Job hunting in Dubai: 5 things you should (or shouldn't) do in 2015

A nicely worded, handwritten CV with a compelling cover letter where you detail your attributes propels your candidature for a job to the top of the applicants list, right?

Sorry, this was true perhaps a decade or two back.

In today’s fast-moving job market, where technology is not an option anymore, this traditional job search may probably not even get your application noticed by recruiters or employers leave alone an audience with them.

Some of the tools you employed and the tricks that may have helped you land a job in the past are no longer valid.

If you haven’t kept up with the latest trends in job hunting, here are some factors that are playing an important role in job searching.

#1 Tear off that cover letter

The first component of the job search is not relevant anymore. It’s no longer a first impression because recruiters are not reading it.

Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) now takes the first pass at screening résumés, and the cover letter is often never actually read. This software application enables the electronic handling of recruitment needs, doing away with many things including the cover letter.

#2 Decode the ATS

Keywords are key. The ATS software application that enables the electronic handling of recruitment needs but at the same time kills 75 per cent of candidates’ chances of landing an interview as soon as they submit their résumés.

The reason behind this is that the software looks for keywords which, if missing, will see the candidate as unfit or unqualified for the job.

Jobseekers should understand that this system relies on keywords to determine the suitability of the résumé and a specific job. So, candidates should first identify keywords in a job description they are applying to and then load their résumés with them.

#3 Junk that generic CV

Customisation is imperative. When employers are looking for candidates that their system declares the best fit, there is no room for a generic CV.

Take the time to create a customised résumé for every job application and make it more meaningful by describing your qualifications, experience and achievements that will score you more points on the 10/10 match scale.

To tailor your résumé for a particular job, first analyse the job description.

This includes the job title, duties and responsibilities, specific requirements of the job, the job’s location among other things.

Next, customise your résumé’s ‘objective’ to match the job title in the job description. You can also tweak your skills, as appropriate, to match the terms used in the job description.

With the right customisation, not only will the human eyes read your resume thoroughly but even the ATS will tag you as a fit.

#4 Résumé is passé – spice it up with a visumé

You can also try making a short video résumé and upload it for the employers. Through this, you can talk to employers, where your communication skills can be explicitly seen. Your video can highlight your personality, confidence and attitude – all the traits that can make you a strong contender for the job.

Video resumes were quite popular at Careers UAE 2015 held earlier this year.

A website www.internsme.com in the UAE also helps in creating video résumés for candidates.

All you need to do is register, complete your profile and upload a two-minute video introducing yourself. There are built-in features so that one can record her/his visumé through the website and directly onto the profile to impress the recruiters, getting you one step closer to the job.

#5 Target the right avenues

Half your battle in landing a job will be done if you know exactly where the employers are and the avenues they use to hire people.

A recent report by social networking website LinkedIn reveals that some employers are still relying on old-fashioned techniques like word-of-mouth to find candidates, which many of us thought was an outdated strategy. Here, it makes sense to include this traditional way of looking for a job.

The study, which polled 300 employers and 1,500 jobseekers in the GCC, states that majority of employers (70 per cent) rely on this single way to look for talent. If LinkedIn figures are anything to go by, you should make your network of professionals stronger.

The study also revealed that second most effective and used tool by employers are professional social networking websites, thirdly the employers’ own websites and lastly using recruitment agency to fill up the vacant roles. So, in this case, candidates need to include both the modern and the traditional avenues where you can find jobs listed.

(Image via Shutterstock)

Follow Emirates 24|7 on Google News.