When a job candidate broke down in tears after a rejection, HR manager Uzma Chowdary knew she had to do more than offer comfort. That encounter became the catalyst for Mission Employment, a community initiative connecting thousands of job seekers with employers across the UAE.
“The candidate was devastated. He said he didn’t know what to tell his family,” recalled Chowdary, who works at Aliyas Group. “After he left, I couldn’t stop thinking about it. That was the moment I decided I wanted to do something that could actually help people like him find jobs, not just apply for them.”
Chowdary shared her idea with friend and fellow HR professional Rehna Shajahan of Azizi Developments. Shajahan, who remembered her own early career struggles in a new city, immediately agreed to help.
“When Uzma told me what happened, I knew exactly how that person felt,” said Shajahan. “The story reminded me of my own early struggles. That’s why I said yes immediately.”
A Network Built on Trust
The two women launched a simple WhatsApp group with the goal of creating a free and transparent network for HR professionals, recruiters, and job seekers. The response was immediate and overwhelming.
“In the first 24 hours, over 1,000 people joined,” said Shajahan. “By the end of the first week, we had 5,000 members. Within months, we crossed 100,000.”
Now spanning multiple platforms, including LinkedIn, Mission Employment operates as a self-sustaining ecosystem. Shajahan estimates that about 80 per cent of members are job seekers, while the remaining 20 per cent are HR professionals and recruiters who volunteer their time to guide candidates and share openings.
To maintain integrity, every job posted is verified by Chowdary, Shajahan, or other trusted HR members in the group. “People have been scammed so many times by fake recruiters,” Chowdary explained. “We wanted to create a safe space, a place where people can be sure that the jobs are real and the people behind them genuinely care.”
Real-World Impact
The initiative has already helped many people secure employment, referrals, and vital moral support. The founders often receive emotional messages from those whose lives have been changed by the community.
“One woman was about to leave the UAE after losing her job,” said Chowdary. “She found a new one through the group, just in time to stay. She told us we didn’t just give her a job, we gave her dignity and a chance to rebuild her life.”
Chowdary and Shajahan dedicate their evenings to managing the community, reviewing CVs, and connecting candidates with opportunities, all while holding down their full-time corporate roles. The highest number of placements have been in real estate, hospitality, retail, customer service, healthcare, and logistics, with growing demand in marketing, IT, and finance.
Their work offers insights into the UAE’s employment market. “The market moves fast and is heavily network-driven,” said Shajahan. “Many jobs are filled through referrals before they are even advertised. Visibility is everything, and that’s exactly what Mission Employment gives people.”
For both founders, the project is a form of social service rooted in their professional ethos. “HR isn’t just about hiring people. It’s about understanding human potential, giving people a chance to prove themselves,” said Chowdary. “We don’t earn a single dirham from this. Every ‘thank you’ message we get is worth more than money.”
