Making the right impression
Campaign reached out to two fresh graduates working with Dubai Properties and asked them about their experience of finding the first rung on the career ladder
MIRNA TAMIMI, 21 PR & COMMUNICATIONS EXECUTIVE, DUBAI PROPERTIES
As a mass communication graduate from the American University of Sharjah, Mirna Tamimi secured a full-time job the first time she asked. These are her tips for getting noticed in a saturated graduate job market
Have a well-designed CV
The first impression an employer will have of you depends on your CV. Don’t shoot out the same CV to everyone – organise and edit it according to each position you’re applying for so that the relevant skills are prominent. Don’t just use Microsoft Word; invest in designing it to make it attractive. Make sure it doesn’t have any errors, and also make sure you have an updated LinkedIn profile with a professional shot of yourself.
Stay focused
Don’t go for a scattergun approach – narrow down your options by applying only to jobs you’re excited about. Ask yourself, ‘What do I aspire to be?’ and ‘Where do I see myself in a few years’ time?’ so that you understand your own interests and goals early on. That passion will filter through during interviews, and I feel that really helped me.
Start your search before you graduate
Instead of worrying about what you will be doing with your life after you graduate, you can get a head start on your competition by starting your job search early. The process of applying for jobs and going to interviews will help you gain experience and overcome your fears. I did my first interview for my role at DP as early as March, while I was still studying.
Be patient, proactive, and positive
Winning a role at a big brand can take time as there is a lot of competition and multiple rounds of interviews, so being patient is essential. If you don’t get a call back straight away, it doesn’t mean you are out of the running. You should also respond promptly to any requests for references, writing tests, etc. and be proactive with sending through additional proof points for your skills. I was commended for proactively sending through samples of my writing from my newspaper internship. Keeping a positive attitude throughout the process is key and can enhance a future employer’s opinion of you, versus other candidates who might panic or get pushy.
Do your homework
You should come prepared to each interview with as much background knowledge on the company as possible. Spend time on the company website, research its news, and familiarise yourself with its products, projects, mission and vision. I tried to anticipate some of the standard questions that could be asked during the interview and practised my responses, and it helped when a few of them came up. Maintain a calm, pleasant and professional demeanour even when asked difficult questions – don’t get visibly frustrated with the interviewer or with yourself. Your overall performance should allow employers to visualise you being successful in that role.
LIEN SULAIMAN, 21 PR & COMMUNICATIONS EXECUTIVE, DUBAI PROPERTIES
In her first month working in the PR and communications industry, Lien Sulaiman reflects on whether university has prepped her sufficiently for the workforce.
What did nobody tell you about work life?
No one told me that starting a work career after graduation gives you the opportunity to reinvent yourself, which can be a refreshing thing after four years in the same environment with the same people. You can set new life goals and start a routine that hopefully balances work and social life. While the work pressures I’ve experienced so far are very different to university ones, I still prefer them to paper submissions, midterms and pop quizzes.
What did you learn at university that now seems like it was a waste of time?
I believe that every course I took helped develop skills in different ways, but from a knowledge perspective some courses have no relevance to the local job industry because they use foreign business models. I recall a media planning course where we learned to use a US-based program to place ads on different American media channels – a pointless exercise for someone based in the region.
What do you wish you had learned more of?
I really wish there were more platforms to develop practical communication skills rather than courses focusing on theoretical studies and their results. I also wish I had done more psychology courses, as I am learning very quickly how important it is in PR to understand emotional intelligence, persuasion, effective communications skills and reading others. Once a person is aware of the motives behind people’s behaviour and the way their minds and emotions work, the act of influencing public opinion becomes more effective.
What did you think was pointless but is now starting to make sense?
I wouldn’t say pointless, but there are times in university when you wonder how relevant courses on statistics, economics, Arabic literature and film editing will be for a career in PR. Very quickly you realise how important it is to have that background when you are analysing industry research papers, writing content in both languages, producing influencer videos, etc.
Why is PR and communications an attractive career for you?
A PR and communications career is so diverse and dynamic, and no two days are alike. I feel like there is room for creativity, relationshipbuilding and accelerated growth. Also, the fact that there are many job opportunities in the field right now makes it attractive to fresh graduates.