by: Naffar Hussain.
1. January, February & March or September are the best months for visit to UAE for Job Search.
2. Apply for a 3-month visit visa at least well in advance.
3. Budget your trip before arrival and keep reasonable money with you for living expenses, visa costs, tickets, local travelling etc.
4. Keep your accommodation with fellow professionals in UAE if possible.
5. Get attestation of your degree well in advance from the relevant authorities before visiting UAE.
6. Bring your daily use item from the home country if possible like a blanket, towel etc. to save the money here in UAE.
7. Try to come to UAE at an early stage of your career after getting proper qualifications with reasonable skills as usually, home country experience has less weightage here.
8. Expertise in Microsoft Office (specially excel and PowerPoint), and ERP software (SAP, Oracle, Microsoft Dynamics, QuickBooks, Tally, Sage etc.) will increase your chances of getting hired more and more.
9. Must arrange your laptop before arrival.
10. Networking: Personal Contacts in UAE can play the most significant role in landing the very first vacancy in the market. (Perhaps, total dependence on relatives and friends is surely not a good idea) so try to connect with them before arrival in UAE through LinkedIn/WhatsApp etc.
11. Minimum of two (2) months gap prior to your arrival – start registering and profiling yourself to the well-known and well-trusted domains of employment agencies like Bayt, Dubizile, Gulf Talent, Naukri Gulf, BAC Middle East, Hays, Kershaw, Charterhouse, Michael Page, LinkedIn, indeed ae etc.
12. Prepare your C.V as professional and Refined as possible (Try to get any UAE contact number in advance from your friends for your use and mention it on the CV if possible). Do it before flying and save time. You may keep some printouts of your C.V from your hometown along with A4 size plain white Envelops. Keep it ready to hand over to any prospective employer. Also, carry some passport-sized pictures of yours (just in case it is required)
13. Explore your industry’s best players in UAE, visit their website and search for people working in those organizations where you intended to join, start the conversation with them and try to build rapport to make an appointment. (#LinkedIn is the best source to do this).
14. Ideally try to fix at least 5 to 6 prospective meetings prior to departing for UAE.
15. Try to get familiar with UAE local laws and regulations relevant to specific fields as the case of accounts and finance VAT etc.
16. Keeping a softcopy of your C.V on your Smartphone/ Mobile along with a Pre-Scripted Email Matter is the quickest way to respond to any Employer/ Recruiter (in case you have been asked to send your C.V while you are unable to access your laptop).
17. In a nutshell, Strong Planning before leaving for Dubai is the key to success and “IF YOU FAIL TO PLAN…. YOU PLAN TO FAIL”.
Tips for UAE Job Seekers before arrival in UAE
