The Middle East jobs market can be a competitive place, as an abundance of candidates look for new roles in the booming financial hubs such as Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
Having the right skills and experience isn’t always enough to secure you the job, you must know how to market yourself effectively to really get noticed.
If you’re hunting down your ideal Middle East job, you’ll need to prove you have an excellent combination of relevant expertise and strong communication skills. You’ll need to unleash your inner sales person to really catch a prospective employer’s eye.
Generally speaking, all good marketing is about establishing the needs of your target audience and positioning your brand to meet with their demands. It’s exactly the same for a job candidate – you must offer the ideal solution; the perfect package.
Here are 6 great ways you can start marketing yourself today:
1. Identify a target audience
Understand your potential employers inside out. Do as much research as possible to help identify the ethos of the organisation and the skills, personality and knowledge they value highly. Use the job description and person specification as a firm basis for their needs and try to work out how this role will fit into the company’s bigger picture.
2. Know your USP
The term USP (unique selling point) is often bandied around in sales and marketing departments up and down the country. This refers to the niche factor that makes a product or brand desirable and different from its competitors. Understand your own USP - it could be your specialist training or a unique combination of past experience and personal interests. Once you’ve honed in on your USP, make sure you let future employers know about it. Make sure your CV is updated with your current skills and recent achievements so you can act upon opportunities as and when they come your way.
3. A way with words
Your terminology can be important when applying for a new role. Understand what key phrases and buzz words are particularly sought-after by potential employers in your industry. Certain jobs in specific sectors may look out for particular skills and training. If these buzz words genuinely apply to you, use them.
4. Show a little personality
Don’t be afraid to add a little flair and a personal touch to your application. Nobody is solely a collection of professional skills and employers may be keen to see a more human side. Your interests, passions and personal skills will be part of the whole package- so don’t forget to market yourself as a well-rounded individual.
5. Keep your finger on the pulse
Keep up-to-date with any developments and news in your industry to ensure your knowledge is always relevant and well-informed. Read industry publications, influential blogs and websites – you may find they help to inform your answers or provide discussion points when it comes to the interview stage. Keep your skill sets updated to stay relevant in your current job and this way you can alsodemonstrate your commitment to continued learning to a future employer.
6. Web savvy
The web has made it easier than ever to promote yourself. Social networking sites such as LinkedIn and twitter now give you direct, accessible channels of communication through which to network and uncover new opportunities. Networking will help you establish credibility with your peers in the industry and nurturing connections will help you with your career growth.
For more help with your job search or hiring requirements, please contact us today to speak to one of our specialist consultants.
