A large number of Qatari youth from various schools and universities across the country thronged Al Sharq Village and Spa yesterday for the second Career Day organised by Qatar National Bank (QNB). The event was intended for both fresh and experienced Qatari graduates seeking an opening in the bank. The new recruits are provided with training, development and employment opportunities. Buoyed by the experience of its previous career fairs, QNB is planning to organise the event twice a year, in June and December, according to AGM, Human Capital, Khalil Al Ansari. "The first career fair we held in December last year was a great success, with over 250 applicants attending, and 150 of them were recruited," Al Ansari told The Peninsula yesterday. He attributed the success of the recruitment drive to the number of incentives and opportunities recruits are provided for training and development as well as great prospects for promotion at the bank. Successful applicants can look forward to an attractive package that includes allowances for housing, furniture, maintenance and transportation. Besides, by working with QNB they could be entitled to a 'Performance Bonus' based on the assessment of their performance. They will also benefit from loan facilities at preferential rates, life insurance, retirement programmes, indemnity account and schemes to pursue higher education. "QNB as the leading financial institution in Qatar and is an employer of choice with the highest percentage of Qatarisation," said Al Ansari. He said by the end of May this year the bank had achieved 48.6 percent Qatarisation, the highest percentage in the country's financial sector. "Our plan is to reach over 50 percent before the end of 2008," he said. "Our Qatarisation plan is a realistic and gradual one." New recruits have to first report to the recently opened state-of-the-art QNB Learning and Development Centre at Al Hilal to embark on an intensive 10-week training programme to get to know the activities of QNB's departments and branches. The programme has been developed to provide the recruits with a comprehensive understanding of QNB, its products and services and its unique approach to banking as well as learning opportunities in the area of core banking, management, and leadership and inter-personal skills. The structure of training aims at nurturing the employees to reach their full potential, said Al Ansari. In order to equip participants with basic banking operational skills, the selected participants go through an entry-level induction programme, "Lighting the Torch". The bank also provides an "On Job Training Programme", which provides job-related knowledge and skills on an on-going basis through a system of learning while working. Employees can further develop themselves trough a structured Learning and Development process which focuses on "Individual Career Development Plan" that identifies the skill gaps and bridges them through various training programmes. QNB's various banking departments offer an opportunity to graduates to pick a field of their choice supporting the bank's strategy to empower Qatari youth. The Pen

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