How to Find a Job in Dubai

In this competitive world getting a job is not an easy thing. Qualifying is not enough because there might be other people that have the same qualification as you. At one point in life continuously applying for jobs and not getting any calls or emails back can be frustrating. But what is it that we are doing wrong? What is it that lacks in our method? Or why is it that we are among the flock of commoners? What is it that will differentiate us from the other people applying for the same job?

United Arab is a land of opportunities and it has a lot to offer than any other country in terms of lifestyle and employment. Facts state that the employment increased in the third quarter of 2018 and have been showing an increasing trend since. Dubai is a city of modern infrastructure and skyscrapers. It has top companies working there and has a lot of jobs to offer.

Here are some tips to follow when finding a job in Dubai:

Get the Right Visa

You’ll need a work visa if you’re planning to work in Dubai. The good news is that if you’re employed by a Dubai Company, getting a visa is quite easy. With a work visa, it would be easier to head to Dubai after you have been offered a position.

Know your Job Market

For applying for jobs you should have a clarity of the profession or field you want to join. Take your time and think about what is it that you can do and what skills do you have. Match your skills to the right job market and start applying.

Job sites

Once you have the clarity of what you want to do and what skills you can provide. Get yourself registered with job sites and create your professional profile and start applying.

Branding

Get your branding right. Employees when applying for jobs are selling themselves to the company. You are your marketer. Present yourself in the way that the employer sees your strengths, capabilities, skills and what you have to offer. Show the employer how you can add value to his/her company by your skills.

CV/Resume

CV/resume is your advertisement if you’re going to market yourself. Your CV should contain your qualification, previous work experience if any, skills and strengths. Your CV should not be too long or wordy since employers do not like reading long and wordy CV.

LinkedIn

LinkedIn is the largest and the most used job website. You should be active on LinkedIn since many companies hire through websites like LinkedIn.

Network

Create your network. People in Dubai or UAE are more likely to hire people through the reference. If you have a contact within the company chances are the company might hire you. Apart from that LinkedIn is a good place to create a social network. This way you might get more opportunities.

Documents

With your work visa in the process, you will have to submit your passport copies, photo, medical records, job offer letter and visa application to the Department of Health and Medical Services. The UAE doesn’t allow foreign carriers of diseases to reside in the emirates, you’ll also have to get a blood test to rule out diseases like HIV, Hepatitis C, and tuberculosis. Once you pass all the tests you’ll be issued a health card, which is mandatory for foreign workers in Dubai.

You’ll also need a labor card that involves sending your passport photo, employment contract, entry visa, medical records and your employer’s labor license to the Ministry of Labor.

And lastly, you will need a residence visa, which is issued by Dubai’s Foreigners Affairs and General Directorate of Residency. With your work visa, health card, labor card, and residence visa in hand, you’re all set to legally start working in Dubai.

The above mentioned are just some generic tips for applying for a job. Apart from these, there are few other things which one has to keep in mind.

Nowadays apart from having the desired and right qualification companies look for people with the right attitude and work ethic. In a place like Dubai having good work, integrity is important.  Employers when hiring employees look for certain traits.

1. Goal-oriented: Companies look for employees who are goal-oriented, who have an ambition in their life. Talking about your goals gives the employer the idea of how much you are willing to work towards it and for it.
2. Loyalty: Employers need people they can trust. They need people who would work in the interests of the employer. Loyalty is an important thing and employers need to know they can trust someone to represent their company in public.
3. Fits in the company’s culture: A person who fits well in the company’s culture is rare to find. It’s imperative for companies that the employees they hire have the same value and beliefs, attitudes and behavior as the entire group.
4. Work ethic: The employer expects its employees to be at work on time, meet targets and deadlines. The employees should be professional in their work and setting.
5. Technical competency: Certain skills are required for some jobs. If you are hired to perform certain tasks then you should have the required skills and you should improve your skills continuously.
6. Communication skills: Communication is important in business and a company. The ability to communicate clearly and effectively in many mediums: by email, verbally, with lists and phone messages, on the phone, and with body language. Communication also includes listening skills and the ability to follow directions and provide feedback.
7. Flexible: There always comes a time when the business or company demands change. The business environment is dynamic and the company needs to adapt to the changes timely to have a competitive edge and to stay in the industry. The employer and the employee need to be flexible to adapt to the change.
8. Eager to learn: Every job comes with a learning curve. And jobs are the only place where a person truly learns. The employee should be eager to learn new things and new methodologies.
9. Problem-solving skills: Companies face a lot of problems on a day to day basis and they need people who have problem-solving skills and can work under pressure.
10. Think independently: Some companies don’t want to hire people with their ideas or people who are free thinkers. But don’t waste your time for a company like that. Strong managers want to hire people who bring new ideas to the table and are independent to solve issues.

Don’t just apply for any job. Identify your strengths and skills and then apply for the job in the matching job market and have an open mind when it comes to things like finding a job. The key is to remain hopeful and constantly keeping yourself up to date with the job postings and the requirements and skillsets.