According to the Public Relations and International Affairs of the Kish Free Zone Organization, Ahad Darvish, Human Resources Director of the Kish Free Zone Organization, answered applicants' questions about the organization’s recruitment exam in a Q&A session via the 124 system.
The most important of these questions and answers are as follows:
Question 1
Does being married and having children increase the allowable age limit for participating in the recruitment exam?
Answer:
Yes. According to the Law on Support for Families and the Promotion of Births, one year is added to the candidate's age limit for marriage and one year for each child, with a total increase of up to five years possible. Also, holders of a master’s degree receive one year and holders of a doctorate receive two years of age limit increase. Candidates can register according to their conditions. Also, for better preparation, studying sample questions from past recruitment exams is recommended.
Question 2
Why has the acceptance capacity for each job row not been announced and when will the exam results be published? Also, is there a housing program for non-local accepted candidates?
Answer :
The capacity of each job row is determined internally, but it has not been announced publicly in order to preserve fairness and prevent candidates from concentrating on certain jobs. After the written exam, preliminary results will be published about two weeks later and candidates up to three times the capacity will be invited for interviews. Regarding accommodation, the exam booklet states that the organization has no obligation in this regard, but efforts will be made in the future to provide assistance for non-local accepted candidates through facilities or support programs.
Question 3
Why have specific sources for the exam not been introduced?
Answer :
In recruitment exams, usually no specific book or source is introduced because universities and academic centers suggest different sources and introducing a particular source could be contentious. It is recommended that candidates study reputable academic sources related to their field and also use sample questions from past recruitment exams to obtain the necessary preparation.
Question 4
Which topics should a Human Resources Management candidate focus on when studying exam sources?
Answer :
Studying the foundations and concepts of human resources management, HR processes, Labor Law, Social Security Law, Civil Service Management Law, salary and wage issues, reputable academic and specialized resources in this field, and sources related to the exam materials announced in the booklet is recommended. Also, using sample questions from past recruitment exams can be effective in candidates' preparation. The number of candidates in each field is not announced due to confidentiality.
Question 5
Is it possible to choose job priorities from different categories? Also, does having a father retired from the organization give the candidate any advantage?
Answer :
Choosing priorities is only possible within the framework of the same job category and simultaneous selection from different categories is not possible. Candidates should choose their priorities based on their level of expertise and ability. Also, having a father or other relatives retired from the organization does not create any advantage or priority in the recruitment process. The only advantage foreseen in the booklet relates to proving local residency.
Question 6
If a job lists a bachelor’s degree, can holders of a master’s degree also register?
Answer:
If the candidate's bachelor’s degree matches the job’s qualification requirements, holding a master’s degree is not an obstacle to registration; however, the master’s degree does not carry a separate score in the written exam stage and may be considered at the interview stage.
Question 7
After hiring, is it possible to convert the contract to a permanent one? Also, what is the housing status for non-local staff?
Answer :
Employment contracts are concluded for a fixed term and will be renewed if performance is satisfactory. Conversion to a permanent contract is possible only within the framework of laws and regulations related to veterans. Regarding accommodation, the organization has no obligation, but if conditions and resources permit, efforts will be made to provide supports for non-local staff.
Question 8
Which sources are suggested for studying general and specialized exam materials and what is the exam date?
Answer :
For the specialized section, studying university sources related to the exam materials announced in the booklet is recommended and for the general section, using sample questions from past recruitment exams is advised. Also, studying the Law on the Management of Free Trade-Industrial Zones is necessary. The exam is scheduled to be held on the fifth or sixth of Shahrivar according to the current plan.
Question 9
Why have some academic fields such as Educational Sciences not been included in the exam booklet?
Answer :
Academic fields were determined based on the organization’s real needs and required jobs. At this stage, some areas, including Educational Sciences, were not needed, but if a need arises in future exams, these fields may be added.
Question 10
Does the organization have an obligation to house non-local accepted candidates?
Answer :
The Kish Free Zone Organization has no obligation to provide housing or accommodation for accepted candidates, but this does not mean neglect of employee welfare. If facilities and resources are available, efforts will be made to reduce some of the accommodation problems of non-local employees through providing facilities and other supports.
Question 11
Will recruitment exams be held for lower educational levels than a bachelor’s degree such as driving, transportation, services or security?
Answer:
Currently, the recruitment exam of the Kish Free Zone Organization is designed for the specialized jobs needed by the organization which mostly require a bachelor’s degree or higher. In 1403 separate exams were held for areas such as firefighting and good personnel were recruited, which included a practical test.
For service, labor and some areas that do not have defined organizational posts in the detailed structure, recruitment is usually carried out through service provider companies under relevant contracts and recruitment exams are not held.
However, given the organization’s future needs, if new capacity and needs are created, it will be possible to hold exams for jobs like firefighting.
Question 12
Which source is recommended to study the Law on the Management of Free Zones? Is there a specific sample question?
