Finding the Right Job Abroad

Because of the huge range of opportunities becoming available throughout the Gulf/Middle East all year round – the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar and Kuwait – employment agencies and recruitment consultants have an important role to play in matching candidates with jobs. A number of executive search and management consultants in western countries act as ‘head-hunters’ for senior and managerial roles (for example in major oil and gas and IT corporations) while the manual and manufacturing labourers tend to come from Asian countries (India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Thailand) and so this is the sector that Asian agencies tend to focus on.

Because of the substantial geographical distances between the Middle East and many of the countries from which foreign workers originate, the ‘middleman’ function of a recruitment agency – one who understands the needs of their clients, the specific demands of each role and the suitability of each individual candidate – is essential.

Each individual agency tends to specialise in one or two particular areas or sectors – for example, computing and information technology, oil and gas, finance and accountancy, engineering and technical. As with all such agencies, they make a profit by charging each candidate a fee, typically 10-15 per cent of that worker’s agreed rate, and this is covered by the employer. Job hunters should be warned that there are plenty of unscrupulous agencies operating in the Middle East, and candidates should never be expected to pay upfront fees.

When job seekers consider the industrial climate and composition of the Middle East, most would consider the petroleum industry first and new infrastructure creation second.  What many fail to recognize is the heavy presence of sales and global marketing positions in Middle Eastern industries.  With the international nature of modern Middle Eastern business and industry, there is a great demand for sales professionals with a strong command of the English language.  University graduates with strong experience in sales and marketing are in great demand, and are necessary to interface and sell goods on a global scale.

While the vast majority of sales jobs in the Middle East focus on the petroleum industry, there are still opportunities in other industries in sales and marketing.  Many Middle Eastern nations support a strong industry of ship and aircraft repair, working with many clients across the globe.  The ability to communicate and sell high profile services to top foreign clients is a rare gift that does not go unnoticed in the Middle East.

Regardless of industry, there are a large number of high level contracts to be won.  Modern firms need highly skilled salesmen to ensure these contracts stay within the company.  With so many goods and services targeted between businesses, the need for face to face sales is greater in the Middle East than any other economic hot bed.  From petroleum to vehicle repair and contract construction, talented salesmen will always be in demand in the Middle East.

Jobs in Gulf can seem difficult to look for at first, because you are essentially looking for a job that exists in a country far away from your own.  Luckily the presence of the internet makes this task a lot easier than it would have been otherwise.  You can simply log on and start searching to find the information and jobs in the Gulf that you are after.

Most of the time you will discover that many areas of the Gulf are included in such a job search.  For instance you will usually find sections of websites that are focused on jobs in Qatar, as well as jobs in other specific regions.  If you have a specific preference for finding a job in a particular area (such as jobs in Qatar for example) you should start in this region.  Otherwise the best bet is to search for jobs in Gulf in general, and then narrow down your findings as you get closer to what it is you want.

For instance you may have a specific job type in mind, such as a job in the oil industry or in the IT world.  On the other hand, you may simply want to look at all the jobs in Qatar and then narrow down the work that you are best suited for after that.

As you can see, you can begin your search for jobs in Gulf in many ways.  Isolate the best method for your needs, depending on the knowledge you already have, and go from there.

Dubai banking jobs are not that hard to find, even if you are living in a Western country and not in Dubai itself.  However there are some aspects of Dubai banking jobs that you need to bear in mind, so let’s look at these now.

For starters you should be aware that most Dubai bank jobs are made available on a temporary basis.  Temporary could mean a few months or perhaps a year, but most contracts are temporary because the people who run the country want the majority of permanent jobs to be taken by the workforce that has permanent residency.

This may sound like there are few opportunities for Dubai bank jobs for Westerners if you have experience in this area.  But this isn’t true.  Not only are there lots of Dubai banking jobs available, you will find you are well treated and remunerated for your efforts while you are living and working there.

In addition to this, there is always the possibility of taking on another temporary position once your initial job comes to an end.  Once you are working in Dubai you may find it much easier to make contacts and find new sources of work in the future.

Whichever way you decide to go, you will find that there are always opportunities for those who know the banking industry.  Start looking for Dubai banking jobs online now to see whether you are qualified to start working in this unique location.

The UAE Free Zones host around 10,000 diverse companies. Aside from the sectors described elsewhere (IT, telecommunications, oil and gas, real estate, construction and engineering and accountancy and finance), the UAE has a range of other employment opportunities, whatever your specialist area of interest.

Jobs in Saudi Arabia are not just restricted to engineering and oil-related professions either. There is an enormous range of jobs – the site www.allsaudiarabiajobs.com lists a total of 48 sectors including electronics, pharmaceuticals, building and groundwork, research and development and publishing and printing. Saudi Arabia has a demand for doctors, nurses and surgeons with a variety of specializations. There are usually numerous positions available in one of Saudi Arabia’s 137 hospitals, health centres and specialist clinics for qualified healthcare professionals. Roles include staff nurse, radiologist and medical registrar and midwife (any position which involves dealing with female patients attracts female applicants only.)
Hospitality, Catering and Tourism   

The Middle East has become an increasingly popular holiday destination, and Dubai in particular has seen a meteoric rise in its tourism industry in the past decade. Whatever your level of experience, there are hospitality jobs in Dubai and throughout the Gulf region from waitress, concierge, cruise hostess, hotel front desk executive and steward to souse chef, travel consultant, barman, tour guide and restaurant manager.

