How to get a job in the UAE

The best time to look for a job in the UAE is now according to a new survery from Bayt.com, which voted the country as the number one destination to live and work in the Mena region.

When it comes to the current job market, the UAE remains a very competitive destination with a positive outlook for professionals looking for a position or planning to relocate to this expat haven.

In fact, the UAE offers many high points that attract expats from all over the world, including a thriving expat community, a vibrant lifestyle with plenty of opportunities for recreation and entertainment, and a safe environment where crime is a rarity.

If you’re looking for a job or planning to relocate to the UAE, now may be the best time to do so as the country was voted the No 1 destination to live and work in the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) in a survey recently published by Bayt.com. The survey shows that Abu Dhabi and Dubai consistently score in the top three cities across all considerations.

While Abu Dhabi is the No 1 Mena city when it comes to health insurance and social security systems, but also labour rights, termination rights and end-of-service benefits, Dubai leads in terms of the number of jobs available, competitive salaries, career growth, holiday allowances and benefits offered to working parents.

Sharjah, on the other hand, is among the top three cities with the most affordable housing in the region.

Top city or not, relocating to any other country or city implies setting your job search in motion. It’s important that you plan and work on your job search strategies well ahead of time. When looking for a role in the UAE, the length of a typical job search can last from three to six months and will depend on several factors such as your target industry, career level and so on.

To help you plan and organise your search, here are a few steps to follow:

1. Research the market

Start your research before you make the move. Whether it’s a job in media, engineering or the oil and gas industry, find out more about the local big players and where they are located. If you are interested in finding a job with a particular employer, see if they are hiring on their website or job board on leading job sites in the Middle East region.

2. Set a routine and stick to it

Since employers take time to review CV applications and because your time is limited, apply at least a month in advance before you come to the UAE, if relocating from another country. Once you arrive, make it a point to update your contact information on your CV immediately. Keep applying for jobs and refreshing your online CV to ensure it is always on top of employers’ search results.

3. Update your CV

Many job seekers make the mistake of not updating their CV until the very last minute. Keep in mind that regularly updating your CV will ensure employers find you, even if they don’t have a vacancy posted. Make sure you include details such as the industries you are targeting, targeted job roles, career highlights, key skills, etc as all this will make your CV “searchable” online.

4. Create an online profile

Once your CV is online, create an online profile with a personalised link. The benefit of this is that it enables employers to find you through search engines such as Google. Your online profile also becomes your online business card and enables you to make connections and get other professionals to endorse your skills.

5. Network

Networking isn’t easy, especially if you are new to the city. So research any job fairs happening any time soon. This would be an excellent opportunity for you to not only meet employers, but also conduct informational interviews with the company representatives. An informational interview can help you expand your network in the new city. You can also ask other job seekers which companies would be the best to apply to, get advice on applying there, and get new contacts for your network.

6. Follow up

Once you are in the city, send out follow-up emails to companies you have applied to. Let them know that you will be available for interviews and that you’d like to schedule an interview to meet them in person. Even if you are not successful in lining up actual job interviews, at least you will have informational interviews set up for you to get more details about the company and its job vacancies.

Lama Ataya heads the marketing department at Bayt.com