Finding a job in times of pandemic!
Throughout lifetime, people experience various challenges that are not only puzzling, but frightening too. Some obstacles are like scary nightmares chasing people and irritating them all the time. Getting a job to make a living probably comes on top of the list of those challenges being faced by many. Thousands of youth, especially fresh graduates, are driven crazy by the nightmarish jobseeking mission. Today, getting a job is becoming a disappointing dream to hunt for many!
Undoubtedly, getting a job is highly significant as it leads other life priorities. Having a job is more than just about making a living; it satisfies one’s dignity and personal interests too. It brings to people a sense of selfrespect and self-worth instead of being dependent on others like family for instance. For men, particularly, getting a source of income is significantly essential and a priority, otherwise, they feel useless and hopeless.
Making a living is a hard personal necessity and job hunting is becoming a mission impossible nowadays. With the emergence of Covid-19 pandemic, it has became even harder for jobseekers to get employed. Lockdowns and decline in business, which could lead to bankruptcy sometimes, are shrinking job opportunities. Rather it was a cause to sack employees from their jobs. Such sad outcomes have affected the lives of many families and individuals alike.
Unfortunately, the common excuse that most employers are attributing to is the Covid-19 pandemic and its challenges. This had been an excuse even for none or less affected employers! Nobody knows whether recruitment process had been stopped during the pandemic or it was limited to skilled people! Regardless, the market has been recovering as this pandemic has lasted for over a year now. Thus, definitely there would be some job openings every now and then. Likewise, some businesses have been recovering over the time and could accommodate some job-seekers.
Unluckily, what happens is that preference in jobs is sometime given to expats rather than Omanis. This could take place in different public and private companies. Possibly, this might happen for the sake of getting the expertise of expats or having an advantage of their low wages compared to locals. However, this is not always the case as the expertise sometime could be obtained from skilful Omanis. In some cases, Omanis are not given the chance to prove themselves or even show their expertise.
The competition is extremely challenging among job-seekers due to a shortfall in jobs. Another factor that makes the competition is even harder for Omanis is the increase in employed expats. There is no harm in having expat colleagues from whom we can learn due to their expertise and proficiency. However, the competition should always be fair, although Omanis must be accorded priority in contributing in building the future of their country.
Accordingly, the replacement drive, which the government has last year called for in all government bodies and corporates will have a good impact to solve the employment issue in the Sultanate. More job opportunities will be offered to Omani job-seekers. Thanks to the wise policies of the government for taking this call and looking forward for more initiatives in regard to overcoming the employment dilemma in the country.
However, it is the role of all private and government bodies to truly work towards putting this direction in place. It is time now to join forces of government or private employers to support Omani youth by providing them all possible opportunities. New openings should be created to enrol youth in all sectors and allow them play their role in building the nation. If it is seriously implemented, then many job-seekers will come out of their nightmare and start making their dreams come true.
WITH THE EMERGENCE OF COVID-19 PANDEMIC, IT HAS BECAME EVEN HARDER FOR JOBSEEKERS TO GET EMPLOYED
MUSCAT: Sandeep Goud’s golden arm continued to fetch vital wickets while Jatinder Singh started middling the ball with the effortless ease again as Muscat CT stretched their unbeaten run to eight games with emphatic wins over Renaissance and Arm Alpha in Premier Division T20 League at OC Turf 1 in Amerat over the weekend.
Muscat, which have 16 points, may still win the title even if they lose the remaining two matches. Second-placed Renaissance have 12 points but played out their 10 games while IT Works carry 10 points from 8 matches so far.
On Saturday, Renaissance were bundled out for 88 with Sandeep picking up 3 for 5. Spinners Samay Shrivastava and Wasim Ali bowled well too, taking two wickets each. Rafi Ullah top-scored with 28. Jatinder led the chase with a strokeful 48 not out as Muscat surpassed the total in only 12.2 overs, scoring 92 for 2. Shoaib Khan contributed a fluent 28.
SHOAIB STARS IN MUSCAT WIN
Earlier on Friday, Shoaib Khan’s sparkling 69 was the highlight of Muscat’s 161 for 6 against Arm
Alpha. Sanuth Ebrahim and Bilal Khan bagged two wickets each.
