How to Get a Job in Dubai?

How to Find Jobs in Dubai?

Given the plethora of opportunities available for freshers and experienced people, Dubai is increasingly becoming a job seeker’s hotspot. The kind of jobs that are in demand range from financial to engineering, healthcare to technology. This multi-diversified and multi-versatile city has an opportunity for one and all. The only challenge is that you need to be well-versed in your domain, even as a newbie, and find the right opportunity to impress potential employers.

There are multiple ways to get started in finding a suitable job in Dubai. With technological advancement, things are pretty smooth and easy to go about. If you are serious about relocating to this Emirate city and getting recruited for your skills and talent, continue reading below. We have collated the best strategies to help you find a rewarding job in Dubai.

Ensure You Have the Right Visa

Like every other country, working in Dubai entails getting a work visa. In most cases, the Dubai employer procures the visa on your behalf. That’s the easy part. You simply need to complete the documentation and paperwork as required by your employer.

If you are visiting the city and wish to start searching for a job, you need to amend your visa status after getting a job. The possibility of getting a visa on arrival for tourists makes it easy to head for the cosmopolitan destination and begin your job search after visiting all the worthy places in the modern city of skyscrapers.

If you are traveling to Dubai as a dependent, you will first be sponsored on a family visa by your spouse, child, or parents, and then, you can get employed on a work visa.

Health Card, Work Permit & Residency Visa

While the visa is processed, you must procure your health card and work permit. You must apply for a health card from the Department of Health and Medical Services. You will be required to get a blood test, especially for detecting diseases like TB and HIV. You will also be required to submit your job offer letter along with the visa application, passport copy, medical records, photos, etc., to the Department. A health card will be issued to you depending on the test results. This is a mandatory requirement in the UAE.

The Ministry of Human Resources will issue you a work permit after you submit the visa, medical records, employment contract, photo, employer’s labour license, etc. After this, you will be issued a residency visa by the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs in Dubai. Once you get all these official documents – work visa, work permit, health card, and residence visa, you are ready to start working in the city.

Look at the Right Places

Finding a job can be a herculean task in Dubai if you do not know where to search or how to go about it. Thankfully, there’s help at hand with multiple available formats for searching and applying for vacancies.

Here are a few smart ways to go through the process.

• Take help from job portals, job boards, or online platforms that are acknowledged as credible in the UAE. Some of the most-trusted ones for internships and full-time employment opportunities are
  • UAE Ministry of Education
  • GulfTalent
  • Bayt
  • Glassdoor
  • Buzzon from Khaleej Times Jobs
  • Indeed
  • LinkedIn
• Approach a leading recruiting or headhunting company. This is because many MNCs and local companies in the UAE hire seasoned recruiters to recruit new employees. Some known recruiters in Dubai are:
  • BAC Executive Recruitment
  • Robert Murray Associates
  • ESP International
  • Jivaro

Only trust those companies that offer free services to candidates – such organizations get commissions from companies and not job-seekers. Professional recruiters already have established networks with prospective employers, and with their know-how of the market, they can help you apply for the right vacancies.

• Try to network with domain experts, whether UAE nationals or expatriates. This works well because, in Dubai, preference is given to references. There are employee referral programs run by many companies in the Emirate city. References from stalwarts in the industry are given greater precedence too.
• Try walk-in interviews if you are a fresher, intern, or looking at joining a junior post. It is, however, not advised for senior posts or even middle-management vacancies.

Apply to Only Relevant Job Openings

It is crucial to read the job description thoroughly before applying. Look at the professional and educational requirements and definite particulars like job experience in Dubai or know-how of Arabic. It will make your search process more targeted. Also, this strategy will help save you time and energy and prevent you from getting frustrated when there’s no response from recruiters. Prepare a list of top companies in your chosen vertical/niche/industry and email the HR Department or call them up.

Timing of the Application is Crucial

The employment sector in Dubai is booming at the moment. It means you can apply anytime, irrespective of the month or the season. However, as per experts, recruitment activities get dynamically active at specific periods of the year. For example, it has been seen that the beginning of the year is more active than the rest of the year for job-seekers. Also, the months of March, April, and May witness a good number of job posts and openings. It is advisable to make an extra effort in your job hunt throughout these five months of the year.

It has also been seen that hiring activities drop during the summer months. ‍It is best to avoid the heat and put your search on hold from June till August.

Work on your CV

Your curriculum vitae must be interestingly created and curated for the Dubai job market. Remember, this is your spokesman, and you want to provide the best possible first impression on a prospective employer who will have to go through hundreds of resumes to discover the ones that are relevant to their position.

