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29 March 2024

Jobs in UAE: How social media can help you land your dream Dubai job

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By Shuchita Kapur

Of late, there has been much talk about how an increasing number of employers are turning to social media to search for potential candidates.

The more serious ones turn to website like LinkedIn and Twitter than Facebook to look for people who could be running their office.

And this trend is here to stay as more and more employers turn to the social web to look for the right candidate.

And it works both ways – the medium is as promising for job-seekers as it is for those looking for employers.

Social websites line LinkedIn can indeed be a strong tool to search for jobs and land some good offers in the UAE.

Speaking to some of the leading recruitment companies in the country shows that the trend is picking up fast and many head-hunters and employers are already wielding social media tools to find their next candidate.

“Maintaining an active presence on social networking sites, particularly professional sites like LinkedIn, is important not just during your job search but throughout your career,” James Sayer, Director, Robert Half UAE, told Emirates 24|7.

It makes sense to polish your profile so that it does you the most good. For active job-seekers or ones who may be waiting passively for the right job to reveal itself, it is one of the best tools on the Internet.

Head-hunters in the country maintain this medium is quite effective if used in the right way. “It allows you to build a network of peers during periods when you are not actively seeking new opportunities, which will keep you in better stead when you do look for a new job,” Sayer added.

“LinkedIn is heavily used in the region both by recruiters/headhunters and by the companies themselves for identification of talent,” agrees Konstantina Sakellariou, Partner, Marketing & Operations Director, Stanton Chase International, a Dubai-based senior executive search firm.

It’s not just the unemployed who benefit from social media. The so-called passive job-seekers, who may not be inclined in sending their CV out in hordes, can be beneficiaries as well.

“Many recruiters are also searching LinkedIn to find passive job-seekers, individuals who may not be looking out at present, but would consider a move if the right opportunity presented itself. As such, keeping your social media profile up-to-date with your experience and accomplishments is a good practice to maintain,” added Sayer.

Agrees Hasnain Qazi, Middle East Business Manager at hiring advisors Huxley Associates. “Whilst still an emerging communication channel, social media, and in particular LinkedIn are proving more effective in showcasing the experience of professionals to a wider audience. A nicely put together personal profile can make you stand out from the crowd, and market yourself without actively searching for work,” he said.

As recent study by Dubai School of Government shows that social media is facilitating access to customised information about jobs and employment opportunities in the region.

A survey conducted by the school indicated that a large percentage (71 per cent) would use social media to find their next job. This varied across the eight countries surveyed, ranging from 63 per cent to 75 per cent, with the GCC countries displaying a slightly lesser tendency to use social media for job hunting.

In the UAE, 67 per cent of the respondents said they would reply on social media tools to find their next job. The highest number – 75 per cent – was in Jordan.

Specifically, 80 per cent of respondents felt that social media could help with job hunting by providing access to employment information. A smaller percentage (75 per cent) felt that social media can help create networking opportunities that could lead to employment opportunities, and that social media could create a virtual job market. Meanwhile, 63 per cent said that it could be useful for crowd-sourcing contributors and freelancers, revealed the Dubai School of Government survey.

According to another research work carried out by Brave New Talent, 73 per cent of employers currently use online social networks or social media to support their recruiting efforts; 30 per cent of employers always check out candidates’ social media profiles when vetting them and 58 per cent of employers have successfully hired candidates through social networking websites.

LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have over 535 million combined users – recruiters are looking here for the most qualified, talented, and largest pool of applicants. With a strong profile and active presence, you’re sure to find the right fit.

(Home page image courtesy Shutterstock)

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