Answer:
The Law on the Management of Free Zones is an enacted law of the Islamic Consultative Assembly and there is no specific sample question for it. Applicants can obtain and study the text of this law from official sources such as the Research Center of the Islamic Consultative Assembly website and other reputable sources. It is important that candidates are familiar with the philosophy of the establishment of free zones, their position, powers and duties, because questions from this area may be asked in the general section of the exam.
Question 13
Given the large number of applicants, how can candidates increase their chances of success?
Answer:
The number of registrants in various jobs is considerable, therefore candidates should obtain the required preparation to achieve a desirable score in the exam by studying general and specialized sources carefully. Success in the exam depends on the candidate's scientific readiness and ability.
Question 14
Can people with special family conditions or welfare recipients participate in the exam without a bachelor’s degree?
Answer:
Participation conditions are based on the announced regulations and the minimum educational degree required for the announced jobs must be observed. Even with special family conditions, this requirement cannot be changed. However, students who can present their degree by the specified time according to the announced conditions can participate in the exam in accordance with the rules. This exam is not the last opportunity for recruitment and in future exams, depending on the organization’s needs, new fields and jobs may be announced.
Question 15
The number of accepted people for each job title has not been announced. Why?
Answer:
The exact number of admissions for each job has not been announced due to organizational policies and confidentiality. Given the organizational structure, many jobs have limited capacity and usually the number of recruits for each job title is not large.
Each job title announced in the exam booklet has an acceptance capacity and candidates should increase their ability and scientific readiness to achieve the best result in the exam.
Question 16
Given the breadth of sources for urban planning, civil, traffic and surveying fields, how were the exam sources determined?
Answer:
Fields related to urban planning, civil, traffic and surveying are placed in one job category due to their subject relation so that candidates with close specializations can have more choices. Although the specialized question booklet is common for the entire job category, the evaluation process is carried out according to the job priorities selected by the candidate, meaning that the assessment of each candidate's specialized knowledge is based on the requirements of the job titles related to their selected priorities. Therefore, candidates should have a relative mastery over all the exam materials announced in the desired job category.
Question 17
What sources are suggested for the Human Resources Management field?
Answer:
For the specialized section of Human Resources Management, candidates can use up-to-date university sources, specialized books in this field and sample questions from past recruitment exams. In the general section, topics such as English language, Persian literature, intelligence and aptitude and other items announced in the exam booklet are considered.
Question 18
What is the difference between the majors Economics and Economic Sciences when choosing a field?
Answer:
In jobs where Economics or Economic Sciences is announced as a related major, candidates can choose either title unless a specific orientation is explicitly stated in the booklet. If a discrepancy is observed in the registration system, there may be a system error and the issue should be investigated.
Question 19
How are conditions for using the local residency advantage for applicants verified?
Answer:
Verification of residence history and local conditions is done after presenting the required documents by the organization. Documents such as a property deed or an official lease in the name of the candidate, father, mother or spouse can be examined according to regulations. If local conditions are confirmed, the related advantage will be granted to the candidate; otherwise the person will not be removed from the exam process and will simply not receive the local residency advantage.
Question 20
Is there a possibility of status change for cooperative forces and employees who have prior collaboration with the organization?
Answer:
For cooperative forces, the issue of changing employment status is pursued within the framework of relevant rules and regulations. If the necessary permits are obtained, holding a status change exam for eligible personnel will be considered. This exam is different from the new recruitment exam and has its own specific conditions, including that individuals must meet educational and other criteria according to regulations. Regarding veterans, the organization follows announced laws and regulations and any action will be taken based on legal provisions.
Question 21
Given the announced age conditions, can women participate in the exam? Also, my major is Electrical Engineering, control orientation; can I register for electrical-related jobs?
Answer:
Age is calculated according to the rules announced in the exam booklet. For women holding bachelor's, master's and doctorate degrees, specific age limits are set and marriage and child advantages are applied according to the Population Youth Law up to a ceiling of five years. Regarding the major, for jobs announced as “Electrical Engineering,” all orientations of this field are acceptable and the control orientation can also participate in these jobs.
Question 22
I have a document for using the veteran quota but it has not yet completed the required duration. Can I choose this quota?
Answer:
The criterion for using quotas is the presentation of valid documents from competent authorities such as the General Staff of the Armed Forces or the Martyrs Foundation. Documents that do not fully meet the required conditions are not acceptable and must be acted upon according to the announced regulations. Regarding specialized exam sources, it is not possible to introduce a specific book or booklet because there are various universities and educational sources. Candidates can use related university sources, periodic recruitment exams and valid sample questions.
Question 23
Due to family conditions and having a child, I am only a few years older than the announced age limit. Is there a possibility of special consideration for mothers?
Answer:
The announced conditions apply to all candidates based on legal regulations and exceptions cannot be made. However, the Population Youth Law provides advantages for marriage and children (one year for marriage and one year for each child) that allow an increase of up to five years, but outside this framework the exam conditions cannot be changed.
Question 24
The exam sources announced are only general titles. Is there a specific booklet or source to study? Also, with a computer degree, can I apply for jobs related to International Relations?
