Work In Dubai
You
may have sent out dozens or even hundreds of CVs to various companies
in the country but still haven't got even a single interview call.
With
each day your self-confidence could be eroding. The ‘good for nothing’
thought must be at the top of anybody’s mind in such a situation.
Take
the example of Anil Mohit, an Indian finance professional in Dubai. He
was laid off in October and has applied invariably for every position
he’s suited for.
Nearly three months down the line, he hasn’t heard anything back.
“I’m
trying hard but it’s very disheartening,” said Mohit, on the condition
of anonymity. Mohit is one such case where hordes of sent out CVs do not
translate into a single interview call. Is it just that that Mohit is
unemployable, or a sinister former employer may be blacklisting him or
can there be a few slips that do not make him marketable?
“This
[not getting interview calls] is down to a number of factors,” said
Hasnain Qazi, Middle East Business Manager at Huxley Associates.
First
and foremost it is the market. “It is a simple equation of demand and
supply. In certain niches there are more candidates looking for work,
than the number of jobs. Ultimately, the most relevant candidates will
be approached for interviews and so it is very much a case of survival
of the fittest.
"Further,
it is an employers’ market in many verticals, i.e. companies can afford
to be choosy and wait to find a candidate meeting all of their required
competencies, rather than settling with someone with a combination of
fewer required skills,” he said.
Besides
the problem of demand and supply, leading headhunters in the country
believe, there are other problems that could be keeping you away from
that interview call, which can be addressed even in a tough market.
1) Are you applying for jobs that you are not fit for?
If
you're applying for jobs that do not match your qualifications or
experience, you need to explicitly demonstrate to employers that you a
great match despite the odds. Do not leave them to figure it out on
their own.
In
today’s job market there is no dearth of people well-suited to the job
so it is advised to apply to jobs that suit your profile.
“It
is important that you’re selective with your job search, only sending
out applications for those roles in which you meet most, if not all of
the criteria, and avoiding those in which you are obviously not a
suitable match. Submitting your application for multiple roles in which
you are not qualified will result in hiring managers questioning your
abilities and motivation, and may result in them passing you over for
roles that may be a great fit,” James Sayer, Director, Robert Half UAE
told Emirates 24|7.
“Many
candidates simply do not meet the requirements of a vacancy. For
example, if a bank is looking for Arabic speaking Corporate Relationship
Managers with client relationships in Abu Dhabi, they are unlikely to
interview applicants that meet the criteria but can’t speak Arabic or do
not have clients in Abu Dhabi. Similarly, employers can be hesitant to
interview candidates, even with strong profiles if they have frequently
moved jobs. Until the demand exceeds supply in a certain sector, it is
not unusual to have to apply to dozens of jobs on a constant basis
before you get a look in. Of course standout or very relevant candidates
will find it much easier to attract attention,” added Qazi.
2) Tailor-make each application with a strong cover letter
Sending
out vague or one generic application for 50-odd jobs will do you no
good. Take some time and focus on the requirements of the job and the
company you wish to apply to and then explain how and why you are suited
for it. A strong covering letter is very important to explain your
accomplishments and your suitability for the job.
“It
is important to tailor each application for the specific role, ensuring
that the key responsibilities and experience are noted in your CV
and/or cover letter. Sending out generic applications will put you at a
competitive disadvantage when other candidates are tailoring their
application materials to the specific company and role,” explained
Sayer.
Ensure
that you don’t make the mistake of making your cover letter bland and
uninspiring. Suhail Masri, VP Sales at Bayt.com believes a strong
covering letter is your chance to market yourself. “Your cover letter is
your chance to really market yourself and highlight exactly those
skills and personal attributes you think the employer is looking for.
This is your opportunity to really shine so don't waste it or take it
lightly,” he said.
3) Your CV is poor and doesn’t speak of you as the candidate to be hired
Some
candidates fail at making a strong CV. A poor CV will fail to portray
you as a professional that the employer may be looking for. Most
people's resumes simply list their job duties at each job they've held
without a mention of their accomplishments.
“Poor
focus, major omissions, spelling and grammar mistakes and lack of
emphasis on pertinent skills are common mistakes that immediately
eliminate your CV from the search process,” said the bayt.com expert.
“Most
of the times, this is due to a non-targeted CV or to a non-targeted
approach. Having a CV that is focused, gives a specific brand to the
candidate, lists briefly the achievements (if possible in numerical
terms) and is brief and to-the-point, is helpful. Use of key words that
are related to the experience of the person and the goals he/she wants
to achieve is also important, as most of the times, initial search
through a database is made by key words and, if missing, the CV is
overlooked,” added Konstantina Sakellariou, Partner, Marketing &
Operations Director, Stanton Chase International.
4) Poor networking can push your down
Networking
is not an optional thing in today’s world. “Candidates should also get
creative in their job search,” as Sayer puts it.
“Applying
to roles on job boards is just the beginning. To maximise chances,
candidates should tap into their networks, speaking to friends and
family about potential opportunities and referrals, and staying active
on social networking sites such as LinkedIn. Most jobs are filled by
word-of-mouth, so speaking with a specialist recruiter about upcoming
opportunities may also help candidates successfully land a new
opportunity,” he explained.
Agrees
Masri, who believe networking is a long-term thing. “Many people make
the mistake of networking just to market themselves for an immediate
opportunity or to be referred to a company hiring at the present time.
Effective networking is a long term give-and-take process that puts you
on the inside track in the area that interests you and establishes you
in the running for any attractive position that comes up in the future,”
he said.
5) Careless follow-up
Sending
out applications is just the first step. This should be coupled with
regular follow-up to ensure that you have not missed at any stage of the
selection/screening process. This ensures you make it to the interview
stage.
“Sending
a mass mailing of CVs and waiting for the companies to contact you is
not an optimal job search strategy. The key is in the follow-up. Plan
your follow-up strategy and execute it well. Follow up by phone to make
sure the relevant manager has received your CV, follow up again to ask
for a meeting and follow up with notes regularly until you have received
some form of a response,” added Masri of Bayt.com.
Besides regular follow-up, the Bayt expert also suggests to treat a job search seriously to ensure optimal results.
“Treat
the job search process as a job in itself and apply the same discipline
and structure to your activities that you would apply to your job.
Create a ledger of job search activities from researching a company on
the internet or in publications to sending initial introduction letters
to follow-up calls, follow-up notes etc,” he said.!