Landing Your First IT Job in Saudi Arabia: Tips for Recent Graduates
By
groundworkinsights

Saudi Arabia has emerged as a promising destination for IT job seekers from around the world. The employment and investment opportunities here are endless owing to the steps taken by the Saudi government regarding Vision 2030.

This gives recent IT graduates a great chance to kickstart their career and realize their dreams of being a part of the booming job market in KSA. However, each year, thousands of freshers find themselves getting frustrated over not getting the right job in Saudi Arabia.

What if we told you by changing your approach just a little and adopting the right job-hunting practices, you can easily land your dream job in KSA?

Most freshers tend to hunt and apply for their jobs randomly without following the accepted protocols. This leads to low success rates and wastes so much of their time and energy.

Here is what you need to do to land your first IT job in Saudi Arabia

  • Search Online
  • Apply for Internships and Entry Level Roles
  • The Size of the Organization Matters
  • Craft a Winning CV
  • Optimize Your Social Media Accounts
  • Network, Network, Network
  • Go with a Recruitment Agency
  • Focus on Your Interview Skills
  • Follow-up with the Potential Employer

Search Online

The first thing you need to do when looking for IT jobs in Saudi Arabia is explore online job search websites. An online job search website like Marc Ellis is a great way to find and grab the latest IT job opportunities in Saudi Arabia. 

Online search enables you to find opportunities that align with your specialization. Whether you want a full-time job or a limited contract, you can find the right job opportunity through comprehensive online research.  

Apply for Internships and Entry-Level Roles

As a fresh graduate, you need to realize that it might take you some time to land that dream job. Before that happens, you need to find ways to hone your skills and get hands-on experience with the job you are targeting.

The best way to do that is to apply for internships and entry-level roles. These opportunities can be your gateway to full-time employment at your desired organization.   

The Size of the Organization Matters

This is also something that can help you move closer to your goal of landing your first IT job in Saudi Arabia. Bigger organizations have more requirements in terms of experience and skill level. 

Smaller ones, on the other hand, tend to be more flexible. You need to find companies that are not that large but are still reputable and recognized in the market. Applying for these in the beginning can improve your chances and the experience you will gain here will prove helpful in your future job hunting.      

Craft a Winning CV

You need to learn the art of crafting a winning CV to improve your chances. It is better if you steer clear of generic CV formats and instead create your own personalized CV to stand out.

Make sure your CV contains details regarding your education, skills, and related coursework. You also need to ensure the CV is tailored to the role you are applying for.

Make sure to edit your CV especially when sending it online. In this digital age, most companies use special filters and screening algorithms to separate candidates that match the job description.

If your CV is not tailored to the job and doesn’t contain specific skills and keywords, it might get lost in the sea of countless other applicants.          

Optimize Your Social Media Accounts

No one can deny the impact of your digital presence on your job search. Your digital presence includes your profiles on social media and any content that is associated with your name.   

You need to optimize your LinkedIn profile so that it contains your core skills, expertise, and values. You can also join online IT-related groups and take part in discussions to get noticed.

You can use social media platforms like Facebook, X, LinkedIn, and Instagram to connect with like-minded professionals and share your work-related achievements, goals, and updates to ensure the employer finds you fit for the role.

Network, Network, Network

We cannot stress enough how important networking is for finding the right job in KSA as well as for the advancement and growth of your career. You need to seek out mentors and advisors and make serious efforts to connect with professionals in your desired field to find the IT job of your dreams.

You need to realize that your chances of getting hired by a company are greater if you have a mutual connection with them. It can be in the form of a high school alumni you know, a professor, and individuals you know are at the top of their game.

These networks can serve as foundations for a steady and progressive career in IT in Saudi Arabia.         

Go with a Recruitment Agency

Many IT companies in KSA use recruitment agencies to find the most suitable candidates for the available vacancies. By submitting your CV to these agencies, you can speed up the job-finding process.

These companies have access to myriads of businesses that can use your services and they are aware of every newly opened position. Thus, they can help you quickly find what you are looking for.     

Focus on Your Interview Skills

Cultivating your interview skills is also important especially when you are a fresh graduate who doesn’t have a lot of experience in this area. You need to dress appropriately, follow the traditional greeting style of Saudi Arabia, and avoid indulging in topics and conversations that are considered taboo in the region.

Work on your posture, communication skills, and tone to impress the interviewers and to make them confident that you are the right fit for the job.              

Follow-up with the Potential Employer

After sending an initial application or going through an interview, it is better to send a follow-up email to show your continued interest in the role. You can send this email within 24 hours of the interview for better results.

Make sure you craft the perfect follow-up email by thanking the interviewer and specifying the job title you applied for. You can further create a strong impression by discussing a key point about the role or something that you talked about in the interview.

In the end, you can invite them to ask you further questions and bring it home by showing you are looking forward to hearing back from them. This can set you apart from other candidates and show that you are really serious about getting that job.    

Conclusion

Recent graduates tend to feel intimidated when applying for a job in Saudi Arabia and get frustrated when they do not land it. We assure you that it doesn’t mean you are any less talented or skilled than the successful candidates. Most of the time, it is your approach to job search that holds you back.

If you search for the right roles, work on your resume and interview skills, and apply regularly, we are certain you will soon find a job that suits you best. Just stay persistent and follow the above-mentioned tips to get the best results.

Visit Marc Ellis to find exciting IT job opportunities in KSA and UAE.