Why is it so difficult to find work in Dubai? | Page 3 | ExpatWoman.com
 

Why is it so difficult to find work in Dubai?

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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 07 January 2014 - 12:02
I struggled to find a job for the first 5 months I was here; purely down to as others have said a lack of UAE experience. Eventually, I landed an interview (again, as people have mentioned, through a friend) where the manager informed me straight away he was looking for an Indian or Filipino employee - and I quote "not because the money is poor but the things we expect this job category to do". Bearing in mind it was a job I performed for 8 years in the UK, you can imagine my surprise! Once I chatted though and explained I was in the (very fortunate) position that I just wanted a job to have me out of the house and give me something to do while DH was working, I was successful and worked there for a year before leaving due to wanting to change industry. I'm now back to square one, knocking down doors but I know that it will just take a bit of time and fingers crossed off to a 2nd interview today! Good luck xx
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 07 January 2014 - 11:34
I'm so glad to find this site and all the wonderful ladies here. I've been here in Dubai for 4 months and have been actively looking for work with no success. I came here as my husbands work was transferred here and left a highly paid career but have been sitting at home not being able to find anything. I have a degree in computer science, have over 16 years in management and leadership in customer service and support for many major companies. I'm from Vancouver Canada. I have my residency visa and all but somehow I'm unable to land even a single interview. I've applied through dubizzle, gulf talent, linkedin and every other agency. What am I doing wrong? I have worked my whole life since I was 14 and just can't sit at home as it will make me so depressed. Please help me shed some lights? Lower your expectations and you will get a job. You have no middle east experience so you have to start at a lower ranking position and work your way up again. The IT market here is saturated. Loads of people from India who will take a job for lower salary even if they are over qualified just to live here. Lowering my expectations has at least got me some temp work, so I can now say I have UAE work experience.
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 07 January 2014 - 11:31
I'm so glad to find this site and all the wonderful ladies here. I've been here in Dubai for 4 months and have been actively looking for work with no success. I came here as my husbands work was transferred here and left a highly paid career but have been sitting at home not being able to find anything. I have a degree in computer science, have over 16 years in management and leadership in customer service and support for many major companies. I'm from Vancouver Canada. I have my residency visa and all but somehow I'm unable to land even a single interview. I've applied through dubizzle, gulf talent, linkedin and every other agency. What am I doing wrong? I have worked my whole life since I was 14 and just can't sit at home as it will make me so depressed. Please help me shed some lights? Lower your expectations and you will get a job. You have no middle east experience so you have to start at a lower ranking position and work your way up again. The IT market here is saturated. Loads of people from India who will take a job for lower salary even if they are over qualified just to live here.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 07 January 2014 - 11:21
Update: Still desperately seeking work in Dubai :(
Anonymous (not verified)
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 18 December 2013 - 21:24
Minamiller, update us :) How is your job hunt going?
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 14 December 2013 - 18:43
I had a friend working in real estate and she also didn't earn a basic salary. All they give you is your commission but that might differ per company. Hope you find a job very soon, I have been back for nearly a week and have sent lots of applications before flying back. In the automated emails bayt.com sends I was able to see that around 600 people have applied for the same job! I did get some response and have been on interviews, so don't lose hope, you will get there :) Wishing you all the best in finding a suitable job soon! Good job on getting interviews through Bayt.com! I had no luck in getting any response other than the automated responses with (application unsuccessful). Wish you all the best in your interviews!!!
Anonymous (not verified)
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 14 December 2013 - 17:19
I had a friend working in real estate and she also didn't earn a basic salary. All they give you is your commission but that might differ per company. Hope you find a job very soon, I have been back for nearly a week and have sent lots of applications before flying back. In the automated emails bayt.com sends I was able to see that around 600 people have applied for the same job! I did get some response and have been on interviews, so don't lose hope, you will get there :) Wishing you all the best in finding a suitable job soon!
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 14 December 2013 - 16:55
Well done getting a job offer, I don't know how real estate agents pay is calculated but I do know that very few pay a basic salary so you finance them to start with (running your car/petrol etc.).
