Internet Becomes Most Important Tool For Recruitment In Mena

The simple act of establishing an online profile is crucial for candidates seeking senior executive and management roles. Not only is the Internet the medium of choice for 50 per cent of employers seeking potential hires, but 84 per cent will take the time to research candidates online before making a final decision, according to a poll conducted by Bayt.com .

“Creating an online presence is now more essential than ever,” said Suhail Masri, vice president of sales, Bayt.com .

“The world is turning increasingly to the internet as a comprehensive source for employment needs.”

According to the Bayt.com poll — Hiring management in the Mena, choosing candidates from within the same industry is preferred by nearly eight out of 10 employers (77.3 per cent), while 42.2 per cent would prefer to fill their top-level positions with promotions from within of their current employees. With more than half of the poll’s respondents (50.8 per cent) claiming that their company has a clear management track, the potential for career growth within the same company in the MENA region is relatively high.

In terms of the actual recruitment process, 56 per cent of poll respondents claim that it differs significantly when hiring senior executives to juniors. Six out of 10 employers (62 per cent) are unhappy with their company’s process for hiring top level employees, and the process itself can take up to three months, according to 68.4 per cent of respondents. In 18 per cent of hiring situations, coming to a hiring can take six months or more.

Once hired, however, senior executives and management are considered to be more stable than junior employees, according to 63.2 per cent of the poll respondents. This could be because 45.1 per cent of employees in those roles consider it gets harder to change jobs as you rise up the career ranks. Given that the majority of employers (31.1 per cent) are currently predominantly hiring junior executives, this might be the right assumption.

Employers state that sourcing relevant candidates is one of the biggest challenges faced when hiring for senior executives and management. This would suggest that the chances of employment are higher for candidates who have a prominent online presence.

Khaleej Times