a day in the life on the dubai desk

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to be a recruiter working within Dubai’s thriving property market at the UK’s leading property recruitment consultancy? Meet Olivia Donnelly, our recruitment consultant who specialises in all things Dubai. From sourcing talented candidates to navigating Dubai’s fast-paced market, Olivia’s role is all about building connections and matching the best candidates with exciting opportunities abroad.?

time to wake up…

I usually jump out of bed around 7:30am when I’m working from home, make myself a cuppa, take a shower, and then I’m ready to open my laptop and start the day. My mornings start with the usual admin – checking emails, seeing what’s come in overnight, and catching up on anything that needs actioning. Since Dubai is a few hours ahead, the clients I speak to over there are already well into their day by the time I’m awake, so I often have a few emails waiting for me when I log in.

what I do…

I focus on recruiting for roles in planning, commercial, development, and construction. Basically, I’m always on the lookout for candidates ready to take on roles in Dubai! A big part of my day is also spent talking to clients, building relationships, and making sure I know exactly what kind of professional they’re after for their teams. It’s all about making connections and keeping everything running smoothly on both sides.

my typical afternoon…

When lunchtime rolls around, I like to head to the gym as it’s my way of breaking up the day and clearing my mind for a bit. Stepping away from my desk and getting a workout in helps me reset, and once I’m back, I’m ready to hit the ground running again with a fresh perspective. My go-to quick lunch is always avocado on toast to refuel!

Afternoons are when I prioritise making calls, and I’ve found splitting my day like this works best for me, so that’s when I catch up with clients in Dubai, send over CVs, and deal with anything that needs more interaction. Given the time difference, the afternoons are perfect for having more of a chat with clients who’ve had a chance to settle into their day.

how I got into recruitment…

My career started in admin at a maritime recruitment company two years ago, and as time passed, I found myself getting more involved in the recruitment side of things. To be honest, recruitment wasn’t even on my radar when I left uni with a fashion degree, but before I knew it, I was working in recruitment and loving it.

There’s something extremely satisfying about talking to new people, helping them find their ideal roles, and I love having the freedom to manage my own desk at tdm. Handling everything from sourcing candidates to placing them in roles and seeing them through to their start dates is really rewarding.

my advice…

For anyone wanting to get into recruitment or just starting out, I’d say don’t get discouraged if things don’t happen right away. This job is about the long game, and even if you’re working hard, results can take time. You might make a lot of calls with no immediate outcome, but trust me, every conversation counts, and it’s all part of the process. Be patient, and stay confident, it goes a long way!

For candidates thinking about a career in Dubai, my advice is to do your research. It’s a big decision, and it’s not just about loving the idea of it, you need to know what to expect when you arrive. Luckily, tdm has you covered, check out their blogs for more insight into what it’s like to work in Dubai.