Hi Members,
I just realized, I should let everyone know what is going on in terms of opportunities in Dubai.
Post recession (I'd like to call it 'post' since we are back on track fortunately), life is tougher for a 'job seeker'. Imagine being chased down by a recruiter in trying to persuade you in taking up a job, well, thats not here anymore.. Recruiters are more or less either fishing in the market, increasing database size or sleeping at home.
Some have started billing candidates with stupid engagement fees, and some say your CV is not professional, and hence bill them that way. This btw, is against the Labor Laws of UAE. No Candidate can be charged against an engagement fee or a promise that you will be put in front of a 'potential' employer.
If a Candidate goes to an Executive Search Firm, well, your basically wasting your time, because not a lot of Employers are hiring via such firms, because it is a cost, and ever since September 2008, Employers have understood one very useful thing, STOP CRAZY HIRING.. All the big recruitment and manpower budgets Employers had have lessened drastically (and i mean drastically), if there recruitment budget was 2 million for 2008, there recruitment budget today is 100,000 dhs, so it is drastic, only kept for hiring immediate filling positions, that too upper hierarchy level. So, dont waste a lot of time in going through Executive Search Firms, they usually tend to put up advertisements for database collections.
If a Candidate registers with Companies like, Bayt.com, Monstergulf, Gulf Talent, Recruit Gulf etc, the chances of your CV getting noticed and missed out is because, post recession, each job advertisement generates at least 1000 absolutely perfect candidates for the job. You wont get noticed. You'll need to refresh, log in - log out every day, every minute, to keep your CV active, and hence, do that daily, and you'll be considered a cyber freak ! Yes, employers use this tool to recruit, so my suggestion is to create multiple CVs for e.g. if your an Accountant, then create different CVs specializing in different accounting domains i.e. payroll, payables, receivables, trial balance, audit, finance etc etc. and then sign up for automated search responses against key words. Spend at least two hours daily, in going through all job sites, then, enjoy your beer and watch football/desperate housewives..
You are up against thousands of perfect job seekers who are already based in Dubai, so, if you have the resources, then take time out and fly to Dubai, at least 2-3 weeks and then look for a job. Employers do not prefer hiring from International Markets as for now, because it tends to be irrelevant and expensive. So your CV should have a Dubai based sim number.
Over and all, LinkedIn seems to be a successful tool used by Employers to hire now, so start using it, make sure you have 'endorsements' and tons of good references on it. Also make sure, your CV matches your LinkedIn's profile, since you need to upload that as well against a job posting.
Dubai is a booming Industry, I have spent almost 34 years of my life here, well, 34 in July, There is plenty of potential to come here and start an amazing life, as long as you are great at 'personal financial management', you love south indian tea, and enjoy 'entertainment'..
I hope this insight is beneficial to whosoever reads it. Be positive in your approach, and luck will work wonders for you.
Good Luck.
Saud Ahmed