Tips for Job Seekers before and after arrival in the UAE

If you are looking for the job in the United Arab Emirates, strong planning is required before and after arrival in the country.

Tips for UAE Job Seekers before arrival in the UAE

1. January, February & March or September are the best months for visit to UAE for Job Search.
2. Apply 2 months visit visa at least well in advance.
3. Budget your trip before arrival and keep reasonable money with you for living expenses, Visa cost, ticket, 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 home country if possible like blanket, towel etc. to save the money here in UAE.
7. Try to come to UAE at early stage of career after getting proper qualification with reasonable skills as usually home country experience has less weightage here.
8. Expertise in Microsoft Office (specially excel and PowerPoint), ERP software’s (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, UAE Updates, Hays, Kershaw, Charter house, 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 handover to any prospective employer. Also carry some passport sized pictures of yours (just in case if it is required)
13. Explore your industry’s best players in UAE, visit their website and search for people working in those organization where you intended to join, start 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 departing for UAE.
15. Try to get familiar with UAE local laws and regulations relevant to specific fields as in case of accounts and finance VAT etc.
16. Keeping a softcopy of your C.V in your Smartphone/ Mobile along with Pre-Scripted Email Matter is the quickest way to respond 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”.

Other Job Seekers Tips after Arrival in the UAE

1. Create your WhatsApp on UAE number
2. Change your location at LinkedIn and Facebook
3. Put your status open to work at LinkedIn
4. Just communicate in your circle, you are looking job in UAE on visit visa through WhatsApp, LinkedIn message etc.
5. Connect with decision makers and your community at LinkedIn.
6. Do refer others, wherever you are not suitable candidate for any Job or got more than one offers
7.  Join Job Seekers WhatsApp Groups, participate actively & support others wherever possible.
8. Plan your each day, get ready early in the morning and divide your day into at least three activities: i) Online application ii) Networking iii) Skills development.
9. Write your desired jobs on Google on daily basis and through tools bar select the time line of posted jobs like 24 hours then apply to recent ones.
10. Must know about each and every word of your CV and preparation of possible questions that can be asked based on your CV.
11. Mention important information on the front of your CV like expected job role, education, contact details, skills, visa Status and experience.
12. Contact and inform to all your friends about your stay in UAE, share your CV and take information from relevant persons.
13. Be patient and have trust on Allah because He has better plan for everyone so keep trying for Job till last day of your stay in UAE.
14. Create a support network of your friends & professional, share experience with others and use all channels for job applications.
15. Prepare the interview through YouTube.
16. Write questions of each interview and search the appropriate answers of questions by reading and discussions with other relevant persons.
17. Always use complete degree name like Chartered Accountant (Finalist) not use CA Finalist.
18. In response of expected salary question from interviewer, ask about their budget and then give range showing flexibility.
19. Download 2gis app from Play store /App store. It will guide you about all companies in UAE even it will guide you the color of each office door & it can also work without internet.
20. Send thank you email after interview by getting business card during interview from interviewer.
21. Keep strong follow-up of interview.
22. Call at 80060 for any assistance regarding labor laws.
23. Call to Road Transport Authority (RTA) at 8009090 to help for local transport services.
24. Try to stay near to any metro station in Dubai during visit for easy and convenient.

#PIDCareerConnect is the initiative taken by Pakistanis in Dubai to help Pakistani job seekers in Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi.