Job Search in Middle East
Hello Monkeys,
I hope everyone had a great holiday break for EID (MENA-based people that is). I'm from the US but my family is from the MENA region and they moved back here. I thought it would be better to build my career somewhere close to them so I'm job searching here. I'm currently in Dubai on a tourist visa and I've been networking and applying as best as I can. My tourist visa is almost up and I haven't had any solid offers yet. Does anyone have any advice for job searching here? I'm looking for any finance or consulting position preferably in UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, or KSA.
I'm a recent grad and I have startup experience (I've founded an energy-based one and a web tech startup). I've also done a couple of years of biopharmaceutical research. I've studied financial entrepreneurship with a minor in Middle Eastern studies.
Any help would be well appreciated, especially from those currently working in the region. Thank you all.
EDIT: Also does anyone have experience with SWF's in the region? Do they require prior IB exposure?
I get contacted all the time by recruiters who want to place professionals in that region. The problem might be the lack of experience on your end. in this region they really like people who were educated abroad (in the US and UK mostly) and who have worked in really large scale businesses. They would then sponsor your visa, relocation, and provide allowances (even inclusive of accommodation). Several people in my network have done the move and they are very happy.
One of the bigger agencies I keep hearing is HAYS.
I have also met several SWFs in that region in deals and know people who work for PIF, were involved in key deals that made the papers, etc - again, without extensive experience, I am not sure what the outcome would be here.
How many languages do you speak?
Thank you for your reply! That’s what I’ve been thinking too. Unfortunately, I only have the first half of the equation but no real finance experience in the US. Are u based in the west?
I’ve checked out HAYS but they weren’t too useful, might poke at them again.
I know English and Arabic, I was hoping my Middle Eastern background would give me a slight edge here.
The people I know how moved to the MENA region had about 10 years of experience within BBs or BB and larger PE units. So that seems like a sweet spot for an international hire.
While your language abilities and your cultural background are a great fit, I am not sure if you have the actual professional experience to jump into a team and launch key deals. Why don't you start working at a BB in their MENA team and move later?
The other alternative here is an obvious one for you: traditional networking. You have family in the region, you have an existing network, you have spent time there, you have the language - this is a huge advantage to network your way into a company. I know this sounds easier than actually doing it - but a forum with mostly teenagers who aim for BB jobs in NYC and London won't be a direct help otherwise.
ps: I bought a house out West, but I never moved in. Empty house in LA with no furniture and a car in the garage (unregistered). But I studied in California and Europe. I am based in London and NYC. I was under the illusion that I would find a good finance career in LA - which is certainly possible but it wasn't in the cards for me.
updated
If you're looking for consulting roles in ME, and you're ok with living in Riyadh, then apply there. Most projects are KSA based and most firms are in the process of relocating their HQs to Riyadh so there's a big hiring boom, and Dubai is ridiculously saturated with international applicants.
A referral would help, but as a recent grad you'll be applying to entry-level analyst roles anyways so may as well just apply normally.
Can't speak much on banking but the banking industry in general is significantly smaller here with much fewer grad opportunities (most grad opportunities being reserved for locals), the focus being on experienced bankers coming from abroad to work in the region.
SWFs also hire from time to time, but those tend to a) exclusively recruit locals for grad opportunities, and b) hire experienced bankers and consultants for more senior roles, generally needing to see a good brand name. I think the ME market is quite unique, in that access to IB/PE/VC from consulting is much more acceptable/viable than more mature markets.
Will networking help land graduate roles? if so is it better to network via linkedin or cold E-mails?
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