JEDDAH – The Internet today is the most important tool in the hands of a job seeker when it comes to recruitment, a recent "Hiring Management in the MENA" poll conducted by Bayt.com revealed. In fact, 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 percent of employers seeking potential hires, but 84 percent will take the time to research candidates online before making a final decision. "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. Bayt.com provides the tools job seekers need to boost their online presence, to give them the best possible chance at gaining employment." "With the widespread popularity of social media, it is especially important that candidates monitor their Internet presence by ensuring that they have a professional presence on the Web that employers can find quickly when they search for them. With more than eight out of 10 employers taking the time to search the Internet to find out more about their potential hires, maintaining a savory, professional online profile could be the key to securing - or losing - a job. That's why we rolled out Bayt.com's Public Profiles platform last year: Bayt.com professionals can comfortably and easily create a professional online presence today that is targeted towards the region's employers," he added. Employers state that sourcing relevant candidates is one of the biggest challenges faced when hiring for senior executives and management positions (according to 29.2 percent of the poll's respondents). This would suggest that the chances of employment are higher for candidates who have a prominent online presence, as they have more opportunity to stand out from the competition and get seen and contacted by top employers. In terms of what employers are looking for in senior executives and management candidates, one third of the poll's respondents (34 percent) placed the most value in leadership and management skills. However, a candidate with technical excellence and industry knowledge is also considered highly attractive. The majority of employers (37.5 percent) prefer to have a well-rounded candidate who can satisfy the above-mentioned criteria in addition to several more, such as a track record of innovation, being a good cultural fit, as well as the quality and quantity of their relationships. According to the Bayt.com poll, choosing candidates from within the same industry is preferred by nearly eight out of 10 employers (77.3 percent), while 42.2 percent 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 percent) 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 percent of poll respondents claim that it differs significantly when hiring senior executives to juniors. Six out of 10 employers (62 percent) 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 percent of respondents). In 18 percent 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 percent of the poll respondents. – SG
