The prevailing wisdom is that around this time of year, important books have been closed, critical decisions have already been made or deferred to the New Year, key people are already on holiday or planning their prolonged winter hiatus and hiring activity, in solidarity with the weather, is at a freeze. Little could be further from the truth this holiday season in booming Middle East economies, particularly around the GCC, where hiring managers are recruiting aggressively and appetite for talent is at fever pitch.
With newly released regional macro-economic indicators all pointing in favor of sustained growth, consumer confidence levels robust and expectations for increased job creation next year high (please see Bayt.com October Consumer Confidence Index Survey), regional corporations are busy recruiting for the growth ahead. Talent crunches in several key sectors have made recruiters even more vigilant than usual at this time of year and recently released statistics on cost increases and salary hikes across the region have augmented this vigilance as staff engagement and retention challenges are heightened against a backdrop of escalating costs. The Bayt.com Executive Search team have attested that there has been no dip in hiring activity or deferment of hiring decisions this year-end and the current on-line jobs posted on www.bayt.com, the Middle East's #1 job site are at record highs.
For jobseekers this means this year-end is a perfect time to roll back their sleeves and perfect their on-line CVS. There is generally less competition for jobs at year-end as many jobseekers wait for the New Year or occupy themselves with holiday planning activities and HR departments as well as hiring managers often have more time to meet with candidates as the general pace of activity slows down towards year-end.
Moreover, many employers have budget surpluses for headcount at year-end which they may prefer not to defer till the next year which creates ample opportunities for appropriate talent. Fortunately the New Year looks as promising as 2007 in terms of job creation and employment opportunities in the Middle East and if you are a skilled professional in any of the fields in much demand currently, including IT, financial services, hospitality and engineering, this December is a great time to get a head start in your job search and set yourself apart from the fray.
