Fhaid

Sales Rep

Upon his graduation in 2013, Fhaid Dallul relentlessly looked for job opportunities in Gaza that were related to his university degree in Business Administration. He not only because he wanted to work and prove himself; he had other concerns, too. “My family faced a difficult time after my father's health no longer allowed him to continue working and had to retire. I badly wanted to help my eldest brother provide for our family and share the responsibility with him especially with five siblings still in school,” remembers Fhaid. With a hopeful outlook, Fhaid started searching for employment opportunities. "I worked as an intern at two organizations, and later worked at a bakery for a period of time, but I continued looking for a better opportunity" says Fhaid. In December 2016, Fhaid heard of a training and employment opportunity provided by Palestine Education For Employment (PEFE) and Mazaj, a stylish restaurant in Gaza City. "I felt that this program was valuable because it not only provided a training in Sales and Marketing, but also a sustainable job opportunity as a Sales Representative, so I applied without hesitation." He expresses. The training included three components: Workplace Success soft skills training, English for Business, and technical Sales and Marketing training. “In the first component, Workplace Success, I learned some core skills needed for finding employment." The training discussed CV writing, cover letter, professional communication in the workplace and job interviews. “In one of the training's many activities, I got the chance to act as an interviewee in a simulation of a job interview, with a panel made up of the trainer and some of the trainees. This experience really helped me learn how I can express myself better and showcase my skills to potential employers." Moreover, Fhaid also benefitted from the English for Business component; "I learned many new professional terms, and learned to write professional e-mails in English" he says. In the Sales and Marketing component, Fhaid learned to convince customers to purchase the product. He explains, “My favorite part of the training was the Sales and Marketing component. I had the chance to stand in the shoes of a salesperson and pitch the product to customers in a simulation activity. After the activity the trainer gave me feedback about my performance and tips on how to improve it." Shortly after the training, Fhaid was hired as a Sales Representative at Mazaj, where he still works today. He says, "I'm truly grateful to PEFE to have given me the chance to work in the field which I was always passionate about, and to be well prepared for the day-to-day job challenges. Most importantly, I am able to be a big support to my family now.