CV Tips for Job-Hunting in the UAE

CV etiquettes differ greatly from country to country, and sometimes even industry to industry. In New Zealand, my CV was short and to the point, and did not have my photograph. There we are told employers do not have the time to read in detail, so keep it simple. And we do not put photos or other personal details such as date of birth and ethnicity as employing on such basis is seen as racist and punishable by law.

In the UAE, the scenario is completely different. Read the vacancy sections in Gulf News or online websites like Bayt, and you’ll find countless ads that specifically ask for Western or Arab nationalities only. Sad but true, many employment agencies also screen by looks and age.

So, to save you the heartache and time, it’s best to come clean on your CV in the first place with the following:

-          A passport-sized photo: refrain from holiday clicks, and use one where you look polished and professional. A photo tells an employer your ethnicity, approximate age, gender and how professional you look. It also adds a human touch to a CV which is otherwise very formal and factual.

-          Mention your ethnicity. Maybe you are an interesting mix! Mention this. Perhaps you have additional language skills that can be an asset to the job?

-          Mention your date of birth.

Other points to consider when creating your CV are…

-          The layout of your CV. This should be attractive yet easy to read. Stick to one font style.

-          In New Zealand, we were told to keep our CV’s as short as possible (a maximum of two pages). My current CV is 4 pages long. If you are restricted to two pages, chances are you will squeeze in as much information as you can in the limited space and end up with a very cluttered look. It is important to keep your CV reader-friendly and neat. Ensure it has a lot of white spacing.

-          This brings me to the look and feel of the CV. In the West, we are encouraged to keep it plain and simple. In the UAE you can play with the layout more. However, refrain from too much colour contrast. An attractive border will look neat and help you stand out.

-          It is also very important to read the job requirements advertised. Do some background checks on the company you are applying to. Would you like to work there? Does the job culture seem very formal or laid-back? How can you translate this in your application? How can the set of skills you have be of value to the job on offer? Modify your current CV.

When applying for a job via email…

-          Refrain from creating crazy pseudo email accounts (like blacklilly89 or sweetbaby002). Ensure your email address is personalized with your own name.

-          In the email subject header, put in adequate detail about yourself but keep it concise. An example would be ‘Advertising Manager, 8 years’ experience from New Zealand’.

-          If the name of the recipient is known, greet them by it. Refrain from using ‘Sir/Madam’ as it sounds too traditional and makes your email less likely to be read.

-          Rename your CV file to something more relevant to the job you are applying for (so that it becomes easier for the employer to find later).

When posting a CV on an online portal…

-          The first few lines of your CV should be a summary of your job skills. This makes you easier to find via SEO (Search Engine Optimisation).

-          An online CV should list all your experience with as much information as possible.

-          If there is an option for attaching a cover letter, do so! Summarize your plus points but keep it short and sweet. Don’t rewrite your CV.

At an interview…

-          Look your best! Dress professionally, and above all be confident. Your CV has done the job of getting you in to the office, now let your personality shine through.

-          Give a firm handshake, it shows confidence.

-          Be on time. Infact, be atleast 15 minutes early. Punctuality is a virtue.

-          Ask questions. This shows intelligence, and that you’ve done your homework and did a background search on the employer.

-          Leave on a good note, and do not ask for the job directly.

All the best job-hunters!

-          Big Sis.