Answer:
The organization cannot introduce a specific book or booklet because academic sources vary and this could create ambiguity. Candidates should study the main concepts of the field and skills related to the desired job and use sources from past recruitment exams. Regarding job selection, each candidate must act based on their academic major and the conditions announced in the booklet and it is not possible to choose jobs outside the related field.
Question 25
Is the Customs Management major acceptable for applying to the Customs Affairs expert position?
Answer:
Yes, the majors announced in the booklet are the criteria and if your major is listed in the job qualification conditions, you can register. In the customs section, the aim is to recruit personnel for areas related to free zones and exam questions will focus on specialized topics related to the job, not necessarily asking all university topics like microeconomics and macroeconomics.
Question 26
Given that several majors are placed in one job category, how are specialized questions designed?
Answer:
Since several related majors are placed in some job categories, a common specialized booklet is designed for each job category. The questions of this booklet are prepared based on the exam materials announced for that job category and are relevant and usable for all jobs in that category. Therefore, mastery over all announced sources and exam materials for each job category is mandatory because these sources are an integral part of that job group and candidates should have relative mastery over them.
Question 27
Has the organization planned accommodation for accepted candidates? Also, how are staff salaries determined? Have people been preselected?
Answer:
The organization has no specific obligation regarding accommodation, but within available facilities and capacities it will try to provide suitable conditions for employees. Employee salaries are determined based on the organization's pay system, experience, educational degree and job conditions. Regarding the recruitment process, the organization's goal is to select capable and quality personnel and exams, interviews and necessary oversight will be conducted to prevent any violations.
Question 28
Given the experience of cooperative forces in the organization, is there a plan for status change or holding an internal exam?
Answer:
Cooperative forces have valuable experience and the organization pursues the issue of their status change. Based on envisaged legal capacities, if the necessary permits are obtained, it will be possible to hold a status change exam for some eligible personnel. This matter is separate from the new recruitment exam and the organization tries to follow up the status of experienced personnel alongside supplying needed specialized forces.
Question 29
Can children of veterans use veteran benefits and also marriage and child benefits simultaneously?
Answer:
According to the exam booklet, using veteran benefits and benefits related to marriage and children is possible if the necessary conditions are met and these two matters do not prevent simultaneous use. Each has its own regulations and legal ceilings.
Question 30
Has the exam date changed? Also, some majors were corrected or added after registration; what should candidates do?
Answer:
According to the announced schedule, the exam will be held on the planned date. Possible changes in booklets, such as corrections or additions of majors or conditions for some jobs, are common in recruitment processes and are made based on the organization's needs and reviews. These changes should not deprive candidates who registered based on initial conditions of their rights and sufficient time has been considered for registration.
Question 31
Have specific sources been introduced to prepare for the recruitment exam? Also, if a person registered in several job priorities, how will the final selection be made?
Answer:
No specific sources or particular books or booklets have been announced for the exam because introducing specific sources might create disputes and ambiguities. Candidates can gain necessary preparation by consulting subject matter specialists, related universities, reputable educational resources, internet searches and sample questions from periodic recruitment exams of the National Testing Organization. In the general section, topics such as Persian literature, English language, intelligence and aptitude and computer basics are included and there are multiple resources to study them. Regarding job priorities, candidates are evaluated based on their exam score and the points they earn. If they achieve the required threshold and their score is competitive compared to other candidates, they will be introduced for an interview. The final result is determined based on the sum of evaluations and the announced capacities.
Question 32
I am a contractual employee of the Fisheries Administration and currently assigned to serve outside Kish. Given the circumstances, can I participate in the Kish Free Zone Organization recruitment exam?
Answer:
If the person does not have a service commitment to their current employing body and meets the general and specific exam conditions including age, field of study and other regulations, participation in the exam is possible. However, if accepted, due to being contractual in another body, it will be necessary to obtain that body’s consent for release and continuation of cooperation with the Kish Free Zone Organization.
Question 33:
For some jobs it was initially announced that only men could apply. Can women also work in these jobs? Also, how are the number of admissions and salary amounts determined?
Answer:
The exam booklet specifies for each job whether admission is only for men, only for women, or for both. In some cases, after reviewing the organization's needs and coordinating with the relevant unit, gender restrictions were amended and both groups were allowed. Ultimately, selection is based on the written exam score, interview performance and candidates' abilities. The number of admissions per job is not announced according to the organization's policy, but capacities are limited and usually many staff are not recruited for each job. Employee salaries are determined based on the organization's pay system, educational degree, work experience, specialization and job conditions and will be commensurate with individuals' abilities.
Question 34
Will accepted candidates have permanent contracts after hiring? Also, is status conversion possible?
Answer:
New hires' contracts are usually one-year fixed-term and can be renewed if the individual's performance is satisfactory and there are no administrative problems. Many employees at the Kish Free Zone Organization have worked for years under fixed-term contracts. Permanent or indefinite contracts are usually possible in special circumstances such as veterans or transfers from other bodies. Currently there is no need announced to recruit for the organization’s Tehran office and this exam is held for the specific needs of the organization on Kish Island.