Friday... full of good cheer
'Not able to find a job'
I am an engineer and was working in the US till recently but had to return to this region due to the declining US economy and tougher work visa regulations there.
- By Daniel Ough
- Published: 23:54 November 13, 2008
I am an engineer and was working in the US till recently but had to return to this region due to the declining US economy and tougher work visa regulations there. I have attended a few interviews with companies here but have not had much success. I also find that I am not getting many calls for interviews. According to some companies I do not seem to have the required "Gulf experience" or am too over-qualified. A few of my peers and professionals in the industry have perused my CV and have told me that it is fine. What could be the problem? Your professional advice will be greatly appreciated.
To summarise your question, I understand you are not getting many interviews and that when you are interviewed, companies are saying that you do not have Gulf experience or that you are over-qualified. You stated that you have sought the advice of your peers and they have said that your resumé is fine. There is a danger in asking your peers for advice or an opinion on your resumé because while they may be impressed with your career so far, they may not be looking at your resumé as a 'marketing flyer'. (A resumé is also referred to as a CV and should be thought of as your marketing flyer.)
You don't mention how many times you have used your resumé (marketing flyer) or what strategy you have been using to market yourself. The fact that you are not getting called for interviews indicates that either your CV is not effective or your marketing strategy is not working.
In order to be successful in a job search it is essential that you have marketing materials that clearly explain your skills and experience and demonstrate that you have been an achiever in your career to date. Even with a very good CV, if you are not using a targeted approach to distribute it to companies that are looking for your skills and experience, and applying for jobs specifically in your field, you will not be called for interviews.
With the vast number of expatriates living and working in the UAE, having Gulf experience is not generally a critical requirement. There are very few positions that actually need Gulf experience. For example, if you are in the field of construction and you are an electrical engineer, then your skills can be used for either designing projects or supervising electrical installations without any need for
Gulf experience. Where there are local regulations it would be fairly straightforward for an electrical engineer to learn them.
You mentioned that you have been told you are over-qualified. If you are using the qualifications you have and tailoring your job search to positions where they can best be put to use, that should not be a problem. If you are applying for junior positions where your potential boss would have fewer qualifications than you have and may therefore feel threatened, that may be the reason you are being told that you are over-qualified. It may be appropriate for you to raise your sights to a more senior position and make this part of your marketing strategy.
Summarising, study at your CV. Is it crisp and to the point? Does it clearly list your skills, experience and achievements? Try increasing the number of companies that you are contacting with your marketing flyer; search for job opportunities in the classified section of the newspapers each week, and sign up with recruitment companies. It is also important to start the process of networking which is one of the most successful ways of finding a job in the UAE, although the most challenging to carry out. You may benefit from using a career coach for a period of time to help you succeed in your job search.
Daniel Ough, founder and director of jobsearchhelp.net, a division of Sandpiper Consultants, answers questions related to careers exclusively for readers of Friday.
- Write to: Jobhelp Friday, P.O. Box 6519, Gulf News, Dubai, UAE Fax: 04 3441627; E-mail: friday@gulfnews.com
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