RIYADH — "Creativity and achievement isn’t limited to a specific job; anybody can be creative and accomplish their goals in any role and position," said Manal Ghazwan, who holds a Master’s degree in Food Safety Management, while talking about her experience as a store manager in the service sector.

She added: "I am proud to be part of this sector and see the positive impact it has created in my life. I have learnt to accept, appreciate, and respect all professions. I have also learnt how to manage crisis and handle challenging and unexpected situations with wisdom and courage.”

Mohammed Al-Arini is a young Saudi who found his job through an advert in the newspaper. Talking about his experience working for an international coffee shop chain, he said: “Working in this company provides lots of opportunity for growth and development, since it has branches across the world. The company provides training programs that are focused on helping the staff become future managers."

Rahaf, a twenty-year-old young Saudi girl who recently joined one of the world's most-renowned coffee shops in the Kingdom also shares her story: "My journey with this coffee store started when I was looking for a job during summer vacation. When I first saw the job posting, I applied without any hesitation, but soon I had some concerns about balancing work with studies. I wasn’t sure if I would be able to manage time between work and university without compromising on my studies. I did face some challenges early on but I was able to overcome each of them - thanks to an extremely friendly and supportive work environment. My managers, who were very understanding, organized intensive training sessions to help me get up to speed."

Many service sector companies in Saudi Arabia have started to recognize the importance of youth employment and are taking steps achieve higher Saudization rates. By supporting youth employment and opening more opportunities for women, they see themselves as part of the growth and development of the nation.

Companies are also taking efforts to help employees develop interpersonal and life skills, lifting them to become productive and active members of their community. Such efforts have led to an increase in demand for jobs in restaurants and cafés among Saudi youth, and even to a growing number of job applications from Saudi women.

"This experience has really shaped my personality and left a positive impact on my personal life,” said Abdullah Al-Husseini, talking about his experience as a Barista at Starbucks.

Rana Shaheen, regional director of corporate communications and social responsibility at Starbucks Middle East and North Africa, said: “What really sets Starbucks apart from its counterparts is that all its male and female Baristas are provided with a comprehensive training program that is designed to hone their interpersonal skills such as communication and customer service, which are essential for the service sector. We also ensure they gain in-depth knowledge of coffee and its preparation methods. In addition, the company provides business skills training and practical training that helps develop a shared responsibility between the manager and partner. The Starbucks leadership framework defines unique behaviors and focuses on building these capabilities for a successful future."

Starbucks is one of the leading companies in the service sector that is working to empower young Saudis, both male and female, by enabling them with the basic skills they need to succeed in their careers. It has been very successful in this initiative so far and is aiming to recruit 35% Saudis across its work force over the next three years. The company is also focusing on constantly supporting its partners and nurturing their capabilities through continuous training and counseling. — SG