Study each job role and customize your CV as per the requirements. Making your bio-data adaptable as per the needs of the opening helps save not just your time and energy but also that of the recruiter.

Another tip is to keep the CV concise and simple. Don’t over-complicate it with trendy styles and designs, themes, colours, and fonts. Follow a standard format to make it look professional and easy for the HR software to interpret your details.

Your LinkedIn Profile is Important

Don’t have a LinkedIn Profile? You must create one at the earliest to take advantage of job openings in Dubai. It is not enough to just make a LinkedIn profile, though. You need to work on it and optimize it to impress potential employers. Most recruiters will check your LinkedIn profile when they receive your CV.

A majority of HR professionals find potential employees by scrutinizing LinkedIn regularly. Complete the profile, fill up all relevant details, and most importantly, stay active on this platform. Make it keyword-centric that is specific to your industry and skills to get better traction from recruiters.

A UAE Local Contact Number is also Important

While your email id and LinkedIn profile are good enough and should be updated for potential recruiters to contact you, buying a Dubai local number is imperative. It is easy for HR professionals to get in touch with you directly. It is a good practice and helps increase your chances of getting better employment opportunities.

It is also a general preference amongst the local companies who prefer people already present in Dubai rather than hiring from abroad. They are saved from paying relocation charges, etc. Besides, hiring a candidate from outside the country can be a risky proposition that most companies do not want to indulge in. A local UAE resident will be less likely to back out after confirmation than someone who is still outside the country.

If you have a visitor visa, getting a local number before the application process is a good idea. It is pretty easy to get a phone sim card in the UAE. You need to show your passport during the purchase process.

Make Use of Technology

‍You can use online tools to help you get a suitable job in the Emirate city. Some of the recommended tools are –

1. LinkedIn Premium: This allows you to send messages to potential recruiters and HR professionals. Also, you can get InMails, and your profile can feature in unlimited searches.
2. Jobscan: It is a tool that scans your resume and LinkedIn profile and suggests ways to optimize them. This way, you can make them more relevant in the regional context.
3. Sales QL: This tool helps you unlock the email addresses in the LinkedIn profiles of prospective employers and recruiters. It means that even if you are not connected, you can still email them your CV.
4. Hunter IO: This tool can help you find the email addresses of professional recruiters in seconds, making it easy for you to reach out to them.

Delve Deep Into Understanding the Dubai Job Market

It is an excellent idea to gain some knowledge about how things work in the job market in the city. Get a hold on how the economy is doing and whether it is impacted by the looming recession worldwide. Get more information about the lifestyle, standard of living, and average salaries for the kind of jobs you are interested in, learn about the country’s customs, etc. This will help you negotiate a better pay package and make you appear informed during interviews.

If required, be up-to-date with the country’s labor laws so that you are aware of your duties and rights as an employee.

Conclusion

Finding a job in the city of dreams can be challenging, but if you follow the tips mentioned above, you will hit the jackpot in no time. Happy job hunting, and hoping your dream job lands on your lap pretty soon! If things don’t go your way, be patient and follow these tips. Hang in there, and you’ll soon find things going your way.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many recruitment companies should I approach in Dubai?

The best formula is to work with a selected few instead of approaching every last recruiter. Pick agencies that specialize in your specific niche. Also, avoid agencies that ask for money from you to get you a job. Even after getting selected, you must keep in touch with them and maintain a good working relationship for the future.

How to choose a recruiting agency in the UAE?

When selecting a recruitment company, ensure the organization is reputed enough and has a proven record. The support team should be accessible and approachable, and they are ready to communicate with you via phone call or video call.

Please share tips to make my CV look professional.

To optimize your curriculum vitae, use appropriate keywords. You will get the relevant words in the job description. Other than that, make the job titles, skill sets, and job role descriptions target specific keywords.

What are the tips to make my LinkedIn profile professional?

Your profile must be 100% complete. Ensure that your profile picture is the latest. The headline, about info, experience, skills, and contact sections should all be filled with the correct details.

What are the pros and cons of working in Dubai?

As an expatriate, there are plenty of pros to working in Dubai. Your salary is tax-free, which is a breath of fresh air for most expats. There are multiple career opportunities. The city is expat-friendly, the infrastructure is excellent, the society is tolerant, and the city is extremely safe.

The cons include a higher cost of living, minimal chance of permanent residence, and extremely hot weather.