Too many great candidates miss out on jobs in Dubai because of avoidable interview mistakes. This article will save you months of pain, help you ace your interviews, and land your dream Dubai career.
Most candidates don’t realise they’re making these mistakes. In just five minutes, you’ll learn how to avoid the mistakes that are costing you job opportunities in Dubai.
Many candidates focus on "What can this job do for me?" Interviewers in Dubai spot this instantly, and it’s a red flag.
Keep the interviewer’s priorities in mind. They want to know if you can solve their company’s problems.
Make it clear that you can add value to their business. Save questions about career growth and perks for later rounds.
Lack of preparation signals disinterest. Dubai employers expect candidates to show they understand the organisation.
1. Research the Company – Go beyond their website. Read news articles, watch YouTube interviews, and check out their LinkedIn activity.
2. Research Your Interviewers – Look them up on LinkedIn. See their priorities and find common ground.
3. Understand the Role – Read the job description carefully and find out who had the role before you.
Dubai employers want candidates who are driven and enthusiastic. If you seem disinterested, you won’t make it past the first round.
What Does Low Energy Look Like?
• Weak handshake
• Poor posture
• Little or no eye contact
• Mumbling or speaking too quietly
• Slow responses
• Unenthusiastic answers
Dubai interviewers want to know what you did, not what your team did. Own your achievements. This isn't to say you shouldn't be a team player, in fact, praising your team and acknowledging their impacts can be a positive signal. However, if they ask you to give an example of something you did, you need to focus on the tasks you completed and the impact they had. The employer wants to understand where you fit within a team and this can become muddled if you only speak about the group.
Weak Answer: "We worked overtime to deliver the project."
Strong Answer: "I organised the team, prioritised tasks, and motivated them to complete the project on time."
If your answers are unclear, interviewers will question your communication skills. Use a structured approach.
This is especially important for competency-based interviews. In these interviews, you'll be asked to talk through examples of how you have handled certain situations. These types of interviews often have a scoring matrix and the interviewer will be looking for you to cover certain points. Following the STAR format will ensure you stay on track and give a clear description of events.
• Situation – What was the context?
• Task – What were you responsible for?
• Action – What did you do?
• Result – What was the outcome?
Results prove your impact. Numbers matter in Dubai job interviews. It can be helpful to review your key career impacts before your interview so that they are fresh in your mind. If you are having a virtual interview, you could keep your CV or key achievements nearby so that you can easily recall key career highlights.
• Weak Answer: "I improved team performance."
• Strong Answer: "I increased sales by 25% in six months."
Many candidates give good answers—to the wrong question! Listen carefully and clarify if needed. Pause briefly before answering and consider what the interviewer is asking you, make sure that the example you are about to share is relevant. It's perfectly acceptable to give yourself some more time by saying something like 'that's a great question, let me just think about it for a moment'.
No doubt you will have lots of great things to share with your interviewer, but don't let that take you off on a tangent. Focus on answering the question that you've been asked first. You can always share more later. If you are not sure you've addressed their question then ask: "does that answer your question or would you like me to share some more details?".
• Before answering, ask yourself, "Is this information relevant to the question?"
Dubai employers expect confidence and clarity. Rehearsing common questions will make a huge difference.
1. Know Your Answers – Prepare responses to common questions.
2. Do a Mock Interview – Practise with a friend or a professional coach.
The most important answer to prepare is to 'Tell me about yourself". Almost all interviews will start with you giving a summary of who you are. Practising this part of the interview will ensure you set the right tone for the rest of the interview.
Your questions should show industry insight and a real interest in the company. By researching the company and role thoroughly, you will be able to ask insightful questions. This will set you apart from other candidates and will help demonstrate that you have a genuine interest in the role. What's more, it's vital that you know the role is the right fit for you. This is especially true in Dubai where your visa status is tied to the company. If there are any red flags in your research then asking the right questions can be critical in determining whether you should accept the position if it's offered to you.
• "I read that the company is investing a lot in growing its presence. How does this role support the company’s expansion plans in Dubai?"
• "When doing my research I noticed that most people in this role spend under 12 months in the position. Do you see this as a long-term role or is this a position that people generally use as a jumping-off point?"
The last impression you leave matters. Research shows that that the beginning and then end of an interaction is what people remember most vividly. A poor middle section can be redeemed by ending on a strong note and this final interaction is what the interviewer will go away thinking about.
• Thank them for their time.
• Ask about the next steps: "When can I expect feedback?"
• Ask: "Is there anything I haven’t covered that you'd like to know?"
Follow these tips, and you'll improve your chances of landing a job in Dubai. However, practice is key. If you want expert coaching to sharpen your interview skills, check out my interview preparation services today!
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