Dubai Employment Tips

Dubai, a major commercial city in UAE and the GCC, may appear to be international and tourist friendly. However, within its soul, it is an Arab city. While the functional ecosystem of Dubai does not make it necessary to be able to speak Arabic to thrive in this city of opportunities, with the Emiratization drive of the 1990s picking up pace and penetration well into the new millennium has now given cause for Arabic to be as prominent as English.

A recent report from Emirates247 highlights a growing population of expats learning Arabic, not only to fit into the local culture, but also to get jobs and enhance their career.

“I want to work as a show host on television, and most preferably I will host the show in Arabic,”  says an executive in the television industry who harbors a desire to be a show host in Arabic in this report.

While this is perhaps, not a layman example, it applies everywhere. Working the government sector or the services and retail industry of Dubai, Arabic is becoming essential in business. This becomes even more prominent considering the large number of tourists that Dubai attracts from neighboring GCC countries.

» Fun, jobs or culture: Arabic now on UAE expat radar | Emirates247.com

I know that the economy is currently unstable and that recent graduates are stuck in a never-ending battle with a failing job market and other promising grads. I understand that you have high interest student loans and that living in your parents’ spare bedroom is not an ideal situation. No doubt I will be criticized for saying this, but do not take the first full time, paying job that comes along after you graduate.

After several months of unemployment, you may be tempted to take that full time job as a secretary, despite the fact that you actually went to school to be a designer. You will more than likely tell yourself that the job in sales can work for you, even if you have a writing degree. But don’t settle. Before I make my plea in defense of my argument, I would like to make it clear that I’m not saying you shouldn’t work part time to pay your bills. However, I’m also not saying you should snub something out of the running that doesn’t suit your ideal career. I understand that not everyone’s situation allows them to wait before finding a full time job, it just isn’t feasible. However if you’ll be able to wait, not taking the first job that comes your way could be the best career choice for your future.

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According to various reports released in August 2012, hiring is increasing again within the UAE. Khaleej Times recently described this as, “After the downturn, the UAE is sensing a healthy recovery vibe post the lay-off spree that took place during the 2008-2009 global economic depression.” With increased hiring being reported, the question on everyone’s lips will relate to salaries and compensation.

The banking and finance sector continues to dominate when it comes to monthly salaries in the UAE, with bank traders and investment consultants earning up to AED100,000 per month, according to a report released this week by Morgan McKinley UAE.

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While most of our readers are expatriates looking for an entry into the Dubai job market, we also see a good number of you who are looking to change jobs from within Dubai. This article is for those of you looking to change jobs in Dubai.

In the past we have focused a good amount of writing space on industry jobs trends, interview preparations and the link, but, the journey for some do not end at a job offer. Some of us go back to our current employers to resign, only to be taken aback by a counteroffer. And we go, “What was that? I wasn’t expecting that. Now, what to do…?”

So, let us look at the Cause, Effect and Analysis to tackle your New Offer versus Counter Offer battle.

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From the moment we submit our CV for a job, we are impatiently waiting to hear back from the recruiters in the hope that we’ve been successfully shortlisted or called for an interview. Yet, most times, we hear nothing from them. While this can be very painful and frustrating, it is important for us to understand where the problem could lie. Could it be one of those “prospecting” vacancies posted by recruiting agencies just to build up a database? Was something lacking in our CV or our experience and qualifications? Or is this just a routine and pattern we must expect and be prepared for?

Finding a job is an arduous task and while Dubai was reeling behind with lack of jobs due to the recent recession until about a year ago, recent reports in the media have shown that hiring time is back. However, this does not always guarantee an influx of return calls from the recruiters and we must still focus on avoiding the black hole to which most CV end up in. Some key reasons why our CV never trigger a response are…

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We know that the Jobs are Back in Dubai. What about the salaries?

With Dubai getting back up from the economic recession slowdown, are we going to see an increase in the salaries? Well, this survey report in Emirates24/7 claims that it will!

Its not a surprise that its expected to start from the same people who handle the finances for the companies, the Finance department. The survey claims that more than 60% percent of finance leaders expect a recruitment spree and a 7% increase in salaries for Finance professionals. Interestingly, it is also quoted that “the biggest drivers for increased hiring levels are rising workloads (64 per cent) and eight in 10 (81 per cent) finance leaders find it challenging to source out skilled financial professionals today.”

If you are a finance professional, its time to debit your knowledge, credit it into your resume and start reducing the liability of job hunting by keeping a sharp eye out for vacancies. At Dubai Employment Tips, we have already put up some interesting advice to find those jobs, especially in the growing online and social media channels. Once you get those interview calls, check out some valuable interview tips to bag that job you’ve been looking for.

» 7% salary hike for accounting, finance execs in Dubai | Emirates247.com