Pep Montserrat for The National
Pep Montserrat for The National

Take this job - and love it



I was 16 years old when my father sat me down. In a firm voice, he told me that as long as I studied, he would continue to support my needs. Should I decide against attending university, however, I would be expected to earn my own keep. My father is a first generation Pakistani immigrant to the United Kingdom; education, above monetary reward, has always been the purest aim of Britain's South Asian settlers. It was a valuable lesson in self-sufficiency: and in the following two decades I have thrown myself into the tumble dryer of the modern workplace.

My first brush with employment filled me with resignation almost immediately: I was asked by my father to wash his car, once a week. This task would net me 50 pence each time. Initially, I relished the task. Possession of his car keys dictated I could listen to music as I scrubbed. Yet as he handed me Dh15 after my first four weeks, waves of despair overcame me. I hastened to supplement my income with other work. I replied to an advertisement in a local newspaper and soon after began a paper round. Once a week I would load a satchel with 144 newspapers published by the local council. Neither rain, sleet nor snow was to prove detrimental to the mission - all 144 papers were delivered in one afternoon for a total wage of Dh6. My route brought me into contact with younger readers who were indifferent to The Glaswegian as well as those elderly souls who relied on it as their only window to the outside world.

I was 17 years of age, and facing three listless months of clear blue skies before my first year at university when I crossed to the garage opposite our family home, looking for work. The manager of the Esso station informed me his branch sought to employ a young forecourt attendant to offer customers a free oil check. The promotion carried a clever ruse: a free reading might stimulate sales of engine oil. I was hired at the rate of Dh15 an hour for five hours each day, six days a week. Oil sales rose by nearly 20 per cent and, after three months, I had saved enough money to pay for my first two terms at university and several driving lessons. My three months on the forecourt saw me progress to stock taking and, eventually, a stint manning the cash register. Each night, I would return home, pay in hand, my pockets bulging with tips.

And so it followed that each summer posed the same dilemma: dare I succumb to the monotony of inactivity, or the challenges of gainful employment? For two periods over as many years, I found work taking inventory at a large record store in Glasgow. For seven hours each day, I was rewarded in cash for helping count and catalogue compact discs, cassettes and records. My interest in music was already infinite - and my fellow employees acted like tutors, adding to my education: Bob Dylan, The Doors, Jimi Hendrix and The Beach Boys were just a few of my discoveries during those months. In addition, the job allowed me to carefully note all the releases, mislaid or wrongly filed, I yearned to own. At the end of each week, the manager would grant me purchase of my wish-list at a discounted rate.

In my first year at university, I answered a newspaper advertisement seeking household goods salesmen. The job paid about Dh20 an hour, excluding a 20 per cent commission on all items sold. My catchment area included one of Glasgow's most privileged neighbourhoods. Once a week, borrowing my father's Toyota, I would drive to Whitecraigs, drop off around 100 catalogues - featuring everything from kitchen knives to bread bins and bathroom cleaners - and return a few days later to collect dozens of filled-in order forms. A minimal effort on my part would bring in a weekly wage averaging Dh600. In the evenings, I mowed lawns and trimmed hedges. On weekends, I worked at a DIY store, selling paint and wallpaper.

In my second year at university, I took the advice of a colleague and was given the job of delivery boy at a local pizzeria. The hours were arduous, 4pm to 2am. The uniform was of questionable taste - outsized red overalls with the store's name, Armando's Pizzeria, stencilled across the back. Our mode of transport was dangerously unreliable: a fleet of rusting and often temperamental mopeds. My bike had one headlight, no horn and was incapable of breaking a sweat over 30kph. I survived one collision, one attempted bike theft and innumerable insults from other teenagers.

The pay was an improvement, however, at Dh18 an hour, tips and a free pizza. The job was also my first introduction to an exclusively twenty-something male workforce. Between deliveries, the drivers would sit outside a tool shed, idly smoking cigarettes and listening to rock music, while complaining bitterly about meagre tips. To any passer-by, the sight must have resembled a scene from a Ken Loach movie.

In short, I found liberation and democracy within the confines of the workplace. Employment gave each day a narrative which could not be found sitting in my bedroom, listening to music. My hours at work were memorable for the humour and discussion involved. The interaction - and the awful reality that I might not always excel at what I set out to attempt - with my superiors proved invaluable. The economic benefits also paid for certain freedoms. And, over the next few years, I was able to travel extensively, escaping my Scottish orbit.