Alpha failed to bat well against Muscat’s in-form bowlers, folding up for a dismal 76 in 15.1 overs. Leg-spinner Samay Shrivastava was the pick of Muscat bowlers, taking 3 for 5 whereas Wasim Ali and Sandeep Goud claimed two wickets each in impressive spells.
IT WORKS ROUT RENAISSANCE
Oman all-rounder Khawar Ali was instrumental in IT Works’ vital 4-wicket win over Renaissance, setting up what could well be a Premier Division 50-over League’s title clash against table-toppers Muscat CT in their 10th and final game on Friday,
March 12.
While Muscat have 16 points from 9 games with 8 wins, an emphatic victory on Friday could result in second-placed IT Works, who have 14 points from 9 games with 7 wins, walk away with the trophy on better net run-rate if Renaissance upset third-placed Al Turki NMC the next day. If Al Turki, who also have 14 points from 9 matches with 7 wins, prevail with a big margin, the title winner would be decided on net run-rate. However, the T20 winner’s trophy goes to Muscat if they beat IT Works, taking their tally to unsurpassable 18 points.
Renaissance were dismissed for 110 in 36 overs, Shakeel Ahmed taking 3 for 8 with Khawar Ali and
Muhammed Nadeem claiming two wickets each. Khawar is now the tournament’s leading bowler with 20 wickets followed by Nadeem who has taken 19 wickets so far.
It took IT Works only 19.1 overs to seal the win, scoring 113 for 6. Zeeshan Maqsood struck 38, while Khawar contributed 25.
TWINKAL STARS IN AL TURKI WIN
Leading from the front, Twinkal Bhandari slammed a sparkling 81 not out to steer Al Turki NMC to a vital 5-wicket victory against AER on Saturday.
AER was restricted to 151 for 9 as Jay Odedara picked up 3 for 14 in his 10-over spell that included six maiden overs. Afzal Khan remained not out at 58 off 111 balls. Al Turki secured victory in the 23rd over, scoring 154 for 5 thanks to Twinkal’s superb knock. Amanpreet Singh and Muzahir Raza bagged two wickets each.
BRIEF SCORES Premier Division T20 League
Renaissance 88 all out in 16.4 overs (Rafi Ullah 28 – 4x4, 2x6. Sandeep Goud 3-05, Samay Shrivastava 2-12, Wasim Ali 2-21) lost to Muscat CT 92 for 2 in 12.2 overs (Jatinder Singh 48 not out – 6x4, 1x6, Shoaib Khan 28 – 3x4) by 8 wickets.
Muscat CT 161 for 6 in 20 overs (Shoaib Khan 69 – 8x4, 1x6, Sanuth Ebrahim 2-21, Bilal Khan 2-26) beat Arm Alpha 76 all out in 15.1 overs (Nalinda Prasad 32 – 6x4, 1x6, Samay Shrivastava 3-05, Wasim Ali 2-07, Sandeep Goud 2-15) by 85 runs.
Premier Division 50-over League
Renaissance 110 all out in 36 overs (Abdul Rauf 24 – 2x4, 1x6, Shubo Pal 24 – 4x4. Shakeel Ahmad 3-08, Muhammed Nadeem 2-20, Khawar Ali 2-26, Imran Muhammad 2-31) lost to IT Works 113 for 6 in 19.1 overs (Zeeshan Maqsood 38 – 6x4, 1x6, Khawar Ali 25 – 3x4. Asif Khan 3-7, Muhammad Bilal 3-33) by 4 wickets.
AER 150 for 9 in 50 overs (Afzal Khan 58 not out – 8x4, Muzahir Raza 19 – 3x4. Jay Odedara 3-14, Hemalkumar Tandel 2-52) lost to Al Turki NMC 154 for 5 in 22.5 overs (Twinkal Bhandari 81 not out – 11x4, 1x6, Akshaykumar Patel 21 – 1x4, 2x6. Amanpreet Singh 2-29, Muzahir Raza 2-34) by 5 wickets.