Writing Your CV in Dubai

The quality of your CV can make a huge difference, and is a very useful tool to help you stand out from other candidates applying for the same position.

Your CV is effectively a marketing document in which you are marketing something... Yourself!

You need to 'sell' your skills, abilities, qualifications and experiences to your potential employers. It's also important as it gives the person who is hiring you an insight into your personality, writing habits and attention to detail.

Some people recommend that you hire a professional agency to compose your CV document. However if you choose to do it yourself or to use a professional template we have some tips for writing your CV so that it meets the Dubai standards.

The most important thing to remember is that there are no discrimination laws in Dubai. This means that the employer is allowed to specify what you should look like, your age and your nationality when looking to employ a candidate. Therefore your CV should be adjusted to reflect your physical attributes, as well as your nationality and personality.

The Cover Letter

The cover letter is used to introduce your CV to potential employers. It is basically an advertisement as to why they should hire you. The cover letter should be adjusted in order to reflect what the specific company’s requirements are. Including the hiring manager’s name onto the cover letter is a nice personal touch to add. Try to limit your letter to a single page so as not to take attention away from your CV. Imagine the magnitude of CVs that employers have to sift through in order to find the perfect candidate. So make sure you get to the point, make it clear and concise and ready to let them go on to reading your CV. 

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Your cover letter should be specifically tailored to the company's profile and needs. An employer can spot a generic letter a mile away. Do not, under any circumstances, use text message abbreviations such as "ur", "u", "r" and the like anywhere in the CV. Check both the cover letter and the CV  for spelling errors. Technology is so good that nowadays you don't need to be a proficient speller. The spell check can do the work for you.

Do not regurgitate your CV onto the cover letter. The letter should show a bit of your personality and why you think you would fit into the company, and also why they should employ you.

The CV

Your CV should include a recent photograph of yourself. This is to show the employer what you look like. A passport sized photo on the top right hand side of your CV is the norm. Ensure that it is not a photo that you've knicked off Facebook, or one where you are exposing cleavage or it looks like you are out on a night on the town. The photograph that you include should reflect your business persona and be as professional as you put forth in the CV.

In western countries we are advised to have only a one page CV, however in Dubai one page will simply not suffice. Two full pages is the best size for a CV.

Include the following into your CV

• Provide full contact details including your full name, address, mobile phone number (with relevant country code) and email ID
• Nationality because your cover photo and name do not always signal where you come from. Employers may specify that they are looking for a specific nationality. Furthermore, salaries are dictated by nationality in some fields in Dubai.
• Age, some employers will require the women that they hire to be of a certain age.
• Gender is sometimes a factor when employers are hiring.
• Education, list all previous education, including professional qualifications
• Skills that are industry specific, list them in order of most relevance to you career
• Previous work and work experience, including internships, voluntary roles and previous job roles

When writing about your previous experience or your skills embellish on the information and exaggerate enough to make yourself seem like you are the best thing that ever happened to your previous company. But be careful not to tell white lies, as they have a habit of coming back and sneaking back up on you! Instead of fibbing, embellish yourself with a great personal statement that is short and snappy, and focuses on your industry and is not job-specific (this is what your cover letter is for).

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SEE ALSO: So you want to be an Engineer?

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Remember that your CV should show personality and reflect all the positive aspects of you, it is difficult to do on a piece of paper but a little bit of imagination can go a long way in getting you that interview.

Resume vs. CV

It is easy to assume that a resume and a CV are the same thing, quite often we put it down to language or cultural differences as different countries say one thing more than the other. But in fact, there are differences. A resume is a one or two page summary of your skills, experience and education. It should be brief and concise. Whereas, a CV includes a more detailed synopsis and summarises your educational and academic backgrounds, as well as any publications, presentations, awards, honours, affiliations and other details that you'd wish to add. 

In Europe, the Middle East, Africa or Asia, employers typically expect to receive a CV. In the United States however, a CV is used primarily when applying for academic, education, scientific or research positions. It's also used when applying for fellowships or grants.

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