du announces details of upcoming 2020 Graduate Trainee Program for UAE nationals

du, from Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company (EITC), has announced that it will be resuming its Graduate Trainee Program, which seeks to develop future leaders and accelerate the personal and professional development of young national talent. Starting this November, the Graduate Trainee Program will run over 12 months and align with du’s Emiratization plan to provide aspiring professionals with a platform to pursue a telecommunications industry career. 

Fahad Al Hassawi, Acting CEO, EITC said: “du has recognized the ability of youth across the country since its inception. As such, there has always been a strong eagerness to attract national talent to assist in leading the company’s strategic directions and achieving long-term goals and aspirations. The world today continues to witness widespread transformation, especially in terms of the labor market and the necessary skills that have emerged to drive digital transformation. We believe that national organizations have a responsibility to empower youth and provide platforms that will equip them with the tools and knowledge required to succeed in their desired careers. The Graduate Trainee Program reaffirms our commitment to not only enhancing the expertise and skillsets of Emirati youth, but also supporting the vision of our wise leadership in laying solid foundations for a sustainable knowledge-based economy led by Emiratis.”

Through a blended approach to learning, participants will become equipped with the skills and knowledge required to succeed in a telecommunications environment. The Program has been designed to nurture talent through several development phases, which will ensure individuals are suitable for digital and technical roles. du intends to hire 15 Graduate Trainees to occupy various positions within the company, with each selectee having a unique learning plan pertaining to their respective positions. 

Ehab Hassan, Chief Human Resources Officer, du, said: “As a leading national organization, it is our responsibility to utilize our extensive resources and experienced personnel, so we contribute to societal development and continued prosperity. Here at du, part of our mission is being the employer of choice for the best talent and creating optimal value for our shareholders through business excellence and innovation.”

12-month program
Successful candidates in the graduate program will be introduced to their departments and specific roles, and will be assigned a mentor to assist them in their progress, receiving regular assessments and feedback.

Graduate Trainees will develop individual skills, featuring technical and skill-based training, rotation across key business functions, practical training and reviews, and professional technical certifications. Interaction with management through department meetings and projects will be a regular activity, as will networking with people and mastering presentation skills.  

Industry exposure
Knowledge sharing and networking is an essential element of the Program. In addition to attending conferences, workshops, and seminars, Graduate Trainees will gain exposure to additional responsibilities 

and projects in months seven to nine, adopting best practices and exploring local and global opportunities through secondment programs with partners such as Nokia, Huawei and KPMG.

Holistic career development
The final phase revolves around Graduate Trainees taking control, performing roles and responsibilities independently while further developing self-awareness and holistic capabilities. Participants will also understand essential managerial and leadership skills through online and on-job training concerning stretched assignments, new projects, and being involved in decision-making processes. 

The digital and technical roles du is looking to fill as part of the 2020 Graduate Trainee Program include Virgin Mobile Customer Value Management Specialist, Regulatory and Economic Specialist, Fraud Specialist, Legal Specialist, Enterprise Architecture Specialist, OSS specialist, BSS Specialist, Revenue Assurance Specialist, UX Design Specialist, Digital Insight – Commercial, API & Integration Specialist, User Acceptance Specialist, Cloud Architect Specialist, Data Science Specialist, AI Solution Designer.