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29 March 2024

Five blunders to avoid while looking for UAE job

Published
By Shuchita Kapur

In your job hunt, you may have tried everything possible to get one.

You may have applied to a large number of companies, must have approached quite a few recruitment firms… but yet, there may be something that is dragging you away from your goal. You seem to be doing all that it takes to get a foot in the door but still are unable to achieve your target…

If this sounds familiar, it’s time to review your situation and do a self-check.

In a desperate bid to get a new job, you may have over-stated things to sell yourself or may have forgotten things that you should have said.

Let’s take a look at some of the common blunders that UAE headhunters believe are the main reasons that keep one away from landing a job in the country.

#1 Applying for the wrong job

Recruitment experts believe that this is the numero uno blunder that UAE job-seekers commit. Sending arbitrary e-mails and CVs to every job that is vacant doesn’t make sense. Your job profile should match the job that you apply for.

“A company or recruiter may block your CV from all applications if you apply like a machine gun. This will limit your chances of being considered for a job that matches your skills and experience,” says Ash Athawale, Recruitment Manager at Reed Specialist Recruitment.

Even if you meet some criteria but not the complete job profile, especially the requirements under the ‘must-have’ sub-head, you must abstain from applying, he suggests. “You have to read the requisites of the job,” maintains Athawale.

“If the job requires a must-have criteria, and you don’t have it, don’t waste your time applying for it. For example, a company is looking for an Arabic speaking sales professional and you don’t speak fluent Arabic, there are slim chances that you will be considered for that position even if you’re an above-average sales executive,” he explains.

In a nutshell, be selective in what you are applying for. Send applications for jobs that meet your profile in the best possible way, that’s what common sense demands.

#2 Inaccuracy on your CV

Are you guilty of omitting the least desirable details on your CV? You may not be alone. Many candidates fudge their CVs only to show the best. This may include hiding the truth or coining non-existent experience, education and job profile.

“It is very common for an individual to leave out a role where they only worked for a short period, change their job title or misrepresent academic qualifications. Normally, small details wouldn’t have had a material success on the outcome of whether they are hired or not, but as soon as there is a discrepancy, it creates an atmosphere of mistrust, which is very hard to recover from,” says Toby Simpson, Managing Director at the Gulf Recruitment Group.

#3 Inflating your last pay-package


In a bid to bag a bigger pay-package, many candidates exaggerate when it comes to their current salary and frills. However, companies too know the market and may not buy your version if it is off-the-mark by a large margin, and you will fall flat on your face if they happen to check.

“Good agencies and many companies will check current salaries requesting either pay slips or bank statements. This sort of exaggeration is taken very badly by employers who will very often reject the candidate on this basis,” says Simpson.

#4 Interview disaster: Not answering the question

Interview may be your best chance to impress a potential employer, but it can very quickly turn into a nightmare if you are unable to clearly answer a question that the employer asks.

“Very often candidates are very highly strung on interviews and will launch into a 15-minute explanation on a subject barely related to the question. If the interviewer doesn’t get the information that he/she was looking for, they are unlikely to hire,” says Simpson.

#5 Lack of communication

Lack of communication can also be one of the reasons you may not have landed a job until now. Make sure all your contact details that you have provided are correct.

This includes putting your phone number on the CV and in your email. If a company finds it difficult to trace you, they are likely to move onto another applicant.

If you receive an e-mail from the employer, make sure you are prompt in replying. Sitting on it for a day or two will slim your chances of getting the job.

And, be clear in what you are trying to say. “If you are emailing them, don’t use abbreviations like you are sending them an SMS. Also send a follow-up thank you email after an interview even if you are told that it is old-fashioned. It reiterates your interest and lets you address any follow-ups that were discussed in the interview,” recommends the Reed expert.