The corporate world in the most bustling city in Manila had provided me with a familiar and relaxed career for 12 years. Though I had lived a comfortable life, I thought of trying something new to find brighter stars.
Despite the fact that I am single and have a master’s degree from the Philippine’s top university, finding a better paying job at my age in my country was beginning to get overly competitive.
I looked and waited for my “big break”, but was unsuccessful. Many in the Manila job market are young and can work for less pay than what I wanted. So I looked further and found another option – work abroad.
A couple of years ago, Dubai was the most talked about destination for work, mainly due to its booming economy and billion dollar urban development projects. Then, it also had a more liberal approach to its borders, so easy access was a definite advantage.
I looked into basic essentials in Dubai: housing, transportation, communication and most importantly, jobs and salaries. Being somewhat persuaded by the information I had gathered, I started to process my documents for entry, heaped most of my savings, bought a two-way ticket, packed my belongings and flew to Dubai.
When I got there, I noticed Filipinos seemed to be at least the third biggest community in Dubai, after Indians and Pakistanis. Many of them were under visit visas, taking chances with their time and money to find a good job like me.
I stayed in a hotel when I arrived. The type and prices of the rooms were at either extreme. Eventually, I found a room which suited my needs – privacy, cleanliness, internet connection, a decent neighborhood in an accessible location and, most importantly, it was owned by friendly and accommodating people.
After settling in, the Gulf News and my laptop were my daily companions to find that great-paying job I had heard so much about. I applied to hundreds of jobs, got some interviews and received job offers, but the salaries offered weren’t what I had in mind.
They say beggars can’t be choosers, but living in Dubai is expensive. The rent alone could eat up your salary and I didn’t want to live with strangers.
There were many good job positions which matched my credentials almost perfectly. However, there was a flaw. Many good job posts required specific credentials such as UAE /Gulf work experience, a UAE driver’s license, a father or husband’s visa and bilingual. Unfortunately, none of those criteria could be found in my portfolio.
I came to Dubai a month before Ramadan. That was not good for me nor thousands of other jobseekers, since many of the decision-makers at companies were on vacation, slowing down the job-hunting process.
When my visit visa was about to expire, I went to a small Iranian island called Kish. As much as I liked the place because of its serenity and natural wonder, I would not dream of going back for the purpose of a visa renewal.
I heard stories of people staying and living there for more than a month because their employer or travel agent had abandoned them, or they didn’t have the finances anymore to get a new visa. Worse, some people committed suicide out of despair.
Trying not to cloud my mind with negative thoughts, I toured the island and visited historic sites while waiting. When I received my visa it was a relief! I couldn’t wait to get back to civilization and end the fear of not being able to go home.
While I was flying back to Dubai on a nerve-wracking plane, I said to myself, “this ordeal is not part of the plan to get that perfect job”. Perhaps you can say no pain, no gain. Yes, I agree, but not this kind. It was ridiculous!
While patiently resuming my job-hunting voyage, I received an offer from a colleague to work in a telecom company in Afghanistan.
Did I hear it right? Afghanistan?! Naturally, I was hesitant to accept the job because the country was at war. Then I thought it over. Had I not left my country for a better opportunity? Was I not already disillusioned with the job prospects in Dubai? Perhaps Kabul was not that bad after all, I thought, or else why would my colleague put me in danger.
So, after weighing the pros and cons of Dubai versus Kabul, I took the offer.
In general, Kabul was a very different experience in my life. However, like any organization where you have to work with various personalities, attitudes and cultures, working in Kabul offered diversity. Organizations are not familiar with work ethics and oblivious to corporate ambiance. Of course, there is the language barrier but I managed to get around it pretty well.
I guess it is fortunate that I was not placed under rigid house arrest. I had a good social life, dining and drinking quietly in some of the decent restaurants in the city where expats hang out.
Afghanistan is obviously not a tourist destination but the landscape is just incredible. I flew into Kabul when the leaves were turning orange and yellow, while snow was already covering the tips of those majestic mountains.
The country is full of history. Luckily, I was able to set foot outside the capital and saw the sights of the Panjshir Valley, Salang Pass, Jalalabad and the famous Bamiyan, plus other spots such as Daraluman Palace, Qarga Lake and, of course, the only golf course in the country.
While it was good while it lasted, I left Kabul when my assignment ended. I went back to Dubai to give it another try. Sadly, I just lost my gusto to live and work in the city. Nothing had changed. What prompted me to give up with disgust was when a reputable international fashion company offered me a secretarial job for a gross of $400! And so I said my peace and left.
A grand time in Kabul for six months versus an awful time in Dubai for five months – emotions do make up the difference, you know.
So with my return ticket to Manila, I boarded Emirates with still an achievement in my pocket.
Several of my friends have asked about my Dubai experience since I got back. They admit they have plans to go to Dubai to seek jobs on a visit visa. These people have a stable career but want a better paying job which they think they could find outside the Philippines, particularly in Dubai.
Seeking out a job and living on your own abroad has never been simple. It may be easy to enter Dubai but difficulties and frustrations are encountered each day once you enter the state under a visit visa.
Filipinos always have a come-what-may attitude. Unfortunately, this attitude never works. Most often than not, Filipinos end up accepting jobs they do not want. Worse, they go back to the Philippines empty-handed and forlorn.
In order to assist fellow countrymen who are aspiring to go to Dubai, I turned my true story in Dubai, as well as my experiences in Afghanistan, into a book, entitled ‘Dubai: My Personal Guide for the Jobseekers.’ You just read some of the excerpts above.
The content hopes to give a vivid picture of expectations and disappointments you could encounter in Dubai. It also provides personal experiences, practical information and insights into what Dubai has in store for you.
With preparation, appropriate resources and tons of luck, you may have the chance to make it in Dubai.
I never planned to become a writer, much less writing a book. But I have a story to tell that is definitely worth sharing.
My first book entitled Dubai : My Personal Guide for the Jobseekers was born by chance…and need.
The Accidental Author on Dubai
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