In Saudi Arabia, employment is not always easy and can be somewhat stressful if you are trying to get a job from abroad. Saudi businesses tend to choose the easiest option available to them, which often involves hiring foreign workers and Saudi nationals already in the kingdom.
Five Pointers for Foreigners Looking for Work in Saudi Arabia
We have put together some tips to help you find a job in Saudi Arabia, even if you are a beginner and are trying to get an offer in a country where you do not yet live.
Make Use of Local Connections
Do you recall the proverb that goes, “It’s not what you know, but who you know?” This also applies to Saudi Arabia. Help can open the proper door for you if you know someone in Saudi Arabia who can forward you a job posting or put in a good word with a company.
If you are not already in the country, start establishing your network in Saudi Arabia by reaching out to your social network to see who you know is already there. You never know what might arise as a result of it.
The word-of-mouth approach is also preferred by HR managers in Saudi Arabia because it requires less work on their part and because you already have a referee who can attest to your character and work ethic. Never undervalue the significance of a strong reference!
Make a resume update
A strong reference is crucial, but so is your resume. Prior to beginning your job hunt in Saudi Arabia, make sure your resume is up to date. Not only should you avoid sending an old resume, but you should also avoid making potential employers wait for you to update it.
Frequently, a company’s initial impression of you comes from your CV, and first impressions are lasting. If you send in a poorly formatted and error-filled resume, you can lose the job even though you are the ideal candidate. Therefore, a good resume is a success in finding jobs for Indians abroad.
When you update your CV, bear in mind the following advice:
- Seek out famous CV designs in Saudi Arabia. It has been observed that varying resume kinds or formats are preferred in different countries. You can look up a popular format in Saudi Arabia online or by getting in touch with a recruiting firm.
- Make sure the keywords you are employing are appropriate for the task. Nowadays, the majority of businesses use software that examines resumes before the hiring manager ever takes a glance at them. Your resume can be rejected if it contains the incorrect keywords.
- After you have asked someone to proofread your resume, try it on your own three times or more! Any errors that were easily preventable should be avoided.
- Make it as brief as you can. Reading a five-page résumé is a thing of the past. Make an effort to make your resume brief as possible to ensure that it gets noticed.
- Remain current. Even if certain things are important to discuss, they might not be pertinent to the position you’re looking for. Additionally, it will make your resume seem more concise. During the interview, If you really believe it’s vital, you can always bring it up.
- Compose an effective cover letter. Your cover letter serves as a succinct introduction to your personal profile. It’s also crucial to keep it brief; the entire task should fit on around half a page. Don’t lie when you discuss your experiences or who you are as a person.
Use online resources
- Layboard.in is a Saudi Arabian platform that specializes in career development and job seeking. Numerous job openings across diverse industries are available here, from the information technology sector to the oil and gas industry. In addition, Layboardoffers job articles, interview advice, and resume materials.
- Bayt: Including Saudi Arabia, this is one of the biggest online employment boards in the Middle East. Bayt provides a variety of job opportunities across all industries and experience levels in addition to tools for applicant profiling and job hunting.
- Careerjet is an international job search engine that helps you locate employment in Saudi Arabia as well as other countries. Careerjet compiles job ads from multiple job boards and job portals, providing candidates with a variety of opportunities.
- Learn4Good: This website posts employment openings in several countries, including Saudi Arabia, and caters to people who speak English. Advice on careers and skills, as well as employment and training options, can be found here.
- Gulf News: This news website gives employment offers and job openings along with updates on events in the Gulf area. Gulf News is a helpful tool for Saudi Arabian job seekers since it includes sections on business and economics.
- Saudi Arabian Yellow Pages: Job posts and employment opportunities are included in this online directory that offers details about different companies and enterprises in Saudi Arabia. The Saudi Arabian Yellow Pages is a helpful tool for anyone looking for work or researching local businesses.
Speak with Recruiting Agencies
A large number of recruiters are always searching the internet for qualified applicants. See what roles Saudi Arabian recruiters have available by registering with them. You now have the chance to locate someone who can assist you in obtaining an interview at a reputable Saudi Arabian organization.
Make changes to your LinkedIn profile.
Once you have communicated with recruiters, confirm that your LinkedIn profile is current. LinkedIn is a widely utilized resource for Saudi Arabian recruiters to identify possible applicants.
For your profile, you can adhere to the same rules as when you update your resume. You can also tailor your job search for Saudi Arabian employment with the help of the recently added LinkedIn job posting function.
Take your time during the interview.
Saudi nationals value interpersonal relationships. Before getting down to business, they will frequently sit and strike up a conversation to get to know you. Make small conversation and take your time throughout the interview.
Additionally, it’s critical to sit across from the interviewer and look them in the eye. Because many people in the area are still quite traditional and do not support such behavior, if you are a woman being interviewed by a guy, and vice versa, Refrain from reaching out to shake his hand.