The Bayt.com “Modern Job Search in the MENA” poll, recently conducted by Bayt.com, the region’s number one job site, has revealed that experience is the most important detail of any CV for those who make hiring decisions in the region, and including a picture with your CV is considered a good move.
The poll goes into detail on what the ideal CV looks like for hiring decision-makers in the MENA. In terms of length, a short and concise CV that is no longer than one page is the preferred format for the majority of respondents (42.5%). A medium-length CV is also a suitable option, with38% of professionals who make hiring decisions finding it ideal. Only19% prefer a detailed, lengthy CV. As far as CV content goes, experience is considered to be the most important element (with25% saying it is most important), followed by skills (19%). Less important are education at10%, a career objective statement at7%, and lastly, any awards, badges and endorsements – all at6%. However, a third of respondents (33.7%) claim that all of the previously mentioned are equally important highlighting the significance of having a cohesive, comprehensive, professional, and well-balanced CV.
The preference is also for CVs that include a picture of the candidate, as claimed by53.8%, though31.8% state that a photograph doesn’t matter. Video CVs are viewed as ’somewhat useful’ by31.5% of respondents and ’not useful at all’ by40%. Yet, a significant28% claim that not only do they find video CVs very useful, but they also love it when a candidate includes one in his or her application.
Confirming traditional job-search practices, cover letters are considered an essential part of the job hunt, with only18.4% of respondents claiming to ‘just brush over them’. According to the majority (44%), a cover letter is very important, and can make a huge difference in a hiring decision.
The poll also sheds important light on how the Internet is employed for hiring purposes by both job seekers and the professionals who make hiring decisions. For sourcing new candidates, the Internet remains a very important resource, according to80% of the poll’s respondents, and online recommendations and endorsements are considered important to61.5%. It’s also very common for professionals to research candidates online before making a hiring decision, with41% claiming they ’always’ do so, and38% saying they ’sometimes’ conduct internet research. It is therefore more obvious than ever the need for job seekers to develop their online profiles in order to boost their career prospects in the MENA.
Fortunately, most professionals appear to be aware of the importance of being found online, with44% claiming that it’s essential to have an online profile in order to not miss out on any great career opportunities.35.8% claim that a polished online profile is beneficial for all of the following: to optimize exposure to potential clients and suppliers; to build a professional reputation; to gain industry insights; to network with peers professionally, and to get referred, recommended and endorsed. Despite the perceived importance though,39.9% of respondents claim that ‘few’ of their working acquaintances have an online CV and professional public profile. However, six out of10 (60.1%) say that ‘most’ or ‘many’ of their working acquaintances do.
Most respondents (73.2%) go online every day for professional networking purposes, and nearly all (94.9%) feel that a site focused on professionals that allows them to ask career-related questions is a valuable tool. This is compounded by the fact that70.4% of respondents use the Internet every day to ask job-related questions; with37.7% having asked questions about their work tasks through a website, forum, or social media platform.
“The results of our poll clearly demonstrate that in the modern job search, the Internet is a vital tool for both job seekers and employers,” said Suhail Masri, VP of Sales, Bayt.com. “Now, more than ever, job seekers must use online resources to build a solid profile that will boost their job prospects, and brand them as experts in their fields. Happily-employed professionals will also benefit from a strong online presence. After all, the Internet is a great place to not only enhance job-related knowledge, but also to network and ask questions related to one’s job, as can be seen from70% of the poll’s respondents who do that every day. Our online platform, Bayt.com Specialties, was built to facilitate communication between professionals and to help them establish an online profile, with endorsements from industry peers. This is the ideal solution for today’s ambitious individuals looking to empower themselves with the means to secure the job they desire.”
“Bayt.com Specialties combines all the elements deemed pertinent to facilitate a modern job search in one platform. Professionals can complete a professional public profile on Bayt.com at no cost and then proceed to ask and answer career-related questions in areas related to their skills and fields of interest and in doing so receive recognition from peers and employers as well as industry rankings and awards. It’s very easy and intuitive to use and allows candidates that perfect extra edge they need to prove their professional mettle to potential employers as well as peers and clients. Differentiation is key at every career level in today’s highly competitive recruitment marketplace and Bayt.com Specialties has empowered professionals to vocalize and prove their skills and strengths in a cohesive and highly visible manner that was previously not possible with a traditional CV.”
Data for the Bayt.com “Modern Job Search in the MENA” poll was collected online between September19 and October27,2013, with10,567 respondents from the UAE, KSA, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Algeria, Egypt, Morocco, and Tunisia.