The Middle East countries are one of the favorite destinations for those looking to work abroad. Qatar has opened many work opportunities for different nationalities.
If you want to work in Qatar, you could research the companies that are hiring. You should also prepare your documents.
What is the Hiring Process?
The basic requirements that you need to prepare are your passport, valid government ID, and authenticated certificates. Once you have documents, know that there are three ways to look for a job in Qatar. First, if you know someone in Qatar, you can ask that person for any job openings. Next, you can apply through the placement agencies. Finally, you can send your application directly to the company.
- Through family or friends
If you have friends or family members in Qatar, you can go there on a tourist visa or family visit visa. You have a month to look for a job. If you are fortunate to get hired within the one-month period, then your employer can sponsor you to get a work visa. Holders of a family visit visa are given until 6 months to find employment.
- Through an employment agency
There are many employment agencies with job openings in Qatar. If you want to go through this route, you need to check with the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) if the agency is legitimate. Visit poea.gov.ph to see if the agency you are applying with is on the list of valid companies. On the other hand, there are some companies classified as delisted or canceled.
- As a direct hire
You can check the company’s website to see if they have any vacancies. You can send your application online and wait for the company to contact you.
Our vlogger got his job in Qatar as direct hired. A friend submitted his application to a company in Qatar. He received a call from the company where they discussed the job.
He received the offer letter after they have agreed on the terms of employment. The offer letter contains the visa and contract.
How to Process Your Job Application as Direct Hire
If you will be employed in Qatar as direct-hire, here are the steps you can follow:
- Verify the company with POEA.
- Go to the embassy of Qatar to have the visa stamped.
- For the visa to be stamped, you need to take a medical exam at an accredited clinic. Once you pass the medical exam, you can proceed to the embassy for visa stamping.
- Check if the company has a former agency in the Philippines. If they have one, then they cannot hire anyone directly.
- Once you have completed the embassy’s requirements, you will go to POEA for assessment. You will pay an assessment fee.
- Wait for your Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar (PDOS) schedule. After attending the seminar, you can now schedule your flight.
Tips to Successfully Find a Job in Qatar
The country has been making steady efforts to reduce its dependence on the oil and gas sector by making investments in other sectors such as real estate, construction, hospitality, entertainment, etc. The recent example is that of the Mall of Qatar which opened doors in December last year resulting in increased demand for human resource across various industries such as retail, food and beverage, entertainment and hospitality. We can expect the same from the opening of Doha Festival City, one of Qatar’s biggest malls, which is slated to go live soon in the month of April this year.
Although the country has native talent, it welcomes expats without much inhibition to make the best of the career opportunities. Moreover, Qatar is also one of the most peaceful countries in the region according to the Global Peace Index. Ample employment prospects combined with a safe and peaceful environment make Qatar a popular destination amongst expats looking to explore career opportunities abroad. Despite all favorable factors, finding a job in Qatar is not an easy task, especially as an expat. However, nothing is impossible if you make up your mind. Consider finding a job as your full-time job and you will surely see success. However, it is best to draw a full-fledged strategy around your job search. Outlined below are a few tips that will help you in successfully finding a job in Qatar:
- Start early:
Ideally, expats should begin their job hunt before arriving into the country. Thanks to the Internet, job seekers can search and apply for jobs in a country of their preference from anywhere in the world. There are numerous job portals through which you can check and apply to jobs. You can even check out the employment section of various regional newspapers online for latest job vacancies. Contacting the Qatar Embassy in your home country for job opportunities is a great option as well. - Make your CV impeccable:
CVs play an important role in making your job search a success as they are the first communication that happens between you and the prospective employers. Alter your CV to match the job description of each job vacancy that you apply for. Try to include all the relevant information in the first page of the CV and make sure it doesn’t exceed two pages. - Form connections:
Knowing people in Qatar will help you land a job faster. Reach out to people in your network be it friends, relatives or colleagues and spread the word that you are looking for a job. Somebody will definitely come forward to help you out. Also, don’t hesitate to simply walk into an office and ask directly about job openings. Drop your CV at as many places as possible to maximize your chances of getting called for an interview. - Go to networking events:
Gather information about networking events and career fairs that keep happening in various cities and make it a point to attend some of them. Such events are the best way to get to know about latest job opportunities and connecting with professionals. Forming a regional network will also help you in the future when you want to change a job or need advice on professional matters.
Even if you don’t get what you had wished for, don’t lose hope. Finding first jobs in a totally new country is difficult for everybody. Consider any start as a good start because things can be turned around in your favor if you are self-motivated, flexible and have the right attitude.
We hope that you can use these bits of information as you process your job application in Qatar. Good luck.