“Job search is easy and doesn’t cause any anxiety,” said absolutely no one in the UAE ever. Let’s just agree that this whole process of getting a gig sucks. You could be the absolute perfect fit for the job but still end up not getting it for reasons best known only to the employer.

Sound familiar? Then I’m willing to bet that your journey of finding a job in Dubai also looks a little—or a lot—like this…

1.The first step is always the hardest; you simply don’t know where to start

“Wait, what. Is this really what I want to do with my life? Can’t I just get paid for my awesomeness instead?”

2. Your search for jobs on various portals almost always results in you getting unrelated openings

“No LinkedIn, I’m a journalist not a video editor.”

3. Voila! You finally find one that interests you and feel the need to apply ASAP

“If I don’t apply now, the company will hire someone else and I’ll remain unemployed forever.”

4. You are then asked to fill out an online form with the same information that’s already on your resume

“This is fascinating stuff. Redundant, but fascinating nonetheless!”

5. Then comes the decision of drafting a wonderful, honest, funny, to the point cover letter or punching yourself in the face

“Dear Sir/Madam, I really need this job because I’m super passionate about buying food and clothes…”

6. You finally submit the application, and then you wait for a response

*Refreshes email every 2 seconds*

7. Still waiting…

“I think my wifi isn’t working.”

8. Chances are—most times—you don’t get a reply back

“Getting ghosted is second nature to me.”

9. But that one time you do, you land an interview, and life becomes beautiful again

“Heck yeah. I’m flippin’ fantastic. No one can resist my charm.”

10. Then you prepare like crazy for the impending interview. Sometimes, a little too much

“A new outfit from MOE- check. Blow-dried hair-check. Booking a Careem an hour before – check.” 

11. You nail the interview. Obviously, duh

*Points to the mirror* “You’re doing amazing, sweetie.”

12. And then you wait again

*Refreshes email every 2 seconds, again.*

13. More often than not, you don’t end up getting the job

“Hello darkness, my old friend!”

14. Or you just never hear from them again

“I thought we had a real connection. I felt something…”

15. But then you realise you didn’t need that stupid job anyway

“JK, I wanted it so bad.”

16. So you sleep over it and start the whole thing again

“Yalla Habibi”

TBH, you are going to get the job; it’s not going to be a walk in the park, but things will get better. How? Read this to know more.