Question from Job Seeker:

I am currently pursuing a Masters degree in Engineering in Qatar and expecting to graduate in June 2010. However I’m starting to get worried about finding my first job.

A lot of people I know have waited until after graduation to start their job hunting and ended up not seizing a good opportunity before six months to 1 year! I don’t want this to happen to me, what shall I do, taken into account the fact (or rumor?) that the Middle Eastern employment market is not yet very active?

Answer from Bayt HR Guru:

Finding your “first job is” very often a nerve-racking exercise for job seekers, but the fact that you are already getting morally geared up to kick start your job-hunting process is good news! The sooner the better! Bear in mind that being proactive is a necessity during the job hunting process; in fact, it’s twice more vital now with the relatively large number of Middle Eastern professionals (and professionals in Qatar) looking for a new job. Don’t postpone: Start conducting your research and eying companies/ jobs in Qatar that you think would interest you, and most importantly perfect your cover letter and CV (in which you will state your expected graduation date). Shed light on your strengths and your accomplishments, and allot time to identify and then work on your areas of development. Treat the job hunting process as a full time job until you land the perfect job opportunity for you.

Stay positive, confident and focused and practice interviewing skills and techniques with professionals you trust to ensure that when you land those interviews you are able to translate them into solid job offers! Bayt.com has a wealth of articles and guides and self assessment tests related to the job search process and interviewing tools and techniques so make sure you also bring yourself upto speed on the latest in job search strategies online!

The good news is that a very healthy number of jobs in the Middle East exist for fresh college grads as per Bayt.com & YouGov Siraj’s “ Job Index Survey- January 2010”- which shows that 30% of Middle East employers are looking to fill in “Junior Executive” positions in the 3 months to come. Furthermore, the study shows that an overwhelming 70% of Qatar employers are planning to recruit in the 12 months, and 60% of Qatar employers perceive Qatar’s job market to be more attractive than job markets in its neighboring countries. You are obviously in one of the GCC’s hottest job markets right now and with the right kind of planning and an enthusiastic, pro-active attitude your job-hunting process should proceed smoothly.

Remember to post your CV on Bayt.com and complete all the required sections so you can access top job opportunities in Qatar and top job opportunities in the Middle East quickly, easily and absolutely free of charge. Best of luck!

Hiring? Try a CV Search:
http://www.bayt.com/en/search-cv