Throughout my adult life, I have only worked for private enterprises. Whether cleaning floors at a fast food takeaway in Glasgow, picking strawberries for farmers or working at newspapers, I am typical of the British post-war generation which views government jobs with a certain degree of disdain. The pay is often abysmal and the hours can be thankless. More tellingly, government organisations have conspicuous flaws which see them veer between paralysis, bureaucracy and inactivity. Private workforces, on the other hand, are driven by ambition and are endlessly refining and improving their services. No longer does the 1950s stereotype of the faceless corporation fit the mould - the private sector has, over the past 40 years, prompted a revolution in finance, construction, medicine, science and the arts.

I am not alone in my experiences: many of my friends have emerged from humble beginnings and sought the freedom of upward mobility. From parents who were labourers and construction workers has emerged a generation of diplomats and bankers. By any evaluation, all have prospered, expanding on the modest beginnings of their parents. Other acquaintances, however, opted for the dependability of family enterprise. Some regret breaking free of their obligations. Many find themselves facing the same daily chores as their parents. I was told, during my formative years, this was not an option that would be made available to me. I confess I did not understand my father's motives at the time. But in the future, I'll seek to pass on the same curriculum.

Burhan Wazir is Editor of The National on Saturday. He can be contacted at bwazir@thenational.ae

Picture of Joumblatt and Hariri breaking bread sets Twitter alight

Mr Joumblatt’s pessimism regarding the Lebanese political situation didn’t stop him from enjoying a cheerful dinner on Tuesday with several politicians including Mr Hariri.

Caretaker Culture Minister Ghattas Khoury tweeted a picture of the group sitting around a table at a discrete fish restaurant in Beirut’s upscale Sodeco area.

Mr Joumblatt told The National that the fish served at Kelly’s Fish lounge had been very good.

“They really enjoyed their time”, remembers the restaurant owner. “Mr Hariri was taking selfies with everybody”.

Mr Hariri and Mr Joumblatt often have dinner together to discuss recent political developments.

Mr Joumblatt was a close ally of Mr Hariri’s assassinated father, former prime minister Rafik Hariri. The pair were leading figures in the political grouping against the 15-year Syrian occupation of Lebanon that ended after mass protests in 2005 in the wake of Rafik Hariri’s murder. After the younger Hariri took over his father’s mantle in 2004, the relationship with Mr Joumblatt endured.

However, the pair have not always been so close. In the run-up to the election last year, Messrs Hariri and Joumblatt went months without speaking over an argument regarding the new proportional electoral law to be used for the first time. Mr Joumblatt worried that a proportional system, which Mr Hariri backed, would see the influence of his small sect diminished.

With so much of Lebanese politics agreed in late-night meetings behind closed doors, the media and pundits put significant weight on how regularly, where and with who senior politicians meet.

In the picture, alongside Messrs Khoury and Hariri were Mr Joumbatt and his wife Nora, PSP politician Wael Abou Faour and Egyptian ambassador to Lebanon Nazih el Nagari.

The picture of the dinner led to a flurry of excitement on Twitter that it signified an imminent government formation. “God willing, white smoke will rise soon and Walid Beik [a nickname for Walid Joumblatt] will accept to give up the minister of industry”, one user replied to the tweet. “Blessings to you…We would like you to form a cabinet”, wrote another.  

The next few days will be crucial in determining whether these wishes come true.

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Moon Music

Artist: Coldplay

Label: Parlophone/Atlantic

Number of tracks: 10

Rating: 3/5

COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Thank You for Banking with Us

Director: Laila Abbas

Starring: Yasmine Al Massri, Clara Khoury, Kamel El Basha, Ashraf Barhoum

Rating: 4/5

How to help

Call the hotline on 0502955999 or send "thenational" to the following numbers:

2289 - Dh10

2252 - Dh50

6025 - Dh20

6027 - Dh100

6026 - Dh200

SPECS

Engine: 4-litre V8 twin-turbo
Power: 630hp
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: 8-speed Tiptronic automatic
Price: From Dh599,000
On sale: Now

