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29 March 2024

How to get hired in UAE: Know the employer's mind

Published
By Shuchita Kapur

Nobody wants to extend her/his time scouting for a job yet many jobseekers spend days or perhaps months before they get their first interview call.

To make the process simpler and faster it would be a good thing to look out for the most efficient, effective way to find new work. But, it would be best to know what is in the employer’s mind - what he is looking for in you - and if you can do that then the months that you’ve spent in a job search can easily wind down to a few days.

A new survey released by Bayt.com Modern Job Search in the Mena reveals what you should include in your job search to get hired for this is what the employers are looking for.

The following tips - when heeded during the job search and interview processes - can make job hunting seem like a breeze.

Experience is perhaps the most important thing employers are looking for. It is, in fact, the most important detail of any CV for those who make hiring decisions in the region, and including a picture with your CV is considered a good move, the survey suggests.

The poll findings also give a brief outline of the kind of CV that jobseekers should make as this is what appeals to most employers in the UAE and the region.

In terms of length, a short and concise CV that is no longer than one page is the preferred format for the majority of respondents (42.5 per cent). A medium-length CV is also a suitable option, with 38 per cent of professionals who make hiring decisions finding it ideal. Only 19 per cent prefer a detailed, lengthy CV, the survey states.

As far as CV content goes, experience is considered to be the most important element (with 25 per cent saying it is most important), followed by skills (19 per cent). Less important are education at 10 per cent, an objective statement at 7 per cent, and lastly, any awards, badges and endorsements – all at 6 per cent.

However, a third of respondents (33.7 per cent) claim that all of the previously mentioned are equally important highlighting the significance of having a cohesive and comprehensive, professional, well-balanced CV.

The preference is also for CVs that include a picture of the candidate. Video CVs are viewed as ’somewhat useful’ by 31.5 per cent of respondents and ’not useful at all’ by 40 per cent. Yet, a significant 28 per cent claim that not only do they find video CVs very useful, but they also love it when a candidate includes one in his or her application.

Confirming traditional job-search practices, cover letters are considered an essential part of the job hunt, with only 18.4 per cent of respondents claiming to ‘just brush over them’. According to the majority (44 per cent), a cover letter is very important, and can make a huge difference in a hiring decision.

The poll also sheds important light on how the internet is employed for hiring purposes by both job seekers and the professionals who make hiring decisions. For sourcing new candidates, the internet remains a very important resource, according to 80 per cent of the poll’s respondents, and online recommendations and endorsements are considered important to 61.5 per cent.

It’s also very common for professionals to research candidates online before making a hiring decision, with 41 per cent claiming they ’always’ do so, and 38 per cent saying they ’sometimes’ conduct internet research. It is, therefore, more obvious than ever the need for job seekers to develop their online profiles in order to boost their career prospects in the Mena, says the survey.

Fortunately, most professionals appear to be aware of the importance of being found online, with 44 per cent claiming that it’s essential to have an online profile in order to not miss out on any great career opportunities.