Wednesday, 05 December, 2018

With the rapid developments in the industry, the job market has grown to be very competitive hence it is important to be prepared in order to stay on top of your game and differentiate yourself.

From Video CV’s to online portfolios, there are various ways to stand out from the crowd. Whichever way you use to introduce yourself to a prospective employer, make sure to know about the company’s background and values, as a more traditional company may prefer a conventional CV whereas an innovative organization might expect you to think outside the box.

There are a number of ways to get an employer’s attention and ultimately find work and we have created a comprehensive list of basics that would support your endeavor once you are ready to go ahead and apply for a job role.

Update your CV

This might sound like it is logical but how many of us don’t have a CV that us up to date? Regardless if you are a student or you already have many years of work experience, chances are that you have quite a few remarkable achievements that are notable and should be included in your CV. Your CV is usually the first impression a prospective employer would get of you, hence make sure that these documents portraits you in the best possible way. Other than content of a work history and education, this is the place to display any voluntary/ project work as well as extracurricular activities and certifications. Depending on the role you are applying for, feel free to add any hobbies you have to give the hiring manager a bigger picture of who you are.

Social Media

Statistics show an immense increase in social media usage across the MENA region and with no doubt it is important to keep all profiles up to date and ensure that a professional image is kept at all times.

Differentiating between private social media accounts such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram etc. and a professional network such as LinkedIn is highly recommended.

Thanks to privacy settings, you can control which content reaches a respective audience to a certain extend but don’t rely on that only as regulations change and chances are that at some point of your life you have posted something personal which you wouldn’t want a prospective employer to see in the future.

If you are a regular social media user, be aware to utilize your settings wisely and only make content visible that you really would like the world to know. Researching applicant’s profiles on social media has been a common practice that is used by hiring managers often and you can use this for your own advantage, strategically posting industry specific content. Freelancing for publications or creating a blog for the sector you wish to work in might be one way of creating positive visibility for yourself and to build an image.

LinkedIn for example is a powerful site that offers various options to network with industry professionals, publish content, as well as directly apply for jobs.

The website also gives the option of asking for a referral from people in your network whom you have worked with in the past. This is i.e. a very powerful tool and can have a significant impact as it comes from individuals/ managers you have actually worked with.

Networking

Regardless if it is your neighbor who might be working in your preferred industry, a fellow alumni or colleagues you have worked with in the past, make sure to keep and nurture relationships. Having the right connections can help you immensely when looking for work, as ‘word of mouth’ is still a very powerful tool when it comes to finding work. Send out your CV to as many relevant contacts as possible and of course make sure to have their consent beforehand.

Attend specific industry events where you might be able to mingle with companies who you would like to work for and if your financial situation allows print some business cards with your details. This will not only look professional, but most likely will help your counterpart to return their business card so you are able to contact them afterwards.

The UAE is a hub for events, hence make sure to identify those sectors you wish to tap into and their respective presence on exhibitions and events. Other than making valuable connections, attending these can give you a great insight into a company’s scope of work, their employees and a general feel for the environment which will give you a sneak peek into the company and if you can see yourself there.

The UOWD offers various courses that can help you to get prepared when looking for work.

You can find further information to an upcoming CV writing workshop at the UOWD campus on the link below:

https://www.uowdubai.ac.ae/events/cv-writing-1