MBA grads scout to Middle East for job
By siliconindia   |   Tuesday, 30 December 2008, 17:54 IST   |    4 Comments
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Dubai: Are you an MBA graduates, seeking job? Don't think about U.S, Europe or any other western countries where the graduates could find jobs easily in the past. The ongoing recession made many U.S. and UK companies to reduce their intake enormously, while one region is opening up more ways to job seekers amid downturn, that's none other than United Arab Emirates (UAE). Realizing the region's potential in creating new opportunities, many well known business schools in U.K and U.S. are busy organizing job hunt trek to Dubai and many other parts of Middle East. For Instance, London Business School conducted such a trip to Dubai last November which attracted more number of MBA students than the previous year. The effort here is to connect students with alums working in the region and to organize symposium and forums there. Though global financial crunch has made its impact in the Middle East too, the job market there, especially in Dubai and Abu Dhabi still looks good. The region does not witness a decline in the number of recruitment in sectors such as financial services, private equity, and consulting, though the recruiters have become more cautious and selective than before. Oxford University's Said Business School is organizing a Gulf job trek for students in the early part of 2009. "It's all part of a push to help students find jobs in what is becoming an increasingly grim job market," said Grant Phillips, acting head of Oxford Business Alumni. "We have to help our students find jobs wherever that job might be. Sectors like banking may still be challenging to get into, but there are potentially more opportunities in places like the Gulf," he added. The university also plans trek to China, Singapore, India, and Africa. Similarly, City University of London's Cass Business School which presently runs an executive MBA program in Dubai will organize its first ever Dubai Symposium this spring aims to help its London based students connect with local recruiters, as well as the as the school's Dubai-based students. New York University�s Stem School of Business�s UAE Initiative, a new student group, will be hosting a job trek to Dubai and Abu Dhabi next year. Wharton plans to host a Global Alumni Forum in Dubai in March which will connect senior executives, Wharton faculty, alumni and current students. Apart from that, students from the School�s Arab Club and Private Equity Club have plans for job treks to the region this spring. Ivan Kerbel, senior associate director of Wharton's MBA Career Management Office opined that the Middle East is clearly a very strong growth area. "Historically, students taking jobs in the Middle East have represented a small percentage of graduating MBAs, but that proportion is growing more quickly than other areas," he said. It doesn't mean that getting a job in Emirate is very easy. "The business community in Emirates like Dubai and Abu Dhabi is tight-knit, making it challenging for MBA students without prior experience in the region to break in," said Alami, who worked for five years in Dubai in the oil and gas industry before deciding to get his MBA. He further added that the Middle East is very, very network-oriented type of structure and a lot of deals get done because of the network you have.

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