On December 31, 2023, an unexpected opportunity presented itself while browsing through Facebook. The Mogadishu Somali Turkiye Training and Research Hospital had made an announcement, calling for 40 nurses to participate in an examination.
The announcement specified that the deadline for applications would be in 13 days and strongly advised taking the test. Considering my degree, I asked myself why I wouldn’t choose to take the exam to assess my skills and knowledge.
As a nurse, I never actively sought job openings due to the mismatch between my qualifications and the remunerations. Moreover, the meager payments I would receive from both public and private hospitals in Somalia have compelled me to explore alternative career paths. I have attempted to pursue another degree to make ends meet, but today, I was reminded of my initial degree. Since then, I have diligently followed all the requirements to become eligible for the examination. Now, two weeks later, the time for the test has finally arrived.
The Mogadishu Somali Turkish Training and Research Hospital has released the details of the assigned applicant serial numbers, and the respective examination halls before the test day. Fortunately, I have been assigned to the 11th hall on the second floor, and I have considered that.
On January 18, 2024, before the exam day, I carefully completed all the necessary nurse procedures. With 700 potential employees, only 40 of us were required to pass. On the actual exam day, I arrived early and proceeded with the screening process. Subsequently, I made my way to my designated seat, which happened to be seat number 6.
The exam room was remarkably spacious, and what immediately caught my attention was the presence of a pen, water, and eraser neatly arranged on my seat. The room itself was well-prepared, adequately ventilated, and brightly lit. The supervisors overseeing the exam were fluent in both Somali and Turkish languages, and their soft-spoken demeanor, expertise, and proficiency in Turkish ensured a smooth and confusion-free experience for all the candidates.
The General Director, accompanied by a translator, was the first to address the room, followed by the Somali gentleman who served as the hospital’s deputy. After extending warm greetings to everyone, the hospital directorate and their deputies made their appearance, expressing their hopes for each individual to successfully navigate this phase and join their ranks as colleagues.
Recep Tayyib Erdogan Hospital Directorate on exam day
Thirty minutes later, the exam distribution commenced, and for the next 90 minutes, everyone in the room exerted their utmost effort to maintain focus. During this time, it was crucial to carefully read and comprehend each question, selecting the most appropriate response as the entire test consisted of multiple-choice questions. It became a race between one’s cognitive abilities and handwriting skills.
Despite the challenging format of the exam, which included a clinical component and unique Turkish sign features, I managed to submit all of my answers within the given 90 minutes, only having to write in the final moments. As a candidate, I am still determining the accuracy of my responses to the questions, but I gave it my best effort to showcase my skill set. I never imagined being among the winners of this competition due to my absence from the field for a significant time.
The results were announced a week later, on Friday, January 26, 2024. Since they only wanted to select the top 40 candidates, I was ranked 52nd on the list. It is natural for anyone who did not find their name among the selected candidates to feel disappointed and dissatisfied. However, considering that I made it to the top 52 candidates and had the opportunity to test my skills, knowledge, and clinical background, I have accepted the final result.
Another reason why I appreciate this exam is that it has instilled confidence in me regarding the fairness and impartiality of the selection process. Many of my friends from the hospital have also shared similar sentiments.
I have realized that if all public, commercial, and institutional establishments conducted their tasks fairly and transparently, both the individuals and the society as a whole would benefit. The pen and paper would become more competent, and the reputation of the Somali people would improve.
I would like to express my gratitude to the Turkish government and hospital management for providing opportunities to numerous professional Somali youth and opening doors that would have otherwise been closed by various organizations in Somalia, including both international and local entities. Corruption exists in varying degrees, but the fair, equal, and proportional distribution of opportunities is what every young individual aspires to.
By: Abdikarim Adam Osman (Afyare)