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 14 December 2013 - 13:51
Im sorry to bump this thread but just wanted to update everyone on my progress of finding my first job in Dubai since I posted this thread. I got 4 responses which I call a big success. One was a real estate company who just after 5 min of interview welcomed me onboard with an offering letter right on spot (which I desperately need your advice on) Another one I'm meeting with tomorrow for an interview! (Please wish me luck) 3rd one a wonderful lady from here who sounded like an angel. We were supposed to meet last Thursday but unfortunately she came down with a case of flu. 4th one forwarded my CV to her boss last Monday and hopefully I'll hear back soon. Now, the offer letter I have from the real estate agency goes something like this: If I make sales of anything up to 25k/ month I will get 5k plus 40% com. 35k/month i get 7k + 40% com. And over 50k/month i get 12k + 40%.com. Basically if i dont make any sales I get nothing! As soon as i start with a new company...party at my house and everyone invited!!!
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 11 December 2013 - 14:09
the Swiss business council has a job for - Recruitment Researcher (Finance desk) Thank you Janatks, i filled out the membership application. Thanks so much.
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 11 December 2013 - 13:24
the Swiss business council has a job for - Recruitment Researcher (Finance desk)
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 11 December 2013 - 12:53
Bumping this thread up for new leads :)
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 09 December 2013 - 10:09
Hold on. I have emailed the OP and she has sent her CV - thank you, and I will send it to the relevant department. I am not sure why my email delayed reaching you but we have been in touch now. To those criticising, I was trying to do someone a favour which at the time was ignored. I will continue to try to help her so I will delete my original post which was clearly posted in error as there was a communication issue. I am not playing anyone and my intention was not to be mean spirited, merely trying to understand why I had not received anything. My apologies. Just to clear things up, I received an email from TDB this morning at 7:29 AM which I forwarded my CV and cover letter immediately. Thank you again for your thoughts and consideration! To all the 3 lovely ladies who have followed up with me, and those who have responded here, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for being so caring. Even if I don't land an interview I still appreciate the good will gesture! So THANK YOU! <em>edited by Minamiller on 09/12/2013</em>
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EW GURU
Latest post on 09 December 2013 - 08:20
FYI I emailed the OP last night 9pm to ask her to send her CV. Til now nothing. If I was desperate to find a job, that CV would have been sent by 9:05pm with a cover letter. Perhaps this is why people have trouble hiring and then people say they can't find a job! What a nasty thing to post over someone else's back. Totally uncalled for. yes mean spirited and unprofessional
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 09 December 2013 - 07:47
FYI I emailed the OP last night 9pm to ask her to send her CV. Til now nothing. If I was desperate to find a job, that CV would have been sent by 9:05pm with a cover letter. Perhaps this is why people have trouble hiring and then people say they can't find a job! What a nasty thing to post over someone else's back. Totally uncalled for.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 09 December 2013 - 00:02
FYI I emailed the OP last night 9pm to ask her to send her CV. Til now nothing. If I was desperate to find a job, that CV would have been sent by 9:05pm with a cover letter. Perhaps this is why people have trouble hiring and then people say they can't find a job! FYI I have attempted multiple times to reach out to TDB on this forum with no success. Yes I am desperate to find a job but don't appreciate being played by someone just to make a point.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 08 December 2013 - 18:04
FYI Eleanora, I was glued, in fact I'm always glued to my phone checking my emails but have not received anything from anyone as of yet! :( i did receive 2 emails today one in the morning and one at 2:45 but nothing from TDB yet! <em>edited by Minamiller on 08/12/2013</em>
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 08 December 2013 - 17:46
FYI I emailed the OP last night 9pm to ask her to send her CV. Til now nothing. If I was desperate to find a job, that CV would have been sent by 9:05pm with a cover letter. Perhaps this is why people have trouble hiring and then people say they can't find a job! ----------------------------------------- With respect TDB, you are, I believe married into this Arabic culture and as such embraced this - they are not renowned for their timely responses I am experiencing so far. There are many reasons the OP may not have been glued to her computer at 9pm and one second...
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 08 December 2013 - 16:38
Btw, the 2 emails I received from the two lovely ladies were both from today. One at 8:30 AM and the other 1:45 PM. Nothing from anyone last night. Again, my apologies for not getting your email. I am very actively looking for work and will respond to anything and everything! Please if you could kindly just send me a quick email just so that I can forward my résumé. Very much appreciated!
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 08 December 2013 - 16:20
Hi Dangerous Blond Since I posted my email here I received 2 emails to send my CV, which I have. Im really not sure why I haven't received yours? Since I posted this thread, I've been refreshing my screen every few minutes except for the past couple of hours as I was cooking some chicken lol. However, I do apologize if I haven't responded to you but as I mentioned Ive only received 2 emails. Would you be so kind and send me another email? Trust me, I've been checking my junk emails too and nothing!
