In the words of Farah Ragab: “I was ecstatic to finally mark the beginning of my long-awaited career.”

After years of hard work and late-night studies, Farah Ragab graduated from dentistry and was excited to start her prestigious career. However, to her disappointment, at the age of 28 she found that the road to employment was bumpy and tougher than expected. After countless unsuccessful job applications, she joined UN Women’s FEMpower training to help set her career on track.

“After graduating from the School of Dentistry at Alexandria University, I imagined my career to follow smoothly. As expected, I would complete my mandatory government medical training at a local hospital while simultaneously working in a private dental clinic. However, plans did not go as anticipated. Years of failed job applications to private dental clinics caused me to fear more rejection and stop applying altogether.

Self-doubt began to creep in, causing me to second-guess my ability to pursue a career as a dentist. Fortunately, I came across FEMpower training, which would later help me shift my mindset and set a clear, well-studied path for my career.

The FEMpower training instilled in me the understanding that rejection is a normal – and even an expected – part of the job search process. It became clear that honing my soft skills was essential to complement my technical expertise. With the guidance of training advisors, I worked on redrafting my CV to include all past experiences in a professional and organized manner, something I’d previously struggled with. The training also equipped me with invaluable interviewing skills, teaching me how to project confidence, conduct thorough research, and effectively showcase my qualifications.

Building a network within the dental community was another pivotal step that would lead to a breakthrough in my career. FEMpower training gave me the know-how to utilize LinkedIn effectively. By crafting a professional profile, building connections with industry peers, and staying updated on dental advancements, I laid a strong foundation for my professional growth.

Armed with these newfound skills, I actively searched for dental positions on LinkedIn. A vacancy at a local clinic caught my attention, and I confidently submitted my newly revamped CV. To my delight, I was invited for an interview, which I sailed through with great confidence. I was ecstatic to finally mark the beginning of my long-awaited career in private dental practice.

My LinkedIn research also introduced me to a new and advanced field called regenerative dentistry, which intrigued me as it is quite different than the clinical work I was familiar with. With excitement, I ventured to apply to a master’s programme in this field and have just completed my first semester. I am beyond proud to have achieved this milestone and stepped out of my comfort zone to study a completely new field, especially one that is uncommon in Egypt. My master’s studies have given me the opportunity to collaborate with both local and international students and professors and gain exposure, as most of our work is conducted with universities abroad.

The FEMpower training also equipped me with a wide range of professional skills that came in handy during my master’s studies. As we heavily depend on email communication to work with our colleagues abroad, FEMpower training on email writing was extremely invaluable. I learned how to draft a well-structured email and use professional language to convey my message. Presentation skills were another weak point we worked on during the training that helped me greatly in my new academic setting. I learned the main pillars of delivering an effective presentation, including structuring content, designing impactful slides, body language as well as audience engagement, significantly enhancing my performance.

I am determined to excel in my master's programme and gain in-depth knowledge of this emerging field. My goal is to leverage this advanced degree to pursue a PhD abroad and ultimately establish a successful international career. I am confident that this academic journey will be a catalyst for significant professional advancement.

Through my experience, I have learned a crucial lesson: success hinges on setting clear goals, developing a practical plan and executing it proactively. By consistently taking small steps forward, I've cultivated a strong sense of confidence and resilience. This mindset empowers me to overcome challenges and ignore any self-doubt.”

The FEMpower training is organized and delivered by iSpark Egypt & iCareer and falls under UN Women Egypt’s programme on “Women’s Economic Empowerment”, implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation, the Ministry of Labour and the National Council for Women, with the generous support of the Korea International Cooperation Agency.