In the words of Haneen Hider: “I hope that all young women and girls have access to programmes like FEMpower.”

Haneen Hider, a driven petroleum and petrochemical engineering student, was determined to excel as a female engineer. However, she needed support to streamline a clear path from the world of academia to industry. To equip herself with the necessary tools for professional success, Haneen decided to enroll in UN Women’s FEMpower training.

“As a rising female engineer in the male-dominated petroleum and petrochemical industry, I often felt the need to reaffirm my capabilities, skills and place in the field. Approaching graduation, I recognized a critical gap between my academic knowledge and the demands of the professional world. While my technical expertise was growing, I lacked the essential soft skills to launch a successful career. As I came across UN Women’s FEMpower training, I saw that it would provide the missing piece to solidify my foundation.

Personality assessments conducted during the training reinforced my talent for a career in engineering, bolstering my confidence and helping me feel validated as a female engineer. Equipped with a deeper understanding of my strengths, I learned to effectively showcase my capabilities, empowering me to compete on equal footing with male counterparts and excel within the industry.

While I had only applied to internship opportunities beforehand, I recognized the significantly higher professional standards required for job hunting. With the support of FEMpower training, I was able to refresh my CV, making it more concise and organized. Armed with a strong resume, I began confidently applying for a wide range of opportunities, from internships and graduate programmes to full-time positions. To my astonishment, every application resulted in an interview invitation.

To successfully translate my resume into real-world performance, I also needed to sharpen my interviewing skills. FEMpower training helped me approach interviews with confidence and assurance in my expertise and qualifications. I learned to navigate interviews with fluency, strategically highlighting my strengths and technical knowledge. By crafting a compelling personal brand, I transformed interviews from mere Q&A sessions into opportunities to shine.

FEMpower training also provided crucial insights into Egyptian labour laws, empowering me with knowledge of employee rights. This newfound awareness enabled me to approach interviews with a proactive mindset, confidently inquiring about working hours, vacation entitlements, salary breakdown and other essential terms of employment to safeguard my professional interests.

Empowered with my new skills, opportunities began to unfold. A significant milestone emerged as I was selected as a presenter at EGYPES, [the largest and most important energy conference and exhibition across Egypt, North Africa and the Mediterranean]. During the conference, I delivered presentations on decarbonization and renewable energy to youth in the industry. This platform amplified my confidence and solidified my position as a valuable contributor to the field.

Engaging with industry leaders at EGYPES allowed me to build a robust professional network as an engineer. Through these connections, I was linked with a company looking to hire a petroleum engineer and I managed to successfully secure an interview. I am currently continuing through the selection process.

Beyond this promising opportunity, I’ve actively pursued other vacancies, resulting in multiple job offers. I’m currently evaluating four offers from different companies, assessing which will align best with my long-term career goals.

I hope that all young women and girls have access to programmes like FEMpower. Such initiatives provide invaluable support that is instrumental in paving our way towards success. The strong community I gained during this training of young female professionals continues to be a source of strength for me, as we navigate our careers together, offering unwavering support and guidance.

I am excited to embark on my career and I am confident that my acquired skills will push me towards the right path that will lead to significant professional growth and success.”

The FEMpower training is organized and delivered by iSpark Egypt & iCareer and it. 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 Korean International Cooperation Agency.