Beginner’s guide to Dubai Job-search

Having survived here for the last 5 years, I thought of evangelizing about job-search in Dubai, for the benefit of all new-comers! The thoughts are entirely from my own experience; hence you can rationalize, if you wish to.

Five suggestions for effective job-hunt in Dubai:

Never spend money on the recruitment agencies:
With all due respect to them, regardless of their packages like "CV distribution", "contact list", "CV modification", etc., you'd probably land up NOT getting value for the money you spend – especially, since you're perhaps residing miles off this region! Instead, do some site searching, desk research, etc. to get what you want - free of cost! www.grapeshisha.com is the site of a blogger who'd perhaps guide you better than these agencies. Further, use Discuss Dubai forum to know more. Last resort – you can leave your email address for free advice, thru this Blog.

Don't spend money on online sites
These sites are all very good for information on existing vacancies with companies and / or recruitment agencies. It is futile to spend money on them, since various companies happen to be their clients - not you! They do not depend on individual job-seekers for their income. Except for a restricted few number of "head-hunters" who choose to remain low profile, most of the recruitment agencies act as a conduit for supplying CVs to companies. For example, Bayt.com is definitely a good JOB BOARD for getting connections - not jobs! Many recruitment agencies also use Bayt for this purpose. It's better to contact recruitment agencies / companies directly, once knowing about them from Bayt. Ditto for Monster, Ditto for many other online recruitment sites.

Be on the panels of a few agencies
Sites of recruitment agencies www.clarendonparker.com, www.mriww.com, www.bacdubai.com, www.sosrecruitment.net, www.grafton-group.com, etc. are effective to the extent that you're on their panel for consideration. Be careful with your choice of words in your work profile, as most of them use the computer logic search through this profile, and zero-in on a candidate. If you need help, contact me for info. more resources.

You are your own best CV writer
It's said that if you cannot write a CV yourself, you're not worth for consideration for the job. A CV is like a marketing tool for your skills suitable for the post. A CV should not be duplicated and sent for every job details you come across! The sooner you learn this, the better is your job search. There are zillions of sites that give you good tips on writing good CVs. Spending money on a stranger to write it for you, is like asking a stranger to be your foster parent! Check careers section of www.wsj.com to know better ways to write a CV. Remember only YOU know yourself better to market yourself better!!

Create a net that works for you
In business as well as in life, the primitive dictum of "scratch my back; I'll scratch yours" works very well. Therefore make friends; network as much as you can; help as much as you can within your network; invite more people to your network. All these acts always increase your chances in getting a job. Some network development sites are really good: www.ryze.com, www.linkedin.com. Learn good networking skills; e.g. read "the art of schmoozing" posted in http://blog.guykawasaki.com Utilize every meeting with a new person (not interviews) to get at least 5 contact names and addresses who can give you "leads" - not "jobs or interviews". Check these leads and personally thank the person who gave you the leads, giving a short note on what happened to that lead!

Hope you all benefit from the above points, as much as I did while doing my own job-search.

(Photo courtesy; Contents adapted my post on DiscussDubai forum)

Technorati :Career. Job Hunting. Dubai