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How to prepare yourself for an interview?

The best approach to prepare for any interview is to envision yourself already in the position and ready to demonstrate how you’d excel. Your previous experiences have secured the interview; now, you need to highlight your potential contributions to the employer.

I have applied for multiple jobs in Dubai, why am I not getting interviews?

In Dubai, recruitment agencies and in-house talent acquisition teams often struggle to review every application due to high volumes. Job postings often serve dual purposes:

1. Some companies adhere to traditional hiring methods, relying on job posts. This approach may not be practical in the digital era, as talent acquisition specialists often lack the capacity to review thousands of applications, 90% of which are irrelevant. Even if your CV is suitable, it could be overlooked amidst the sheer volume.
2. Companies also use job postings to signal activity, growth, and attract attention.

Solution:

“Don’t be too harsh on yourself if you’re not securing interviews. Consider reaching out to top recruitment agencies in Dubai, like Apricity, Michael Page Dubai, or other executive search firms. They may have direct connections with your target organizations. Alternatively, identify target companies and directly reach out to hiring managers in departments that align with your expertise. This proactive approach can be more effective than relying solely on job applications.”

I have attended many interviews but haven’t secured a job. What should I do?

Here are some common reasons that could be affecting your interview outcomes:

1. You may not be applying for the right roles. The qualifications, skills, or experience required might not align with your profile.
2. You may have the necessary qualifications but lack thorough research on the company, its culture, and its hiring team. This can give the impression of insufficient commitment, especially if you’re unfamiliar with their products or services.
3. Despite proper research, your body language and communication might lack the confidence and energy the employer seeks.
4. Even if you have the qualifications, experience, and skills, there may be a misalignment between your personality and the company culture. Companies prefer hiring individuals who fit the organizational environment to avoid early turnover.
5. Your salary expectations might not match the employer’s budget. It’s often unwise to hire candidates at the same or a lower salary than their current package, as this can result in candidates leaving once better opportunities arise. Misaligned salary expectations may suggest limited growth potential, which discourages companies from moving forward with the hire.

Follow-up after the interview:

If you haven’t received a response, send a follow-up email after the interview to express your continued interest in the position and inquire about the next steps. This simple action can demonstrate your enthusiasm and keep you top-of-mind for the hiring team.

Solution:

Rather than attending numerous interviews, focus on conducting thorough research on organizations with jobs in Dubai that align with your skills. If possible, visit their offices and interact with employees to gauge their company culture. Narrow down your choices to a select few top companies (perhaps 5 or 10, depending on your preference) and reach out to recruitment agencies in Dubai, Michael Page Dubai, or other executive search firms. Connect with relevant recruiters or hiring managers to express your interest in meeting or discussing potential opportunities.

Use your time effectively by explaining why you’ve chosen their company and how your skills and experiences make you a strong candidate. Highlight how you can leverage your past experiences, network, and skills to excel in the role. Also, articulate how you will fit into their company culture, demonstrating your enthusiasm for working with them.

I am a lawyer in UAE but I do not speak/write Arabic. This has become a problem in my job search. What should I do?

While it’s a challenge, many law firms in Dubai across different tiers (1, 2, and 3) are looking for various expertise that may not require Arabic proficiency. These roles can include litigation experience, dispute resolution, contract drafting, and MOUs, among others. Some firms have a junior Arabic translator to support in these areas, and many seek specialists in particular industries regardless of language skills.

Direct applications vs. applying through a recruitment agency/Executive Search— which will get me hired faster?

Apricity, as one of the top recruitment agencies in Dubai, employs an approach that prioritizes efficiency and respects the time of both clients and candidates. Their rigorous screening process includes thorough evaluations of technical skills and behavioral assessments, strengthening the case for their candidates. When profiles from recruitment databases are presented by a trusted partner like Apricity or Michael Page Dubai, your CVs receive more attention and are scrutinized closely by the firms you’re targeting.

How should I answer questions like: what is your current salary or what is your expected salary?

Avoid giving vague responses like “as per market standards,” as this may suggest you are either junior or underpaid in your current role, which does not bolster your position. Instead, conduct research on salary ranges for similar roles, especially for jobs in Dubai. Consider factors like the geographic region you are applying for. Presenting a range demonstrates that you are well-informed and confident in your expectations, while also reinforcing your knowledge and experience level.

If you’re concerned about potentially missing out on the opportunity, provide a specific monthly range, such as 40,000 AED to 50,000 AED for mid-level roles, rather than a broader range like 30,000 to 60,000 AED. Adjust the range according to the position’s seniority to show that you understand the job market in Dubai and are prepared for a targeted salary discussion.

How to answer common questions like a pro?

Can you tell me a little about yourself?

This is your opportunity to provide a concise summary of your professional background and personal interests relevant to the position. Keep it brief and focus on why you’re a strong fit for the role. Mention your experience in talent acquisition, executive search, or other pertinent roles, if applicable. Avoid detailing your entire employment or personal history.

