UAE: Looking for a job? How to improve your chances of getting noticed by top employers

UAE: Looking for a job? How to improve your chances of getting noticed by top employers

APK is a long-term expatriate in Dubai. Armed with a college degree, he arrived in the UAE in the early 1990s and got a job in under a month. He changed multiple jobs over the last three decades, till he was laid off when the Covid-19 pandemic struck. He has been in and out of temporary jobs ever since. The last one year has been particularly difficult as he has exhausted his savings looking for full-time employment. Recruitment specialists say that employees like APK failed to recognise how the UAE job market has changed. According to the 2023 Workforce Hopes and Fears Survey conducted by PwC Middle East, the region is undergoing a “transformational change on multiple fronts”. The study — which featured respondents from Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt and Qatar — said 52 per cent of the individuals surveyed in the region believe their jobs will change significantly in the next five years, requiring them to acquire new skills and capabilities. Embracing change Talking to Khaleej Times , Jeron van den Elshout, business director at global recruiting group Hays, highlighted the transformation of the UAE job market over the years. “There’s an increasing shift towards a knowledge-based economy and