karina83

I realise you probably get loads of posts like this but i would really appreciate some help.

I am in Dubai for a month searching for a job, some advice on how to go about this would be much appreciated. I am currently searching online but feel like im gettin nowhere.

I am a Pharmacy Technician in Britain but do not have a degree as I dropped out of Uni years ago. I realise this limits my options of work.

Does anyone know what would be available to me and how best to go about getting interviews as I am only in the city till the end of May.

Thank You

shakh your bootie

I don't fancy your chances, tbh - you're competing with Asians & GCC nationals for a job in which they do have a degree, and will work for a lot less than you will accept...

Ever done any sales work? Female Western sales reps are popular and there are jobs around in pharmaceutical sales???

karina83

yeah I no my chances are slim in Pharmacy but I am willing to do any job really.

Sales isnt really my strong point, but was thinking secretarial or administrative work.

But how to go about finding positions is proving hard

shakh your bootie

Good luck, angel, but you're still up against bilingual (or more!) degree qualified people who'll work for a few thousand a month .....

Spugsy

aye I have to agree, it's not going to be easy. Are you coming over on your own?

karina83

Thanks for the honesty.

Never thought I would regret being a Uni dropout!

karina83

Im arrived here last week and will be here till end of May.

Im not on my own but am currently staying with my boyfriend who has a job here. Im looking to stay here with him.

Spugsy

Ok well you'll want to get a sh*t hot cv but it seems you're not that sure what you want to do, if you're here it's much easier to get a job, that's for sure.

Have you tried the agencies?

Border Reiver

There is a good demand for the classic "Western educated, native English speaker" in admin/secretarial roles but they will usually want a couple (at least) years of experience and some kind of secretarial qualifications. For the more lowly office work they will hire somebody from the sub-continent who will work for a couple of thousand Dhs a month, 6 days a week.

shakh your bootie

Some of the posher bars in town hire european/south african/aussie staff - maybe try that? Or tour companies??

Anyone else got any suggestions for Karina? (that excludes the Dean, Confi and LH!)

jrudofsky

Front of house staff at the posher 5* hotels do similar...

Otherwise there may be opportunities as a secretary/administrator with small (or large) Western companies??

Doesn't that expat woman website have jobs on?

Spugsy

dunno, without experience its not too easy really, I know I'd love more english (or scottish) people working here, but as you say, they employ indians/phillipinos for half what they'd pay english.

jrudofsky

Obviously not your field of expertise but...some ideas?

http://www.expatwoman.com/monthly_jobs.php

Spugsy

there's plenty of work here, I never even went to Uni and I'm doing canny.

The Dean

Do you mind me asking how old you are? It sounds like your job requires at least some form of vocational qualification (diploma etc) but if you have enough years of experience it will make a huge difference.

I am also a uni drop-out, but I have managed to garner 31 years of relevant work experience - I have been in this region since 1992 (mainly Saudi, plus a bit of Dubai and Bahrain) and my experience has ALWAYS helped me find work.

Ironic - this is the part of the world where they don't care how old you are as long as you have the experience they want - but I'd never get a job in London ("too old, not enough recent UK-relevant experience, etc, etc").