What are your strengths and weaknesses?

When discussing strengths, emphasize skills directly related to the role, using examples from your past experiences, such as localization projects or Emiratisation efforts. For weaknesses, be honest while also outlining steps you’ve taken to improve those areas.

Why do you want to work for our company / Why do you want this job?

Conduct in-depth research on the company and focus on specific aspects that appeal to you, such as their mission, values, or corporate culture. Highlight your knowledge of recruitment agencies in Dubai or talent acquisition specialist roles, and explain how you can contribute to the company’s goals.

How do you handle conflict or difficult situations in the workplace? Or Can you tell me about a time when you had to overcome a challenge?

Offer an example where you effectively managed and resolved a conflict or challenge in a professional capacity. Highlight your problem-solving skills and communication abilities to navigate toward a resolution. If applicable, reference experiences from jobs in Dubai or hr jobs in UAE to demonstrate your expertise in handling various situations.

What are your salary expectations?

Explore the salary range for similar roles, especially for finance jobs in Dubai or hr jobs in Dubai, based on your expertise and skills. Propose a realistic range, ensuring it aligns with local standards. You can also ask the interviewer about their envisioned salary range for the position to ensure both parties are aligned.

Why are you leaving your current job?

This is a common question posed to every interviewee. Avoid negative portrayals of your previous employer. Instead, express enthusiasm for the new opportunity, emphasizing how it aligns with roles like hr jobs in UAE or marketing jobs in Dubai, and fits with your career aspirations.

Why is there a gap between the two job employments?

Be honest about the gap between employments and explicitly explain the reason. If you were attending classes or focusing on skill enhancement related to finance manager jobs in UAE or executive assistant jobs in Dubai, emphasize how these experiences have prepared you for the current role.

What are your hobbies?

This question helps the interviewer gauge your compatibility with the company culture. Share genuine insights into your interests and what drives your motivation to excel, ensuring they align with roles like investment banking jobs in Dubai or other related fields.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

For this question, consider two approaches:

• Long-term focus: “In the next five years, I see myself expanding my skills and responsibilities within the company, contributing to roles such as finance manager jobs in UAE or taking on leadership positions that align with the company’s goals.”
• Short-term focus: “I prioritize short-term goals, concentrating on immediate objectives. I am committed to daily improvement and mastering the assigned role, such as excelling in recruitment agencies in UAE, with the aim of assuming leadership responsibilities.”

Tell me something about yourself that is not on your resume/CV?

For example, having recently completed my first marathon, I have a strong commitment to health and fitness. This aligns with the values of recruitment agencies in UAE and other organizations that prioritize well-being. I am drawn to companies that offer comprehensive programs and resources to support employees in maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

Give me an example of something that you have been asked to improve on? What was it, and how did you improve?

In my previous role, I managed presentations for both small and large groups, including for hr jobs in Dubai. I struggled with nerves when presenting to larger audiences. To improve, I explored various online courses, including public speaking classes, and ultimately joined Toastmasters. This experience provided practical, real-life skills that helped me overcome my discomfort.

Would you continue working if you won $10 million?

Winning $10 million would ensure financial security, but my passion for my career—be it in finance manager jobs in UAE or marketing jobs in Dubai—extends beyond monetary factors. I find fulfillment and purpose in my work. While I might reassess my priorities, I would still pursue meaningful projects, contribute to causes I care about, or remain engaged in the workforce in some capacity.

I have a final round with a CEO/CFO. What kind of questions will a CEO ask during a job interview?

Remember, the CEO/CFO is also a professional who has advanced from entry-level roles to top management. For positions like executive assistant jobs in Dubai or banking jobs in Dubai, empathize with their perspective. Consider what qualities and contributions you would value from an employee if you were in their role, as this can help tailor your responses.

Ever wondered why your employees are inefficient and doing the bare minimum?

Many companies experience challenges with employees in Dubai who become disengaged. It’s not that they lack skills or intelligence. Most people possess similar abilities, but the key differentiator is their level of interest.

Reasons why an employee may adopt a bare minimum mindset:

1. Lack of career growth prospects.
2. Unfulfilling relationships with team members.
3. An unappreciative or unsupportive direct manager.
4. Compensation that is below market standards.
5. No learning opportunities in their current role.
6. Mismatch with the job requirements.
7. Lack of interest in the specific role/function.
8. Uncertainty about where their highest potential lies.
9. Discrepancy between job expectations and reality.
10. Feeling unheard in the workplace.

