Question from Job Seeker:

Hi I am planning to come to UAE on visit visa for three months. I am wondering how I can go about looking for a job there. – Julian A.

Answer from Bayt HR Guru:

Hi Julian, there’s good news if you are planning to relocate to and work in Dubai, UAE. Getting employed in the UAE can be a dream come true for many aspiring jobseekers, where Dubai has been voted as one of the top 5 cities in Middle East and North Africa to live in according to Bayt.com’s July 2012 survey, “Top Cities in the Middle East". Dubai is the top fifth city on the list in terms of availability of jobs and fourth in terms of competitive compensation (Top Cities of the Middle East survey– July 2012).

Meanwhile, Bayt.com’s employer survey (Feb. 2012) suggest that as many as 63% of companies say they will be hiring this year. Keep in mind that when planning to relocate to another country or city, you need to actually set your job search in motion before you move there. It’s important that you plan and work on your long-distance job search strategies right now.

When looking for a job in Dubai, a typical job search can take anywhere from 3 months to 6 months, depending on several factors such as industry, job role, career level, etc. To help you out with your job search, here are 6 steps on how to get hired in Dubai that you can follow:

1. Update your CV online – Lots of job seekers make the mistake of not updating their CV until the last minute. Don’t do that, and always plan ahead. Keep in mind that regularly updating your online CV also on Bayt.com will ensure that employers will find you, even if they don’t have a vacancy posted. Make sure you include details such as industries you are targeting, targeted job roles, career highlights, key skills, etc. as all this will make your CV searchable.
2. Create your online profile– Once your CV is online, creating your online profile with a personalized URL is a one-step process on people.bayt.com. The benefit of this is that it enables employers to find you through search engines like Google. Your online public profile also becomes your online business card and enables you to get your colleagues to endorse your skills.
3. Research the market– Start your research before you make the move. Whether it’s a job in media, engineering, or the oil and gas industry, find out more about the local big players and where they are located. If you are interested in finding a job with a particular employer, check if they are hiring.
4. Set a routine and follow it–Since employers take time to review CV applications and because your time is limited, make the best of it and apply regularly at least a month in advance before you come to Dubai. Once you are in Dubai, make it a point to update your contact information on your online CV immediately. Keep applying to jobs online and refreshing your online CV (this ensures that your CV is on top of employer’s search results).
5. Network- Networking cannot be that easy, especially if you are new to the city. So find out from an updated UAE events page if there are any job fairs/expos happening during the duration of your visit. This would be an excellent opportunity for you to not only meet employers, but also conduct informational interviews with the company representatives. An informational interview can help you expand your network in the new city. You can ask interviewees which companies would be the best to apply to, get advice on applying there, and ask for names of other contacts for your network.

6. Follow-up- Once you are in the city, send out follow-up emails to those companies you have applied to. Let them know that you will be available for interviews during this period and that you'd like to schedule an interview if possible. If you are not successful in lining up job interviews before your trip to the new city, at least line up some informational interviews. We hope these steps can help you plan your job search in your new city.

To help you out, we have here a free job-search checklist from Bayt.com’s CV Services which you can download.