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 08 December 2013 - 14:28
Kenza the role is within customer services which was the OP's exact background hence why I asked her. I did see your other thread and I am so sorry about your situation. Can your husband not find work too? If I hear of anything else I will let you know. I understand :-) I do have experience in Customer Service and I worked in IT selling software packages but if the job is to technical indeed it would not be a good fit. Thanks for the good vibes though. PS: Maybe OP has no access to internet at home and did not get your message.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 08 December 2013 - 14:16
FYI I emailed the OP last night 9pm to ask her to send her CV. Til now nothing. If I was desperate to find a job, that CV would have been sent by 9:05pm with a cover letter. Perhaps this is why people have trouble hiring and then people say they can't find a job! Can I send you my CV? I am very urgently looking for a job and ready to take anything.
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EW GURU
Latest post on 08 December 2013 - 08:51
1) Do not judge yourself by your job hunt experience. In many cases, if you are not called for an interview it is not because you are not smart enough, but because you are not stupid enough for the position. I know it sounds harsh but that is the case in companies where drone workers are preferred rather than those who can think for themselves 2) There are mafias based on states or even cities within states and of course religion. That is why you will see even Indians complain on how their state of origin means they are not considered for some positions in many companies 3) The whole nationality pay structure, which operates on the flawed principle that every person from one country applying for one position has the same living standards, intelligence, work level makes things tougher.
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 08 December 2013 - 08:18
I agree with Hobo about being on the other side, we are looking for staff, admittedly in a fairly niche market but looking for young enthusiastic graduates. The number that don't bother turning up, or bring family in with them for support or just fall asleep in reception (after being there for 2 mins not hours). Minamiller, I will email you after I have posted this. Please check your junk mail as I am emailing from a gmail account.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 07 December 2013 - 21:09
Not sure where to add my email so I will just write it here! [email protected]
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 07 December 2013 - 21:06
Btw, I was a Service Desk/ Technical Support Manager for companies such as IBM, NOKIA, etc... IMHO you won't find a job in that filed here - the Indians have the market and will be making a lot less than what you will want.... It's not just that. Indians tend to hire Indians (same with many nationalities) and feel threatened by a western woman ... Why oh why such bias and sexist?? I had hundreds of direct reports from all over the world! Male and females. Im not here to change this behavior, Im just venting! :((( I think Dolley is just stating how things are here. People even tend to hire from their own state or town or even village and there'll be a very definite hierarchy and great loyalty to the one who did the hiring and that person will always be consulted about what's going on even if he's not a direct supervisor. It's all about control. Tbh, what I find demoralising is the realisation that I can't earn enough here to support my family. Before we came I had good jobs and at one stage dh was studying full time and I was working and paying the mortgage etc. it's very upsetting to realise that you have no economic value now:-(
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 07 December 2013 - 20:57
Btw, I was a Service Desk/ Technical Support Manager for companies such as IBM, NOKIA, etc... IMHO you won't find a job in that filed here - the Indians have the market and will be making a lot less than what you will want.... It's not just that. Indians tend to hire Indians (same with many nationalities) and feel threatened by a western woman ... Why oh why such bias and sexist?? I had hundreds of direct reports from all over the world! Male and females. Im not here to change this behavior, Im just venting! :(((
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 07 December 2013 - 20:53
Considering we don't set a specific salary but request our applicants to advise their salary expectation when they apply, Personally, i dont bother with companies that don't set a salary range. It says to me that they are only willing to pay the bare minimum... We don't set a salary range because we are prepared to pay more for the right applicant, if the right applicant can ever be bothered to turn up for an interview :) We understand that you get what you pay for, and with the job market being so difficult for many, alot of applicants will consider applying for lower paid jobs and then be unhappy a few months in when they realize that their salary doesn't allow them to live in the manner they are used to. Hence we always ask for a salary expectation to be sure that we offer a salary our new employee is totally content with.
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EW GURU
Latest post on 07 December 2013 - 20:48
Btw, I was a Service Desk/ Technical Support Manager for companies such as IBM, NOKIA, etc... IMHO you won't find a job in that filed here - the Indians have the market and will be making a lot less than what you will want.... It's not just that. Indians tend to hire Indians (same with many nationalities) and feel threatened by a western woman ...
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 07 December 2013 - 20:44
Btw, I was a Service Desk/ Technical Support Manager for companies such as IBM, NOKIA, etc... IMHO you won't find a job in that filed here - the Indians have the market and will be making a lot less than what you will want....
 
 

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