Marketing vacancies in UAE: declining due to recession or something else?

[Ti_]

I have been in contact with a few employers in Dubai and have been orientating at Bayt/GulfTalent for a while and it seems that the number of marketing vacancies is relatively low. Especially for new graduates, I expected for a 'booming' region as Dubai and Abu Dhabi actually having a strong demand for (on-line) marketeers.

Having applied to 5 employers, I received only rejections. Strange, as my profile (very high GPA/studied at Ivy League school/high amount of related work experience) seems even to attract quite a few head hunters in my home country offering interesting salaries.

Any opinions or recommendations on this area? Is the ratio of job seekers v.s. marketing vacancies > 100:1 due to the economic recession? Is it the fact that my CV is only 1 page? Is it because I don't include a photograph?

[dizzyizzy]

5 applications is waaaaay low!!!!!!! You will need to apply to at least 50 jobs to actually get one - and even that might be low I had to apply to around 80 to find mine, and this was during the 'good' times.

My suggestion is to contact companies directly. Call them up, ask who the HR person is or even better, the head of the department you want to work for, and then send your CV. That will be more successful than applying online.

You also have the disadvantage that you are not in the country (judging from your profile flags). There are hundreds of candidates already here applying to the same jobs as you, so who do you think the employer is going to prefer? So when you apply for jobs you need to say that you will be available from X date to X date for interviews (and make it happen).

[-Tenshi-]

You have to put a picture of you in the CV. They always want pictures of you here.

My suggestion is to contact companies directly. Call them up, ask who the HR person is or even better, the head of the department you want to work for, and then send your CV. That will be more successful than applying online.

That is so true especially for local companies. They will forget your CV immediately, if you don't call them. Somehow it also takes local companies a very long time to decide if they want you or not. I think that is an arab thing lol.

The best way to get a job here is through friends or if the company you are applying for has someone from your home country already employed in the higher management.

[TallyHo]

There is a recession, you know...

Ok, maybe not a full fledged recession, but Dubai and Abu Dhabi are hardly boomtowns anymore. You missed the boat by about three years as the crash happened in late 2008.

That said, there's still a sizeable employment market out here and turnover is quite high due to the expat nature of the place. Your disadvantage is not being in the UAE only half hurts you as many companies still recruit from overseas - my firm's last two hires were straight from London.

As for the photo - I've heard it's required, but then again I've never had to submit a photo for any of the jobs I applied to out here, and my firm certainly doesn't require a photo as part of the application. Then again we're a Western firm with UAE offices and it's likely different for local firms.

If you really want to work in the UAE, just keep plodding along and apply to everything that remotely interests you. It may take a few weeks, it may take a year, but persistence *may* pay off at the end of the day, but as with everything else, there's no guarantees!

[INFAMOUS]

Yea 5 applications is NOTHING... Submit 100... if you don't here anything positive from those, then maybe its time to consider another location/profession.

[ilovechocolates]

True, 5 applications is too low. The fact that you received rejections means they noticed your CV cos most employers won't even respond!!

Keep on applying - minimum 50. or even 100. My technique when applying is having a really good cover letter, not just a standard one.

[Ti_]

Thank you all for the quick replies. I appreciate it!

I am now aware of the fact that many UAE companies do not extensively research received CV's and therefore might not read all of the incoming ones.

Regarding the picture, I'll include one on my further applications (mainly in Internet City and Media City). Any recommendations whether to keep my CV on 1 page for a MNC or in "Dubai format" with multiple pages (2-3)?

[Mr Rossi]

The recession plus the fact a lot of companies here (including some huge ones) are still run like a local grocery store means the demand for marketing people just isn't here. On top of which many people here confuse marketing with PR, they advertise for marketing professionals = they want someone to sort out brochures and flyers.

You mention online marketing, I assume you are involved in social media, PPC campaigns etc? If so you only have to look at the standard of some of the major companies website's to realise how far behind the region is.

That said there is jobs and there are companies that meet standards deployed worldwide, like the others said you'll just need to send out a 105 rather than just 5 CV's.

Finally not being based in the UAE already, having no UAE experience and not including a photograph on your website will go against you on websites like Bayt, Monster etc.

[ash_ak]

Originally Posted by Ti_

Any recommendations whether to keep my CV on 1 page for a MNC or in "Dubai format" with multiple pages (2-3)?

What can you convince an employer in a 1 page cv, detail your projects and highlight your achievements, whether you did them at college or previous jobs, I read somewhere that a good cv, while succinct, but it should also emphasize your strengths and focus on the role you are trying to get. If you are gonna apply to a whole bunch of companies, make atleast 5 different types that broadly "speak" to the company that you are applying for.

A cv is everything and the only thing you have to get your foot in the door- I.e. the interview.

[beeniesmiles]

I'm going to echo what everyone else is saying-- sending out 5 CVs is like trying to slay a dragon wielding a toothpick as a weapon! it's a numbers game and there are TONS AND TONS of people in every industry across all sectors vying for the same positions. as with anything, being aggressive, being proactive, following up, and being diligent (as well as learning to deal with the inevitable rejection ever so often no matter HOW awesome you are) is KEY to success.

i must have easily sent out HUNDREDS of resumes. I remember launching a full-fledged campaign of emails and phone calls and in-person visits. Leave an impression! Stand out from the crowd! and most importantly- don't sit around waiting for someone to spoon feed you a position and beg you to join their company-- there are lots of really educated and experienced expats in dubai/coming to dubai that you're up against so you really need to sharpen your teeth!

i swear, just thinking about the job hunt is exhausting me all over again. Looking for work is a full time job so be prepared to invest the time and energy-- and network!!!

Good luck!