Question from the Job Seeker
I was laid off from my former job as an advertising senior account executive in Canada 6 months back, and I have just received a quite tempting offer from one of Qatar’s Advertising giants. The only thing am concerned about is the condition of working women in the Gulf. Any thoughts?
Answer From Bayt.com HR Guru
Sally, first off, Congratulations! Professional working women in the Middle East have been making remarkable progress in competing with men for equal job opportunities. According to Bayt.com’s annual ”Women in the Middle Eastern Workplace” Research Report, 60% of professional women respondents working in the region (by far the largest group of respondents) have stated in 2008 that they are treated fairly as compared to their male counterparts.
That figure jumped up to 73% amongst Western working women (the highest percentage amongst all other respondents). Furthermore, almost half of the Western women respondents (at 44%) stated they feel they have equal promotion opportunities as their male counterparts as opposed to 33% who feel their regional male counterparts have a larger chance of being promoted.
_ The same Bayt.com Middle East HR Survey showed that vis-à-vis expected length of professional/ working life, western working women in the Middle East have fared well above the average with 52% of them stating they expect to work till an equal age as their male colleagues, vis-a-vis the total respondent average of 31%.
This would indicate that the regional environment is highly amenable to working women's longevity, growth and career progression, especially so for Western professionals from a self-perceptions standpoint.
I advise you to weigh this offer holistically as you would any other offer taking into account the role and responsibilities as well as salary, benefits and the company’s brand, standing and reputation. Qatar should not only provide you with a chance to shine as a pioneering female professional in the advertising sector but also career advancement opportunities if you have selected your company right, a tax free salary and a top-notch lifestyle in a booming economy with plenty of growth prospects.
