Dubai’s job marketing is highly competitive. Its high living standards and attractive business environment attracts workers from all over the world. This makes it harder for applicants to stand out. However, with some planning, you can optimise your job search to ensure you’re putting your effort into the positions that best match your skills and career goals. Not sure where to start your job search in Dubai? Here’s a list of the top job sites in Dubai.
Our resource section is packed with articles to make job-hunting in Dubai easier for you. Looking for recruitment agencies in the UAE? We have a handy guide with the most reputed recruitment agencies in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, along with some tips to apply. Need more help? Find out how to wow the recruiters at a walk-in interview in Dubai.
In this article, find out how to improve your job hunt using online portals to make the process more effective!
What makes an effective online job site in Dubai?
There are tons of job sites out there, some more effective than others. Instead of wasting your time on low-quality platforms, identify which ones provide the most value and stick to them. You’ll save time and can avoid scams. You’ll also find better opportunities this way.
What should you look for in a job site in Dubai? Here are a few tips:
Smart search abilities
Nobody has time to browse through thousands of job ads. Sorting through expired ads that don’t match your skills, experience, and expectations is a waste of time.
A functional online job site will make it easier for you to narrow down your search and only show you relevant positions. It should sort out jobs by industry, work title, experience, salary, location, date posted or last date to apply. The more filters a job site has, the easier it’ll be for you to focus your time on the opportunities that matter to you.
For example, at GrabJobs you can browse jobs by country and filter them out by job title, city, job type, category, salary, and most recent.
Mobile-first website
Another way to identify an effective online job site in Dubai? A mobile-first website.
It’s frustrating to navigate any website that doesn’t work well for mobile. The simple difference between applying immediately or later can decreases your chances of getting hired.
Take advantage of GrabJobs’ web-based app to find the right jobs and apply on the go. No more wasted time bookmarking or remembering which job ad caught your eye.
Easy-to-apply Features
Complicated application processes are a pain for job seekers looking to showcase their skills. On one hand, recruiters need to set up processes that work for them and help curve the deluge of applications coming in from all other the world. As a job seeker, complex applications mean spending hours on one application without the security of receiving a reply.
GrabJobs makes applications simpler than ever with its chatbot. Instead of uploading a resume and a cover letter, you answer a few questions specific to the position set up by the recruiter. This helps you and the recruiter determine if you’re the right fit for the position. It also saves you time and helps the recruiter analyse applications quickly.
That’s how you can identify an effective job site in Dubai!
Personalised job notifications
Another sign of an effective job site in Dubai? It’s personalised job notifications.
These notifications keep you updated with the latest jobs in your industry. Thus, allowing you to apply as soon as possible and increasing the chances that a recruiter will see your profile.
There are a few ways to set up notifications. You can configure Google Alert notifications to receive notifications when a new job pops up online.
Google Alerts don’t work for you? Rather keep all your job hunting resources in one place?
Well, GrabJobs sends you notifications straight to your email when a new job matches your qualifications.
No need for a CV
One of the biggest obstacles for job seekers is to tailor their CV to each application. While it’s recommended you personalise each application, the time and effort it takes can be frustrating.
In this case, how can you identify an effective job site in Dubai? Job sites that allow you to apply without sending a CV are the way forward. It lets you showcase your qualifications in different ways and focus on the particular skills for that job.
Many job sites do this in different ways. Some allow you to create a profile with samples of your work and video introduction. Others let recruiters do paid trials with candidates to assess their skills.
GrabJobs’ approach is unique. The chatbot applications make it quick and easy for you to apply to jobs without uploading a resume and cover letter. Then, recruiters have the tools to manage applications quickly, which means you get faster replies. Also, you can engage directly with employers and receive notifications when they have seen your profile.
Resources for Job Seekers
Finally, a professional job site will offer plenty of resources for job seekers. From ebooks, in-depth blog posts and communities, it will invest in content to help you improve your applications and interviews.
For everything you need to know about getting a job from application to salary negotiation and everything in between, have a look at GrabJobs’ resources page.
That’s how you can identify an effective job site in Dubai!
What are 8 tips for optimising my online job search in Dubai?
Knowing how to identify professional job sites helps, but there’s so much more to efficient job hunting. Anyone who’s ever looked for a job knows it demands a lot from your time and mental and emotional energy. So, optimising your job search is crucial to apply consistently and maintaining a positive attitude throughout the process.
Now that you know what makes a good job site, let’s have a look at a few tips to improve your online job search in Dubai.
Prioritise new postings
In most cases, recruiters only check applications in the first few days and only check more applicants if they didn’t find the right fit from the first pool of candidates. So, the sooner you apply, the better. If the job posting is a few days old, your chances of getting an interview are slim.
This doesn’t mean you should not apply to older job posts. What you can do is apply to newer posts first and leave older ones last. Alternatively, you can contact the recruiter directly to find out if they’re still accepting applications.
Keep your resume updated
Even if sites like GrabJobs don’t require you to apply with a resume, you might still need to bring it to the interview. In that case, it’s always a good idea to have different versions of your resume highlighting unique achievements and skills. Depending on your industry, you might want to create a website portfolio to include in your application. If you have these always ready, you’ll be able to apply for more jobs faster.
Sign up for recruitment agencies
Dubai is competitive and connections are essential to get jobs. Especially if you’re new here, you’ll want a way in. Recruitment agencies are that way in. Just be careful, there are lots of scams out there. Here’s a list of reputed recruitment agencies in Dubai. And remember, legitimate agencies don’t charge fees to place your resume.
