Career Advice Detail Gulf

General tips for finding and applying for a graduate job in Saudi Arabia

Resume

It is no longer sufficient to send the same generic resume to dozens of employers. This is mainly because of the popular use of resume screening software (called Applicant Tracking Systems or Automate Resume Screeners) by hiring managers, where your resume gets screened by a robot in search of certain keywords then given a final score. If your resume passes the ATS, and scores amongst the highest applicants then it gets passed on to human hands, where you are likely to be called in for an interview.

This makes it vital for you to personalize each CV to make sure you match as many of these keywords as possible. You can do this by achieving the following steps:

• Choose a target job, also known as a job objective. Choosing a job title can help narrow down the keywords you would need to match.
• Find out the skills, knowledge and experience you would need to have in order to get that target job.
• Make a list of your strongest skills and abilities that make you a good candidate for the target job.
• For each key skill, describe your previous accomplishments that serve as proof of that skillset.
• Make a list of the previous jobs you’ve held in reverse chronological order. Include volunteer work as well as unpaid work. It is best to leave as little time gap as possible in order to show your employer that your career has not had any unexplained lows.
• Make a list of your training and education, highlighting aspects that support your eligibility for that job.
• Finally, summarise your key strengths at the top of your resume.

Sources: http://lifehacker.com/5866630/how-can-i-make-sure-my-resume-gets-past-resume-robots-and-into-a-humans-hand
http://www.the-saudi.net/kg/resume-tips.htm

Cover Letter

Writing a cover letter is like doing a presentation where the subject topic is you. It is your chance to show your best side to your employer, which means that it must be audience oriented i.e. employer oriented, as well as tweaked to suit the job position you are applying for. Although some employers might not specifically ask for a cover letter, it generally sends a negative message if it is omitted from an application.

Spark your employer’s interest by doing the following:　

• Do your research: Find out what you can about the company and portray your knowledge subtly in the letter by answering the question "why do you want to work for this company?"
• Personalise: Find out the name of the person in charge of hiring, and address it to them specifically (when possible).
• Simplify: Use simple, direct language when typing out the letter, making sure to check spelling, grammar, punctuation and sentence structure. Keep your sentences short and uncomplicated.
• Identify: Refer to the position you are applying for in the first paragraph to get to the point as fast and as concisely as possible.
• Highlight: Be specific about your skills, abilities and experience without being repetitive of your resume. Clearly portray how you can be of use to the company.
• Close it: Keep the letter upbeat and positive, and end it on a note of gratitude. Mention that you would be happy to discuss your eligibility further in an interview.

Interview

Once you get past the two gateways that are the resume and cover letter, it is interview time. This is your chance to set yourself apart from all the other applicants and impress your employer enough to get the job. It can be daunting and nerve wracking to sit in front of the hiring manager, knowing that your words and behaviour may be landing you a job. Following these tips will help you feel more prepared for your interview.

Research the company, and read about their strategy, ethos, products, finances, etc. This way, you will feel confident enough to mention different aspects of the company as well as word your answers appropriately to present yourself as an attractive candidate.

The employer will often give you one to two minutes to talk about yourself. It is important to have your "speech" prepared in order to avoid awkward pauses or missed opportunities to mention an attribute that would have increased your chances of getting that job.

Identify your greatest achievements. This could be through work experience, projects taken up during your university career, or even volunteer activity. Make sure you mention the attributes that are most compatible with the job you’re applying for.

Make sure to dress appropriately, and always appear confident. The way you physically present yourself makes a vital difference to the first impression your employer gets of you.

Remember: The decision to hire you or not is often made within the first 5 minutes. The rest of the interview is the interviewer finding evidence to support or counter that decision.

Useful Websites and Recruiters

The Internet age makes finding job openings as easy as breathing. Scouring job recruitment websites is vital to finding vacancies for a graduate job. Employers in Saudi Arabia generally post any vacancy on the following popular websites, so it is important to keep checking for updates and new postings.

• Bayt: http://www.bayt.com/en/saudi-arabia/jobs/
• My Saudi Jobs: https://www.mysaudijobs.com
• Akhtaboot: https://www.akhtaboot.com/en/saudi-arabia
• Gulf Talent: https://www.gulftalent.com/saudi-arabia/jobs
• Hays: http://www.hays.ae/saudi-arabia/index.htm
• Mihnati: http://www.mihnati.com
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/saudi-arabia-jobs
• Naukri Gulf: http://www.naukrigulf.com