Every year, over 100,000 people move to the UAE in search of a job. The country’s strategic location in the world attracts people from every country so the competition for jobs is high.
The below information was prepared and designed to help you kickstart your job-searching journey in the UAE.
Can I apply for a job in the UAE without being in the country?
Yes you can. However, the chances of having your application reviewed are slim, with an average of 900 applications per role being submitted. Recruiters simply can’t go through every application, so being in the country, and getting a face to face meeting or referral can significantly increase your chances of securing a role.
Will Employers sponsor my Visa if they offer me a role?
Yes. If you get a job offer, the Employer by law has to issue you an entry permit and a work Visa. They should guide you through the process of getting your paperwork as well as support you every step of the way.
Tips for Job Hunting in Dubai (and the UAE)
With a workforce of over 2.7M people (and growing), Dubai is a hotspot for Job Seekers. On the one hand, that means the conditions tend to be favorable, with high salaries and no income tax, but on the other, that also means higher competition. So how do you stand out? Here are a few tips as you begin your Job Search in Dubai, or the UAE:
Tip 1: Prepare your CV
If your CV is reviewed by a Recruiter, they will read it for about 20 seconds, so you don’t have that long to make an impression. Make it sharp and concise.
Tip 2: Get your LinkedIn in order
LinkedIn is used by ALL recruiters in the UAE. Make your presence known, and build your profile so it highlights your career and experience.
Tip 3: Network
Introductions are the most common ways to get in front of a recruiter. Try to meet people, both on LinkedIn and in-person, who know others in the UAE.
Tip 4: Don’t be a generalist
“I can do anything” is not a good answer for Hiring Managers. Choose one thing, and position yourself as an expert in that field. Your chances will increase substantially.
Tip 5: In-person meetings always win
In the UAE, face to face meetings are still the standard to build trust. If you can meet stakeholders in person, this will put you ahead of the competition.
How to build your CV
Making your CV as simple and easy to digest as possible will give you a hedge over other candidates. Recruiters will look through it for about 20 seconds, so it’s important they can quickly grasp everything they need, and clearly understand how your skillset matches the job they’re hiring for. Here are some tips to build a perfect CV:
Tip 1: Keep the Header small
It should have no more than your contact information, name and maybe address. People often add a summary saying they’re “Driven and Ambitious”. That doesn’t work.
Tip 2: The important stuff should be at the top
It’s not a guarantee people will scroll down your CV, so your latest experience should be high up in the CV. Recruiters care most about what you’ve just done.
Tip 3: Start sentences with action driven verbs
For example “Delivered”, “Achieved”, “Organized”, “Coordinated”. This will put the focus on what you did, and be correlated to a skillset, which Recruiters appreciate.
Tip 4: Highlight how your actions lead to results
Your experience should correlate your actions with results.
For example “Delivered a marketing campaign over the summer which resulted in X% growth in Sales, which was Y% above target”.
Tip 5: Bullet Points are good
Under each work experience, have 3 to 5 bullet points with your actions and Deliverables.
Tip 6: Keep it short
A 1-page CV is better than 2 pages. Being concise is a superpower when you only have a few seconds to impress the Recruiter reading your CV.
Tip 7: Check your spelling
Triple check your spelling and grammar. Attention to detail is very important and grammatical errors can be a red flag for some recruiters
Tip 8: Personalize your CV
Tailor your CV to the role you’re applying for. Match the way you refer to your experience based on the job specs and skills being asked.
With a large amount of people wanting to move to the UAE, online scams have arisen. Be careful when you come across jobs that have red flags. Here’s some tips on how to spot Scams and Fake Jobs.
They are charging a “fee” to have a job offer issued
No Company charges candidates to hire them, so if you’re ever asked to make a payment, just decline.
They hold your passport for a long period of time
They should only need your passport details to issue the Entry permit and Visa, but an employer should not keep hold of it. This can lead to extortion down the line.
Look out for “Urgent Requests”
If things happen too fast and you’re offered a fantastic offer and have to share personal information “urgently”, beware. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
They don’t do a video call
Scammers normally don’t want to show their face, so if you go through a whole application and interview process without ever seeing the recruiter or hiring manager, it might be a red flag.
Generic Email addresses
Real Employees for established companies don’t use @gmail email accounts. Always check their email account and try to cross check with the company’s website domain.
Linking you to external and unprotected links
Scammers may want to get you to click on certain links to install malware in your devices and have access to your personal information. Avoid being directed to a “non-official” website via links shared.
Offer of salary and bonus far above market average
In exchange they might ask you to “contribute” for Visa application costs, which will be offset within the first month with your new excellent salary. This is a Scam 101.
Look out for grammar mistakes
Specially when jobs are advertised on a social media channel or via an email outbound.
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