The biog

Marital status: Separated with two young daughters

Education: Master's degree from American Univeristy of Cairo

Favourite book: That Is How They Defeat Despair by Salwa Aladian

Favourite Motto: Their happiness is your happiness

Goal: For Nefsy to become his legacy long after he is gon

Last 10 winners of African Footballer of the Year

2006: Didier Drogba (Chelsea and Ivory Coast)
2007: Frederic Kanoute (Sevilla and Mali)
2008: Emmanuel Adebayor (Arsenal and Togo)
2009: Didier Drogba (Chelsea and Ivory Coast)
2010: Samuel Eto’o (Inter Milan and Cameroon)
2011: Yaya Toure (Manchester City and Ivory Coast)
2012: Yaya Toure (Manchester City and Ivory Coast)
2013: Yaya Toure (Manchester City and Ivory Coast)
2014: Yaya Toure (Manchester City and Ivory Coast)
2015: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Borussia Dortmund and Gabon)
2016: Riyad Mahrez (Leicester City and Algeria)

Temple numbers

Expected completion: 2022

Height: 24 meters

Ground floor banquet hall: 370 square metres to accommodate about 750 people

Ground floor multipurpose hall: 92 square metres for up to 200 people

First floor main Prayer Hall: 465 square metres to hold 1,500 people at a time

First floor terrace areas: 2,30 square metres  

Temple will be spread over 6,900 square metres

Structure includes two basements, ground and first floor 

10 tips for entry-level job seekers
  • Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up today. Avoid poor-quality profile pictures with distracting backgrounds. Include a professional summary and begin to grow your network.
  • Keep track of the job trends in your sector through the news. Apply for job alerts at your dream organisations and the types of jobs you want – LinkedIn uses AI to share similar relevant jobs based on your selections.
  • Double check that you’ve highlighted relevant skills on your resume and LinkedIn profile.
  • For most entry-level jobs, your resume will first be filtered by an applicant tracking system for keywords. Look closely at the description of the job you are applying for and mirror the language as much as possible (while being honest and accurate about your skills and experience).
  • Keep your CV professional and in a simple format – make sure you tailor your cover letter and application to the company and role.
  • Go online and look for details on job specifications for your target position. Make a list of skills required and set yourself some learning goals to tick off all the necessary skills one by one.
  • Don’t be afraid to reach outside your immediate friends and family to other acquaintances and let them know you are looking for new opportunities.
  • Make sure you’ve set your LinkedIn profile to signal that you are “open to opportunities”. Also be sure to use LinkedIn to search for people who are still actively hiring by searching for those that have the headline “I’m hiring” or “We’re hiring” in their profile.
  • Prepare for online interviews using mock interview tools. Even before landing interviews, it can be useful to start practising.
  • Be professional and patient. Always be professional with whoever you are interacting with throughout your search process, this will be remembered. You need to be patient, dedicated and not give up on your search. Candidates need to make sure they are following up appropriately for roles they have applied.

Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz

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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
 
Started: 2020
 
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
 
Based: Dubai, UAE
 
Sector: Entertainment 
 
Number of staff: 210 
 
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
Joker: Folie a Deux

Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Lady Gaga, Brendan Gleeson

Director: Todd Phillips 

Rating: 2/5

Results

5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 1,000mm, Winners: Mumayaza, Fabrice Veron (jockey), Eric Lemartinel (trainer)

5.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 2,200m, Winners: Sharkh, Pat Cosgrave, Helal Al Alawi

6pm: The President’s Cup Prep - Conditions (PA) Dh100,000 (T) 2,200m, Winner: Somoud, Richard Mullen, Jean de Roualle

6.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh90,000 (T) 1,600m, Winner: Harrab, Ryan Curatolo, Jean de Roualle

7pm: Abu Dhabi Equestrian Gold Cup - Prestige (PA) Dh125,000 (T) 1,600m, Winner: Hameem, Adrie de Vries, Abdallah Al Hammadi

7.30pm: Al Ruwais – Group 3 (PA) Dh300,000 (T) 1,200m, Winner: AF Alwajel, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel

8pm: Maiden (TB) Dh80,000 (T) 1,400m, Winner: Nibras Passion, Bernardo Pinheiro, Ismail Mohammed

Engine: 5.6-litre V8

Transmission: seven-speed automatic

Power: 400hp

Torque: 560Nm

Price: Dh234,000 - Dh329,000

On sale: now


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