Qatar, one of the most peaceful countries in the MENA region and a fast-growing industrial hub, is welcoming to qualified foreign professionals across all industries. There’s been an upsurge of jobs in Qatar recently. The upsurge has been ascribed to the nation's fast-growing economy and its need for skilled workers.
To put it precisely, locals and expats seeking jobs in Qatar stand great chances of landing them due to the extensive employment prospects existing but just like many other places in the world, the job isn't going to fall into your lap. There are certain strategies that you may have to implement and tricks you may want to learn as a job seeker in Qatar to get the job you want.
What then are these tricks, tips, or strategies?
Yes, you read that right! Your CV must be perfect. Employers in Qatar -like most places- do not settle for mediocrity. If you want to be given a shot at a job you want, you have to earn it by ensuring that your CV beats those of other applicants.
When you are not hired for a job you applied for; perhaps you weren't called for an interview or you got dropped at the interview stage, you may draw scenarios in your head and paint several pictures to make yourself feel better about the situation but the truth is there could be a more plausible reason why the recruiter didn't select you - the recruiter may have found a better candidate. The hardest truths after all are those, we have to tell ourselves and I hate to sound corny but acknowledging the truth will set you free.
So, it is important to be candid with yourself. Do a strict reassessment of your CV or get an experienced CV writer to do it for you, do the necessary modifications, and update the information there. Include relevant keywords, work experiences, interests, and volunteer work. Remember that originality makes a CV stand out. You could consider reaching out to professional CV writers if you are having trouble figuring out how to perfect your CV.
Your chances of landing a job in Qatar increase by ten with the right referral. Do not underestimate the power solid connections can have in helping you land that job you want or even accelerating your overall career success.
By establishing great connections and networks, you are able to bank on personal and business connections rather than just your CV. Recruiters have a responsibility to the companies they work for to find the best person for an open role. A CV, however, is not 100% effective in helping them find that person. Many recruiters may choose to play it safe and hire someone an employee, a colleague or even a friend has vouched for. The implication of this is that the hired person had an advantage over other applicants because they entered the hiring process with a level of trust from the recruiter in addition to their CV due to the connections they had.
Establishing great connections can also help you find opportunities you wouldn't typically see in an online job search or a news release. This makes sense as many job positions are communicated internally. Build meaningful relationships with your friends, family members. Network outside the box by doing volunteer work, joining groups, book clubs, attending parties or other social gatherings. You could also form excellent connections by attending Qatar's Annual Career Fair held every year at the Qatar National Convention Centre.
Even if you aren’t an avid social media user, it is advisable to consider having at least two social media profiles when you’re searching for a job in Qatar. Social media can be very instrumental in your job search. It helps you to build your personal brand, discover more jobs and establish great connections with people you cannot meet in person. Having social media profiles and improving your online presence also demonstrates to potential recruiters that you are cognisant of internet trends and have some level of technological skills.
Utilizing social media platforms to land a job in Qatar can also mean using social media platforms to research and discover things about a lead (the company that you intend to work for) that would give you an advantage over other applicants when you are called in for an interview. Checking their social media profiles provides insights into who they are, what they do, and their goals. Read their blogs, tweets, LinkedIn posts, Instagram posts etc. Research has shown that you can learn a lot more about a company from their social media profiles much more so than a website or other channels.
Another way to utilize social media platforms as a job seeker in Qatar is to use your social media profiles to increase your industry knowledge. Many professionals on social media channels are constantly sharing relevant and up-to-date news/information for several industries and careers. To discover, search for terms that relate to your industry and career. Use hashtags to search and follow people who regularly talk about your profession. Like their posts and comment as often as you can so the algorithms of these platforms can send related content to your feed.
Job sites like Bayt.com serve as a channel that connects employers to job seekers. Bayt.com provides job seekers with the ability to browse through thousands of jobs within the MENA region. Even when you’re not actively applying for jobs, employers that search for new candidates can look at potential candidate profiles and contact them for job interviews. But employers can exclude CVs that are not completed are not recently updated, to make sure the candidate suits their requirements. You never know when a job opportunity might appear, and it’s always best to apply within the first 48 hours of a job posting.
You are probably thinking that this should go without saying but you would be shocked at how many candidates lose their chances at a job they are qualified for due to avoidable mistakes during the interview stage.
Some tips for passing your job interview in Qatar are:
