Internet is the most important tool for recruitment in MENA

More than 57% of the employers research candidates online before hiring which means that professional Internet presence is crucial for candidates.

A recent “Hiring Management in the MENA” poll conducted by Bayt.com shows that the Internet today is the most important tool for a job seeker when it comes to hiring. Actually, creating an online profile is crucial for candidates seeking senior executive and management positions. Figures show that Internet is the medium of choice for 50% of employers seeking potential hires. Moreover, 84% will take the time to research candidates online before making a final decision.

The Vice President of Sales at Bayt.com, Suhail Masri, noted “Creating an online presence is now more essential than ever. The world is turning increasingly to the internet as a comprehensive source for employment needs. Our website provides tools job seekers need to boost their online presence, to give them the best possible chance at gaining employment.”

Mr. Masri added that with the increasing popularity of social media, it is very important for candidates to monitor their internet presence. He also said that since more than eight out of 10 employers take the time to search the Internet to find out more about the candidates, maintaining a professional online profile is of key importance.

According to 29.2% employers the sourcing of relevant candidates is one of the biggest challenges when recruiting for senior executives and management positions. This means that candidates who have a professional online presence have a better chance as they have more opportunity to stand out from the competition.

As far as senior executives and management candidates are concerned, one third of the poll’s respondents (34%) said that they value most leadership and management skills. Nevertheless, a candidate with technical and industry proficiency is also considered highly attractive. Most employers (37.5%) prefer to have a well-rounded candidate who can meet the above-mentioned criteria along with several more, including a track record of innovation, being a good cultural fit, as well as the quality and quantity of their relationships.

Mr. Masri added that Bayt.com ‘s community today consists of over 8.5 million professionals, including mid-career, management and senior executive talents.

The latest poll indicates that choosing candidates from within the same industry is preferred by nearly eight out of 10 employers (77.3%). On the other hand, only 42.2% would prefer to fill their top-level positions with promotions from within of their current employees. More than half of the poll’s respondents (50.8%) say that their company has a clear management track, so, the potential for career growth within the same company in the MENA region is relatively high.

As far as the actual hiring process is concerned, 56% of poll respondents claim that there is a great difference when hiring senior executives or juniors. Six out of 10 employers (62%) are not satisfied with their company’s process for recruiting top level employees, and the process itself can take up to three months. In 18% of hiring situations, the actual recruitment may take six months or more.

Nevertheless, once hired senior executives and management are believed to be more stable than junior employees according to 63.2% of the poll respondents. Maybe, this is because 45.1% of the employees in those roles believe that it is harder to change jobs as you rise up the career ranks. This may be the right assumption since the majority of employers (31.1%) are predominantly hiring junior executives.

Data for the Bayt.com Hiring Management in the MENA poll was collected online from June 21 – August 22 2012, with 6,665 respondents covering more than 12 countries in the MENA region.