Add new contacts to LinkedIn immediately
Networking is crucial to stay in the loop for new opportunities. While business cards are still a common part of networking in Dubai, make sure to add new connections to LinkedIn as soon as possible. Nurturing new relationships can also lead to learning opportunities as you collaborate and share your expertise with others.
Keep a record of your applications
A messy folder with old resumes will not help you keep your job search efficient. On the contrary, applying without an organization system makes your job search more stressful and time-consuming. Luckily, online job sites like GrabJobs make it easy for you to keep track of all your applications in one place.
Or, you can create a spreadsheet to track which positions you’re applying to. Keeping a record of the details will help you prepare for the interview. This can also help you identify what works and what doesn’t, and even spot mistakes in your applications.
Ask for feedback
While receiving a rejection email is never pleasant, you can turn it into a learning opportunity to improve your future applications by asking the recruiter for feedback.
It may seem like a waste of time—after all, recruiters don’t have the time to reply, right? You’d be surprised that many times they take the time to share some insights with applicants keen to improve.
You can improve your chances of getting feedback by keeping a positive attitude, thanking the recruiter for their consideration, and ask specific questions. For example, you could ask what set apart the successful candidate from the rest or what your biggest weaknesses or flaws in your application were.
Automate follow-ups
When possible, following up on an application can set you apart from other candidates. However, before you follow up, double-check the job description. Some recruiters will ask applicants to wait until after a certain date before they get in touch, or even request them not to contact the company regarding the application at all. Ignoring instructions will have a negative effect and might disqualify you.
Automation makes it easier than ever to avoid forgetting about those important follow-ups. Applications like Streak allow you to schedule emails and manage your email applications directly from Gmail, or you can apply using GrabJobs to keep tabs on your applications and contact recruiters directly.
Stick to a couple of reputable job sites
You’ll be tempted to use several job sites, but there’s no need. Over time, you’ll find that most job sites have the same ads.
Instead of wasting time scouting on several job sites, identify two or three sites with updated, legitimate opportunities and the tools you’ll need to apply to them. Depending on your industry, you’ll want to combine general and industry-specific sites. For example, if you are a programmer, you’ll find plenty of job sites just for programmers.
Avoid classified websites. Unlike reputed job sites, classified websites have no system to filter out scams. This means you’ll need to spend more time doing your due diligence if you choose to apply for an offer.
The fewer apps and tools you use, the better. Ideally, you’ll want to choose tools with a broad range of functionalities. Luckily, GrabJobs has all you need to apply for jobs in Dubai and get hired faster.
How do I maximise my chances of getting hired in Dubai through GrabJobs?
An effective job site in Dubai is more than just an ordinary classifieds page. Instead, they need to provide more value to both job seekers and companies by including tools and resources to manage applications easily.
With GrabJobs, you can keep everything you need to apply in one place. This includes your profile, applications, and conversations with recruiters. How do GrabJob’s tools help you increase your chances of getting a job in Dubai? Let’s have a look.
Streamlined job application with a chatbot
We all know how hard it is to spend days working on an application only to get no reply at all. GrabJob’s unique chatbot application process doesn’t just make applying a breeze—it also helps recruiters evaluate applications quickly. This means you won’t be stuck waiting for an answer indefinitely. Thus, reducing a lot of the anxiety involved in job hunting and letting you concentrate on other opportunities.
Quick, document-free application
Have you ever spent days updating your resume for an application? Only to find the position was filled before you had the chance to send it? With GrabJobs, your profile is all you need to apply for a vacancy. Then, the chatbot asks all the relevant questions to gauge your experience and skills and how they fit the job description.
A profile that highlights your skills
You might not need a resume, but you’ll need an up-to-date profile. However, this is easier than ever to do with GrabJobs. Its intelligent chatbot system filters candidates by minimum requirements first, which means your profile is your first chance to shine.
Because the key way that GrabJobs helps to streamline the job hunting and recruitment process are through an intelligent chatbot system, candidates are filtered out by minimum requirements and then through other factors sieved out through a conversation with the chatbot. Knowing the basics of Personal SEO will be vital to ensure your profile stands out.
With Personal SEO, you ensure your name appears on search results for relevant searches like job title or industry. In other words, it’s making sure recruiters, companies and potential collaborators find you easily on search engines and job sites like LinkedIn and GrabJobs. Over 79% of recruiters look up applicants on Google before considering them for a role, so it’s vital to make sure your online personal brand is on point.
How can you implement Personal SEO to boost your visibility online?
- Use targeted keywords
Review your social media profiles and add relevant keywords in your industry as necessary. Pay attention to your bio—depending on the social platform, you’ll want to include information like your job title and industry, your professional or even personal interests, a link to your website, or a recent project or publication. Most social media platforms allow you to use hashtags on profiles, so take advantage of them to boost your profile visibility. - Update your social media profiles regularly
Depending on your industry, you might not need to post several times a day, but keep your profiles up to date and share relevant content now and then. Inactive accounts don’t get visibility and may get inactivated. - Create a personal website
A website to keep all your social media accounts, samples of your work and other professional achievements will look professional and make it easier for recruiters to find you on a Google search. - Curate your online presence
Be careful what you share on social media. There’s nothing wrong with having personal accounts, but avoid posting anything that will portray a negative image of you. Once it’s online, it’s online forever. If you are a recent graduate, go through your personal social media profiles and delete any post that doesn’t portray you as the professional you aspire to be.
Job hunting doesn’t have to be a long, nerve-racking process. Kickstart your job search with GrabJobs and secure your dream job in Dubai.