How Apricity, a recruitment agency, can help improve employee performance:

Apricity can address many of these challenges during the pre-hire stage:

1. Drive Analysis: Understanding what motivates a candidate in a job.
2. Passion for the industry: Ensuring candidates are genuinely interested in the industry and role.
3. Cultural fit: Assessing if the candidate aligns with the company’s culture, environment, and people. For example, an individual with traditional values may struggle in a dynamic and innovative workplace focused on industry disruption, even if they possess the right skills.
4. Market salary norms: Apricity assesses salary standards for the role, preventing candidates from leaving due to lower-than-expected pay.
5. Comprehensive pre-screening: Evaluating candidates’ motivations, strengths, weaknesses, leadership abilities, and growth expectations to ensure a successful hiring process.

Misconception: If you can’t lead, you won’t grow

Many companies, including recruitment agencies in Dubai and other organizations, face challenges in understanding that not everyone is a leader. Some excel as individual contributors, while others thrive in leadership positions. The belief that growth in finance jobs in Dubai, or any other role, is only possible through leadership is inaccurate.

Myth: Some people are born leaders—untrue.

Most people have similar skill sets, abilities, and IQ levels. What differentiates them is their personality and interests, which are key aspects assessed by recruitment agencies in UAE to ensure a good fit with the job and company culture.

Exhibit A: John, an investment banker in Dubai

John is an accomplished investment banker who advises companies on strategic financial decisions, including mergers, acquisitions, and capital raising. His role is crucial to both his employer and clients, consistently delivering strong returns. John has excellent analytical skills and relationship-building abilities, but his impatience with slower learners created challenges when he was promoted to a managerial role.

After transitioning to management, John was tasked with training his team and maintaining top performance. Six months into the role, he began to feel frustrated, viewing his team as incompetent. His subordinates, in turn, felt misunderstood, leading to decreased motivation. Despite management’s disappointment, they still considered John one of the top performers due to his previous success as an individual contributor.

Apricity Problem Analysis

John is an exceptional individual contributor in investment banking jobs in Dubai, but he lacks key leadership qualities like empathy, patience, and understanding. Apricity’s pre-hire analysis can help identify whether candidates like John are better suited for individual or leadership roles, ensuring the right fit from the start.

Solution

John’s career growth could have continued in an individual contributor role without compromising his progression or impacting the team’s morale. This approach would prevent ineffective leadership while allowing others in the team to feel valued and heard. Apricity, as a top recruitment agency in Dubai, helps organizations place employees in roles that best align with their strengths and motivations, promoting sustainable growth.

Companies with their performance reviews: A Missed Opportunity

Performance reviews aim to provide constructive feedback, recognize achievements, and align employees’ goals with the company’s broader objectives. Ideally, this process should motivate employees, offer clear development plans, and create a transparent path toward promotions and rewards.

Unfortunately, for many companies in Dubai, performance reviews have become a neglected afterthought. Managers often treat them as a checkbox exercise to satisfy HR jobs in Dubai requirements, rather than as a meaningful dialogue about employee performance, strengths, and areas for improvement. In numerous organizations, performance reviews focus more on optics than actual outcomes.

Neglecting Recognition and Promotions

One significant consequence of ineffective performance reviews is the failure to recognize and promote deserving employees. In an ideal world, these reviews would provide a clear and fair assessment of employees’ accomplishments, creating pathways to promotions in HR jobs in UAE or other roles. However, when performance reviews are mere formalities, the connection between effort and reward is broken.

Talented employees often feel trapped in a system where hard work and results go unnoticed. Promotions may go to those who are more visible or skilled at self-promotion, rather than those who consistently perform at a high level. This results in resentment, as high performers feel undervalued while others advance based on surface-level impressions rather than merit.

When employees feel their efforts are unrecognized, they become disengaged. This disengagement not only impacts individual morale but can spread throughout the organization. High performers, who should be the most motivated members of the workforce, become discouraged by the lack of recognition. Over time, they may lose faith in the company’s ability to reward excellence or foster growth, prompting them to seek jobs in Dubai or elsewhere.

Consequently, companies that neglect performance reviews may inadvertently drive their top employees to finance jobs in Dubai, marketing jobs in Dubai, or similar roles in other firms.

A Call for Meaningful Change

To address this issue, companies in Dubai and recruitment agencies in UAE need to reassess how they manage performance reviews and determine if they are fully utilizing this tool. Reviews should be personalized and based on thorough, objective assessments of employee performance over the review period. Managers in hr jobs in Dubai should be trained to conduct evaluations that highlight strengths, identify areas for improvement, and set clear goals.

Additionally, recognition and promotions should be tied to actual performance rather than superficial metrics. Employees in roles like finance manager jobs in UAE or marketing jobs in Dubai should be confident that their hard work will be rewarded. The promotion process must be transparent and merit-based to maintain trust and motivation.

Final Thoughts

Performance reviews can drive both personal and organizational growth when used effectively. However, many companies in UAE treat them as routine exercises, missing the chance to recognize and promote deserving employees. It’s time to invest in evaluations that truly reflect contributions. This approach will help retain top talent, build a culture of excellence, and ensure that the right employees receive the recognition and promotions they deserve.