7 career killing moves that UAE employers hate

An employee-employer relationship is not easy. It’s just like marriage – you need one another but hate almost everything about each other.

Some traits can be a bit annoying and best ignored whereas others are often too big to let pass by, often pushing the employer to show their troublesome staff the door.

“You have to work around,” said the HR manager of a multinational bank "but sometimes it’s a dead end and the employee may end up being black listed in an employer’s mind with a bleak future in the company,” he added on the condition of anonymity.

Headhunters in the country reveal to Emirates 24|7 the candidate behaviours that most annoy employers, which is likely to leave a blotch on their course of employment. Based on their experience, they share their biggest irritants in resumes and correspondence, at job interviews, and on the job.  

1# Bad first impressions with shoddy resumes

Your CV is your first impression on your prospective employer even before you meet him face-to-face and a shoddy CV with inconsistencies will not augur well for you.

This is one pre-employment trait that is disliked a lot. “Employers like to see consistency in the CV. Consistency in terms of industries, consistency in duration of employment, roles, titles etc,” says Ash Athawale, Recruitment Manager at Reed Specialist Recruitment.

2# Divorcing industries too often

Change is good but when it happens too often it leaves the employer guessing and doubting the real motive behind the move.

“What throws them off is when a potential employee/candidate has moved from one industry to another without real validation of ‘why’. When a candidate has moved from, say banking sales into real estate sales or pharma sales and then wants to come back, it is not viewed very favourably. The question in an employer’s mind is ‘what is the guarantee that the employee won’t get bored of this particular industry and decide to make a move – yet again.’ Chances are they will not hire that candidate,” Athawale explained to this website.

3# Hopping like a kangaroo

Nobody likes a job hopper…period. It just shows that you will not last in any given job. “If in the past five years, a candidate has changed more than three jobs, it is not looked upon favourably and employers will not look at them as ‘job-a-roos’ (job hoppers/ Kangaroos),” as the Reed Specialist Recruitment manager puts it.

Agrees Graham Whitworth, Senior Banking Consultant at Charterhouse Partnership: “Job hopping” is one move that is definitely career-killing, especially “in the boom times. This was often overlooked but never forgotten,” he says.

Gareth El Mettouri, Associate Director, Robert Half UAE also believes job hopping is detested by employers. “Companies will always seek out loyal employees with a proven track record of career growth within an organisation. The UAE market is one where good candidates are in high demand, so employers expect candidates to have had some career movement, although moving up rungs in quick succession does not necessarily equate to strong skills and expertise. Often professionals will move to a company purely based on money and will later realise that it isn’t a good match,” he stresses.

4# Not fit for the job

A candidate should have the right skill set and experience for her/his job. Over or under qualification can be detrimental in the long-run.

Mettouri believes “while experience is the key, a professional qualification enhances one’s skills and provides an endorsement of one’s professional capabilities. Candidates with a qualification within their field are more attractive in the job market. That said, having too many qualifications can be counter-intuitive. Many young professionals will embark on an MBA immediately following their Bachelor’s degree instead of gaining practical, on-the-job training. We would always suggest pursuing an MBA at the point when it is most relevant for one’s career,” he explains.

5# Unreasonable salary expectations

Many people looking to work in the UAE come with the notion that if they work in the country their coffers should soon be in an overflowing state. This is far detached from reality and employers will not entertain such applicants.

Do your ground work properly and have realistic expectations. “Some professionals have an inflated perception of compensation levels in the UAE and therefore make unreasonable demands. In fact, a survey of UAE executives found that four in 10 expatriate candidates have salary expectations that exceed market conditions. Candidates should speak with a recruiter or consult resources to ensure that their expectations are equitable with what employers have on offer,” suggests Mettouri of Robert Half.

6# I’m not stretchable or flexible

Some employees believe working an hour extra or giving up a weekend for work is not working as per contract. Nobody likes to have such people at their workplace. Rigidity is looked-down upon by employers and they would rather have people who are willing to accommodate some extra work or manager an extra shift once in a while.

“Employers are looking for professionals who are flexible with their time and travel commitments. The UAE is a hub, but much of the growth across the region stems from neighbouring countries and further afield. Many candidates will enter a job agreeing to a certain percentage of travel but may later recant their offer once they are in the role,” says Mettouri.

7# I quit but am back

Many a times candidates put in their papers expecting a better pay package/role by the employer and this may work. When talent is hard to come by, companies will give in to the demands of the employees but this will sour the relationship. The moment the tables turn – in case of finding a replacement or during a recessionary phase, such people will be the first ones to be let off.

“One of the most common ones that we see during employment is when an employee resigns and then accepts a counter offer and stays. That employee might as well walk around with a target on their heads since the next opportunity an employer gets to retrench them, they will or when they identify a replacement. You can essentially kiss your career goodbye at that company since you have breached an unwritten and intangible trust,” explains Athawale.

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