preferences. One young expatriate job-hunter Amani, who trained as a pharmacist, recently resigned from a job with a medical company where she worked for eight years. She said that finding a job in Kuwait's private sector is extremely difficult, especially for those seeking employment in her field of expertise.

The recruitment here is according to your relationship, and not according to the applicant's qualifications," she said, adding that employers seem to use no criteria involving training or professionalism. In addition, all the employer's job interview promises to prospective employees are invariably unfulfilled, she added, saying that unless you're personally close to the interviewer there's no hope of them meeting their promises. "Also, there is no appraisal system," she added.

Amani pointed out that there's also great competitiveness in some workplaces. "Work changes to a personal issue," she said. "If you are strong and qualified, you're a source of threat for the employees working above you. They attack you on a personal level, until they make you feel disgusted. The management tier is not professional either. The open doors system isn't available in Kuwait at all. The first rule here is: 'The boss is always right,' regardless of the truth of the matter. They don't hear the vo
ice of the employee, even if you are good. Your opinion is not there. Furthermore in my field [medical companies] female staff are abused," she added.

Amani also compared work in other sectors saying: "Work in the public sector is negative, and there is no improvement. So, I'd prefer to work in the private sector and to be my own boss, or to work through the Internet despite the low profit. This is the option I'm looking for currently," she concluded.

Reem is another young female expatriate jobseeker, but didn't share Amani's enthusiasm for self-employment, saying she'd rather work in an office and use the Public Relations (PR) skills she's acquired. "I've been looking for a job for two years," she told the Kuwait Times. "When I graduated from the Mass Communications faculty in 2008 I had this hope that I'd find my dream job, which is to be a Public Relations executive, but I haven't found anything to date. I've applied to many companies and PR agencies , but nothing's come up. I'm not thinking about accepting a job in another field because I studied for four years to work in this area and I don't care if I stay home till the end of my life.

Fatima, a young Kuwaiti woman who studied Marketing at university and has been working in the private sector for a year, is keen on going into business for herself, however. "I've been working for a private firm for about a year and I'm not completely satisfied," she said, adding that she'd begun working immediately after graduating but sees her job as providing useful experience for when she opens her own business rather than as an end in itself. Self-employment appeals to her because of the lack of limit ations and chance for self-advancement, she explained.

I won't be limited by the orders and directions of the management," she explained, adding, "In general, the private sector is better than the public sector, where I definitely wouldn't improve myself." Kuwaiti graduate Basil, however, is seeking full-time work, saying that he's not interested in freelancing given the unreliable and irregular nature of the work.

I've been coaching diving for two years, freelancing, but I'm looking for a stable full-time job," he said. "All those who do freelance jobs have another, full-time job; the money from freelancing isn't enough to live on. For instance, driving is only a seasonal or weekend job, and I think the case is similar in other freelancing fields." For some, meanwhile, the idea of self-employment or running their own businesses is just a headache.

With [being self-employed], you also lose the perks provided by the company or employer, like health insurance, transport, product or service discounts for employees and other stuff," said Suba, a young Lebanese woman. "I prefer finding a regular job with any firm.

Ala'a, a Graphic Design student who's currently in the last year of her degree, just wants to get plenty of experience at the start of her career, telling the Kuwait Times, "I want first to work in a company or do work for them from home, then later maybe I'll be able to run my own business. - Kuwait Times