The United Arab Emirates consists of seven states (emirates): Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm al-Quwain, Ras al-Khaimah and Fujairah, and it borders Oman and Saudi Arabia. The total land area of the UAE is over 32,000 square miles and Abu Dhabi, the capital, contains around a third of the UAE’s overall total population, which has almost tripled in the past decade due to its booming economy and now stands at 7.5 million. Saudi Arabia is 25 times bigger in terms of area and has a population of 28 million.

Dubai has established itself as an important tourist destination and port (Jebel Ali Port, constructed in the 1970s, has the largest man-made harbour in the world), with its transport links bolstered by Emirates Airlines, which was founded by the government in 1985 and is still state-owned.

Prior to the rise of the oil industry in the 1960s, native born citizens accounted for around two thirds of the UAE population – the proportion of nationals is now closer to just a fifth, while the number of expatriates living in the UAE continues to rise. Dubai, located south of the Persian Gulf, is the second largest UAE city with a population of two million, and the fastest growing city in the world with a cosmopolitan commercial centre. Dubai’s expatriates account for an astonishing 95% of its overall population, and these foreigners come from all over the world – nationalities include Indian, Pakistani, Philippine, British, American, South African and Australian. Dubai has over 200,000 new arrivals each year.

Despite the political unrest and conflict that has plagued regions of the Middle East for a number of decades, in general the Gulf States are progressive and provide safe and family-friendly places to work. It is worth noting that men outnumber women by approximately five to one (and foreign women may find it much more difficult to find acceptable well-paid work) and also that homosexuality is considered a crime throughout the entire Middle East. The sale and consumption of alcohol is restricted (although the nightlife in Dubai is far from staid and quiet). In the UAE all employees are able to buy and drive their own car; however in Saudi Arabia women are not permitted to drive. The crime rate in the UAE and Saudi Arabia is virtually non-existent and Dubai is the most modern and cosmopolitan city in the Middle East, with a huge selection of shopping centres and restaurants, a bustling centre of high-rise tower blocks, majestic luxury hotel resorts and busy, crowded streets. Indeed it has been called the “shopping capital of the Middle East”.

The Middle East is hot all year round and so all public buildings tend to be well air-conditioned, and both men and women are expected to dress conservatively for most types of work. (In Saudi Arabia, Islamic dress code is compulsory.) Before moving to the Middle East, do some research into the traditions and customs of the Arabic culture as they do expect a standard of decorum from all members of society. It should also be noted that the bargaining prowess of an Arab businessman should never be underestimated!

The Middle East is a huge area which has plenty to offer when it comes to finding jobs in Middle East that will suit your skills.  But how do you know where to start?  It can be particularly difficult if you don’t even live in the region to begin with.

But in actual fact this is not the case.  It doesn’t matter if you live elsewhere in the world, because the best place to start searching for jobs in Middle East is to look online.  In many areas you will actually have far less of a chance of getting a suitable job if you go to the country to look for one.  Researching everything you need to know online is by far the best way to begin.

The jobs are generally split into two broad types, so decide which type you are going to look for.  Some are as consultants to companies, whereas others are for positions within the companies themselves.  This latter example of jobs in Middle East is usually the one most people opt for.

You then need to decide if you have a preference to work in a particular region of the Middle East.  If you do, make sure you only search for jobs in this region.  Most websites will allow you to search for jobs in Middle East according to the sector you want to work in, as well as the area you want to focus on.  By narrowing down your choices you should find it easier to find your ideal position.

If you were applying for a job in your own country, you may already know something about the company offering that position.  If you didn’t you would probably find out what you could about them.

The same applies with Dubai gas jobs as well.  Whenever you come across a vacancy you think might suit you, see what you can find out about the company first.  Dubai gas jobs are offered by several companies in the area.  Most job related websites will list the name of the hiring company alongside the information about the position.  Some will even hyperlink the company’s name so that it leads directly to their website.

This is by far the best way to find out more about the companies offering Dubai gas jobs.  Their websites will also be likely to reveal more information about how they cater for workers who come to work for them from other countries.  Most companies are thankfully very good to work for, and they have various programmes in place to enable their foreign workers to settle in.  See if the companies offering the Dubai gas jobs you are considering have any such programmes.  If they do, it could influence your decision to apply.

Of course, if you know which companies are offering these positions you can visit their websites direct to get early notification of new positions as they become available.  This could mean you get in ahead of the crowd when you apply for Dubai gas jobs.

Most of us are familiar with the role that employment agencies play in helping to match candidates with employers.  It is no different in countries other than your own either.

For instance if you are considering Dubai finance jobs to be your next career move, opting to go with an employment agency could actually give you more opportunities than you would find otherwise.  Many major companies enlist the help of employment agencies to assist in finding the right staff for their needs.  Could you be among them when it comes to applying for Dubai finance jobs?

The advantage of using an agency to help you find work is that they will be used to dealing with people who want to find Dubai finance jobs, and who are currently based in another location.  As such they will know a lot about the way the country works, and they will be able to answer any questions or queries you might have as a result.

You may also find some employment agencies or companies set up in international cities.  These organisations can funnel people from Western countries towards the appropriate jobs in Dubai.  If you consider that many banks have headquarters around the world, many Dubai finance jobs actually involve working for these people.

There are agencies that deal specifically with Dubai finance jobs, rather than trying to cover all areas and industries.  If you look for one of these you are liable to have better results than you would if you went to a more general agency.