(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) The country's most prominent exhibition, Careers UAE, takes place this week as several corporations ramp up their recruitment drive and aim to attract some of the most talented nationals that the UAE has to offer. Held under the patronage of His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, the exhibition offers a chance for gifted Emirati graduates to connect with some of the leading government institutions as well as in finance, education and much more.
But what are institutions doing to attract, and more importantly, retain best talent - especially in periods of uncertainty? In today's volatile environment, many banks in the region have had to revise their long-term strategy to improve efficiency across their operations. For some institutions, this has led to departmental budget cuts, employee redundancies and the revision of certain employee's roles. This has made it all the more important for every organisation to instill confidence into their most-prized resource - their employees. Several studies point to the fact that one effective way to build and maintain job satisfaction of valued employees is to engage them in the workplace. This can be accomplished through various touch-points, such as training sessions, stimulating work assignments, acting on feedback surveys, announcing internal initiatives and much more. Investing and implementing training programmes is a proven method in enhancing employee engagement. Evidently, not only does the organisation benefit from the new skills the employee gains, but the employee also feels more motivated and engaged after participating in a session that is beneficial both personally as well as professionally. Arranging fun, bonding activities can also foster a culture at the workplace which breeds further engagement. Some workplaces in the region have organised clubs - for example, those dedicated to launching initiatives in sports, health, social engagement and more - which bring employees together. Another engaging platform is social media. At Noor Bank, we introduced an internal communications platform that successfully boosted engagement amongst our colleagues and is an integral part of our organisation today. For example, innovation is a fundamental part of our core values, and through the platform, various departments from the bank are not only kept informed about the latest initiatives the bank is participating in, but also discuss what the next steps are - for a product to truly "innovate". Hence, social media platforms like this boost creativity - and cut through the hierarchy that staff otherwise go through on e-mail platforms. This also helps to build trust, as engaged staff members know that their voice is being heard and that they are making valuable contributions. It is also important for senior staff to recognise the accomplishments of fellow staff members and encourage them. After all, the ultimate success of any organisation is down to one cohesive team. No one individual can single-handedly resolve every issue. Therefore, effective leadership must make a point of recognising and rewarding these accomplishments - which can help advance the careers of team members. By making them feel appreciated for their contributions, they are then encouraged to continue to strive for excellence and thus be engaged. As always though, a fundamental charge for any manager during times of uncertainty is to listen. A common criticism from staff in such situations is that they don't feel heard. However, listening, encouraging and engaging them can set the tone to work together in pursuit of your organisation's various goals. The writer is the head of human resources at Noor Bank. Views expressed are her own and do not reflect the newspaper's policy.