Al-Riyadh

On-the-job training is more important than academic studies. Our labor market is in dire need of training programs that can help young Saudi men and women quickly adapt to the job environment and find employment. Of course, academic studies have a lot of benefits. However, most of it is theoretical and does not focus on practical training, which is indispensable.

To better enforce Saudization, we need to focus on this sort of training. A high school graduate should be encouraged to find work while simultaneously completing his education. Employers should hire and train fresh graduates as a way of investing in them. We could start implementing this training program in certain fields as a starter and then focus on other sectors such as the retail sector to achieve 100 percent Saudization. Expatriate workers seem to control this field and put obstacles in the way of Saudis who try to enter.

I strongly believe in the benefits of on-the-job training because I underwent some when I was at school. When I joined the Ministry of Haj (known then as the Ministry of Haj and Endowments), I had an intermediate school diploma. I worked for the ministry and attended school in the evening.

Although I did not study any specialized mathematics and accounting subjects at school, I worked for the accounting department. I underwent on-the-job training and learned how to keep financial records. My job was not easy and involved a large amount of verifying, revising and auditing. The most difficult part was going to the Ministry of Finance at the end of each month for a final revision. If even one riyal was missing, I would be held accountable for it. I had to be very meticulous.

The training period lasted for three weeks but was intensive. With the help of colleagues, I learned the job and became good at it. Before joining the ministry, I never thought that I would that I would ever work as an accountant, as I was more focused on reading classic Arabic books. Shortly after the training period was over, I found myself drawn to accounting. I am sure if young Saudi men and women were given similar opportunities, they would excel in these fields even though they may not think of them as their dream jobs.