Do not fall for this opinion
Unpopular opinion: You will not get a job in the UAE if you do not have local experience
I want to share my story (from 2015) about my journey to finding a job in the UAE without having any local experience.
When I first arrived in the UAE, I was excited and eager to start my job life here.
I applied for countless positions, but everyone wanted someone with local (UAE) experience.
However, I soon realized that finding a job without local experience is quite challenging.
I felt like giving up, but then I decided to accept this fact and understand what this market needs.
I started to do research on how to improve my chances of finding a job.
I attended job fairs, workshops, and networking events, where I met people from my field.
Finding those people who will give you directions is more like a treasure hunt.
For me, they were Mr. Tabrez and Mr. Sameer (not me, but another guy). ✌️
These guys changed my perspective and gave me hope that I could do it, too, if they could do it.
“When you change your thoughts, remember to also change your world.” — Norman Vincent Peale
From then on, I understood the game. If I want to become one of these, I must understand the work culture.
I used LinkedIn to connect with industry professionals from the construction field and requested them to meet me for a coffee.
I met with more than 5 industry professionals, and everyone shared their professional and personal experiences.
They were so kind that they paid for the coffee too. 😊
Thereafter,
- I also went door to door to each company (relevant to my field) at least 3 days a week
- I used to check job vacancies on online platforms such as LinkedIn jobs and Indeed jobs.
- Also, I checked job ads in local newspapers in Dubai.
As they say,
But,
When that door opens, that's an opportunity, and the question is
Are you prepared for it?
P.S. One final thought: If you are ever told that you will not get a job in the UAE without Gulf experience, please share this article with them.
You could do it, too, if I could do it. It is just the process!
All the best, get started!