I’ve just got back home. I was participating in an event held at the Meridian Hotel, Amman, under the title “Injaz for the creation of economic opportunities for the Jordanian youth.” I didn’t have a vivid idea about the event because the invitation letter I received did not clarify how the event will be organized or what the program of the event will be. This morning I made a phone call to the Meridian and I was told that the event starts at 9:00AM and ends at 6:00PM. Fine. I left home at noon and headed to Shmesani, taking with me only myself and a pen - you know, a pen can be needed at times. I pointed to a taxi and I told the driver about my destination, who seemed to have an idea about the event more than I did. “Are you going there to submit your C.V.?” “No,” I said. “I am attending a conference, which aims at creating opportunities for the Jordanian youth. I think there will be educating sessions about how one can start a project or how to develop one’s interpersonal skills, especially if in interviews, and they will probably enlighten us about writing CVs, that is what was mentioned in the invitation letter I received,” I said. The driver then asked, “So the invitation isn’t for the public?” I confidently gave a “No” reply. “No, I have subscribed more than a month ago.”

We reached the hotel and I got out of the taxi. I saw tens of people outside the hotel about to get in, just like me. Alright. There was a long queue. I stood at the back, and we, one by one, entered the hotel. We had to pass through that security peeping machine and then the men were inspected by the security man waiting at the door before they could get in. Reminds me of a plane! I almost asked, “Where is this flight heading to?” Anyway, I passed through the peeping machine, then I got in, and I was received by a security woman who led me to a hall where women should be inspected. Luckily, it crossed my mind when I was at home that there is a possibility for me to get inspected, especially after the latest hotel explosions in Amman, so I was cautious enough to remove all the crappy stuff from my purse and to even wear a more elegant one, after all, I will be inspected in a hotel! Another security woman ran her hands over my body to inspect me. I let her do it with a smile, and I opened my “clean” purse for her to look at its inside. An old woman was also getting inspected. She was all smiles as she said, “Inspect as much as you like. God protect this country for us.” It was very noticeable that no one was annoyed at all by this “inspection session”.

As I approached the hall where the event was taking place, much to my surprise, there were no chairs, no lecturers. There were no sessions. The hall was divided into compartments; each has a sign with the name of a certain company or institute. Lema, Nissan, the Arab Bank, Zalatimo Sweets, the British Council, and so on. Inside each compartment there were two or three representatives from that institution or firm.

The place was bustling with Jordanian youth who apparently came only for a job hunt, resembling a busy day in a bee cell in a search for honey. Piles of CVs were submitted, and the youthful guys and girls were submitting more, without even asking if the job suits their academic qualifications or not. All of those people need a job? It’s as if all Jordan is unemployed! I did not bring a single copy of my C.V. with me. I did not know I should! Well, I truly thank God I didn’t know, because there’s another option to take. I collected all the contact cards from the representatives, not forgetting to ask if my academic qualifications stand any employment chances with them – I hold BA in the English language. Internet is a great technological invention. I did not have to fill application forms like many of the attendants did, nor did I have to carry a huge number of copies of my C.V. to submit it here and there. I can simply attach my C.V. to an email and send it to a big number of recipients. How much I love technology!

Two hours passed and I have already managed to collect tens of cards, brochures, and booklets, as well as a cap and an English magazine. Yes, you heard me right, a cap and a magazine! Who said that job fairs aren’t good?
The event was totally different from what I expected, but it wasn’t at all bad.

I left this “Mass Job Application Fair”, and hit the street back home. I will go through the event’s booklet and the cards and try my luck. Who knows? This Jordan application day may turn out to be good!