Below is a conversation I copied from a recent social media chat group in Dubai. The chat starts between Sara and Jules (names changed), and becomes interesting when other people get involved..
Sara: Hello all, I am planning to relocate to Dubai by the end of this year and I am actively searching for new opportunities in the job market. I am open to exploring various industries however my expertise lies in office administration based roles where I have 3 years’ experience as an Executive Assistant. If any of you have leads, suggestions, or connections that align with this, I would be grateful for your support. Thank you!
Jules: It’s far too soon to be looking at jobs for the end of the year and also something to bear in mind is, rarely will companies look at candidates who aren’t already resident is Dubai. This region has a very active job seeker market and you will be competing against UAE residents with local experience, who can read, write and speak multiple languages and have lower salary expectations. Office admin roles tend to pay AED 10 – 12,000 per month and EA’s more depending upon years of UAE experience and industry knowledge.
Sara: Hi Jules, I’ve already done all my research, just looking for a job before I make my permanent move between now and the end of the year. For future reference you should not make assumptions about a person’s experience or language abilities but thank you for your comment.
Olaf: Sara, I’m confused where Jules made an assumption about your experience or language abilities. She quite clearly just highlighted that this is what you will be going against and gave you an insight which is very accurate for the current job market in Dubai.
Mustafa: Olaf, Jules clearly said in her previous message that Sara would be competing against more experienced candidates who speak multiple languages. This did imply she did not think she could compete without knowing anything about her personal and/or professional background.
Simone: Sara, Jules is a recruiter with 10+ years in UAE and giving her advice. If you know it all, why ask?
Olaf: Mustafa, sorry how does saying you will be up against candidates who speak multiple languages etc imply that Sara can’t? Jules quite simply stated the facts. Please don’t mix up facts with assumptions.
Sara: Hi Simone, I am not bashing Jules at all, I’m sure she is amazing at what she does! Her comment just came cross a little negative.
Mustafa: Olaf, I agree please do not mix up facts with assumptions.
Sara: Olaf, I believe that Jules assumed I had no insight on the UAE and that I only speak English. I stated ‘If any of you have leads, suggestions, or connections that align with this, I would be grateful for your support.’
Olaf: Sara, I can’t see anywhere that Jules assumed you can’t sorry. She stated the facts which are correct. Companies will look for candidates with local experience and those who speak multiple languages will have an advantage. She has simply stated facts to give you good insight, she hasn’t said anything about you not been able too.
Me wearing my “communication coach hat” and looking for the learnings:
This is a fascinating conversation chain and a great example of how easy it is for people to interpret the same message differently despite reading the same thing. This can happen easily with the written word as we lose the tone and body language of the spoken word which we unconsciously use to determine intent.
I don’t know Jules but I’m sure she genuinely meant well. Her intent was good. I doubt she would take her time to reply to a strangers post just to make that person feel bad. However, Sara read the message as having a negative assumptive tone and I must confess, on first reading so did I.
I have taken a screen shot of this whole thread so I can use this as an example of the gap between intent and impact. Thank you for the case study :-)
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