29Jun

Getting a job as an African In The UAE

Finding a job in Dubai is the dream of many ex-pats who come on holiday and sometimes it feels like nothing is working. Don’t get depressed, we share some tips on finding a job in Dubai.

Tip 1 for finding a job in Dubai.

#Dubai is one of the few cities where you can visit as a tourist and become a part of the workforce really fast. When applying for a Visa, do not listen to Visa agents saying they will have a job waiting for you when you arrive and make you pay exorbitant fees for Visa. This is usually not true. The best way to get a job in Dubai is to come on a 3 months visiting visa, make sure your resume is up to date and filled with the right keywords and then you start applying for jobs.

Finding a job in Dubai

Tip 2 for finding a job in Dubai.

Get a Dubai standard resume. When you are applying for a job in a new country, you need to find out about resume formats, resume styles, resume length and the right industry keywords for the job you are qualified for. You are a brand and your resume should reflect this brand. This brand might have to face a recruiter with lots of other resumes or pass through a machine test. A great resume should summarise and highlight your strengths, skills and experience in a way that grabs the attention of the recruiter. He or she spends seconds skimming through hundreds of resumes – make sure yours can stand out in a matter of seconds.

Tip 3 for finding a job in Dubai.

Find out twenty keywords for the industry you are applying to and use them in your resume. In countries like Dubai, a lot of companies use machines/ATS to do a first level evaluation of resumes and the machines look out for related job keywords. Sometimes you don’t name a particular section of your resume properly and the machine totally misses it. Find the right keywords and the required experience before you apply for a job to avoid getting ignored for a long time.

We recommend working on your Cv and drinking a nice protein smoothie

Tip 4 for finding a job in Dubai.

Keep your resume to one page for lower level roles, two pages for mid management roles and two-three pages for executive management roles. There are software and specialist resume professionals that can help you do achieve this. Send an email to dubaijobpro@gmail.com and ask for a free resume evaluation for Dubai. Add the tag #NigeriansInDubai.

Tip 5 for finding a job in Dubai.

Apply for jobs on the right platforms. Indeed.ae is a great platform for finding jobs in Dubai and the UAE with new verified roles. There are other platforms like MonsterJobs, NaukriGulf, GulfTalent and Linkedin. Sometimes you are checking fake job posting platforms and applying for stale jobs.

Tip 6 for finding a job in Dubai.

Network, network and network. Every person you meet is an opportunity to sell your value. From a random taxi driver to the person you sit beside in the train. Did you now that over 296 million people have used public transportation in Dubai in 2019 already, I bet a lot of your potential employers were part of these people. Find people on Linkedin, ask your friends in Nigeria to introduce you to their colleagues at the Dubai branch of their company, target a global company with an office in Dubai and find a contact there. Research and find places where people in a particular sector hangout and hangout there. Become like a “secret spy” and gather information but this time for your life. Personal introductions actually go a long way in Dubai so try and get a personal introduction to help you through the door.

Tip 7 for finding a job in Dubai.

Be conscious of neglected skills. Sometimes there are opportunities that are not in direct line with what you have been doing but through your normal work you have acquired those skills and they can become your source of revenue in Dubai. There are a lot of soft skills that are on demand in Dubai and you need to be ready to take advantage of them. Sometimes you might have to take a lesser role in a global company in your path to greatness but don’t be discouraged, once you have some Dubai or middle east experience it opens you up for other jobs. There is such a thing as “Dubai Experience” and employers value it a lot. Your first job might just be a way for you to gain experience.

These are some quick tips on finding a job in Dubai! Good luck

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