Online avatars are no longer reserved solely for videogaming enthusiasts.
Job seekers can now choose avatars or images based on their personality traits on a Web-based portal through JW Marriott Marquis hotels. It will lead to specific questions about a candidate's character, and match their responses with available jobs. This feature, and the chance for candidates to share access and apply for jobs on social networking sites, will be part of a tool the hotel chain plans to unveil by September.
Rupprecht Queitsch, the general manager at the JW Marriott Marquis hotel in Dubai, says he wants to hire people based on their personalities and would like to see candidates from diverse backgrounds - whether bankers, taxi drivers or postmen - with the hospitality attitude.
"We want to hire people who have not worked at hotels before," says Mr Queitsch. "Because teaching serving, cooking or checking-in people is not rocket science, it is the service attitude that matters."
Online recruitment is picking up in the region as companies here look to save costs, identify the right people, and speed up the hiring process. But the regional corporate world has yet to tap various online tools as much as other parts of the world.
"Many companies do not … invest the necessary resources for [recruitment] to become a successful part of the business," says Guy Rickett, the chief executive of Hiring Solutions, a Dubai software developer specialising in e-recruitment.
At present, fewer than 5 per cent of businesses in the Gulf use online recruitment effectively, he says. "Many companies will have a Web page with vacancies or use job boards to recruit, but those things by themselves are not effective."
The cost and time taken to hire as well as the quality of hiring are the three major areas that companies are concerned about when they recruit. In the Gulf, for instance, it can take at least two months before a new employee comes on board, as many of them come from abroad. "Organisations that have an online recruitment strategy can recruit in less than half the time [compared with those who do not use online tools]," says Mr Rickett.
In short, a dedicated career site turns the company into an autonomous recruiter.
"Going through agencies can get very expensive, and they do not guarantee a high quality of hire," says Mr Rickett.
Such a job site also furthers a company's brand marketing, and allows it to collect and save data.
For instance, the JW Marriott Marquis Web portal will also allow hotel reservations and help in marketing the brand. The second JW Marriott Marquis hotel in the UAE will open in October in Dubai in the world's tallest hotel-only building.
The Dubai luxury hospitality company Jumeirah Group, which is a client of Hiring Solutions, launched its e-recruitment system in 2003.
"In just the first six months, we saved over US$160,000 [Dh587,696] in recruitment costs and got approximately 10,000 professionals registered on our database for future opportunities," Janelle King, who was the group director for recruitment at Jumeirah, said in 2004.
Automation in screening CVs also enhances a candidate's application experience.
With a company job portal, individuals are better able to ask specific and intelligent questions of the employer. "Recruiters have instant access to post a position … and do not have to wait on an agency for assistance," said Andrea Fennessy, the director of human resources at Fairmont The Palm, which is to open in September.
The high employee turnover in the hotel industry and the flow of international skill sets into the UAE are among the reasons behind the idea.
The JW Marriott Marquis Web portal can also help the internal movement of its staff.
"You want to explore, in our industry that's good," says Mr Queitsch. "As long as [employees] stay within the company that's better."
The luxury hotel group will hold a job fair next week for 1,150 positions. For this, it will follow a time-tested method: along rows of tables in a large hall, officials expect to meet hundreds of candidates as part of an initial screening. Quick questions are designed to reveal a candidate's attitude to work and people.
"The main driver is the personality," says Mr Queitsch.
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Wicked
Director: Jon M Chu
Stars: Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
Nayanthara: Beyond The Fairy Tale
Starring: Nayanthara, Vignesh Shivan, Radhika Sarathkumar, Nagarjuna Akkineni
Director: Amith Krishnan
Rating: 3.5/5
The specs: 2018 Opel Mokka X
Price, as tested: Dh84,000
Engine: 1.4L, four-cylinder turbo
Transmission: Six-speed auto
Power: 142hp at 4,900rpm
Torque: 200Nm at 1,850rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L / 100km
Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20SAMSUNG%20GALAXY%20S24%20ULTRA
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If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.
When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.
How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
Fighter profiles
Gabrieli Pessanha (Brazil)
Reigning Abu Dhabi World Pro champion in the 95kg division, virtually unbeatable in her weight class. Known for her pressure game but also dangerous with her back on the mat.
Nathiely de Jesus, 23, (Brazil)
Two-time World Pro champion renowned for her aggressive game. She is tall and most feared by her opponents for both her triangles and arm-bar attacks.
Thamara Ferreira, 24, (Brazil)
Since her brown belt days, Ferreira has been dominating the 70kg, in both the World Pro and the Grand Slams. With a very aggressive game.
Samantha Cook, 32, (Britain)
One of the biggest talents coming out of Europe in recent times. She is known for a highly technical game and bringing her A game to the table as always.
Kendall Reusing, 22, (USA)
Another young gun ready to explode in the big leagues. The Californian resident is a powerhouse in the -95kg division. Her duels with Pessanha have been highlights in the Grand Slams.
Martina Gramenius, 32, (Sweden)
Already a two-time Grand Slam champion in the current season. Gramenius won golds in the 70kg, in both in Moscow and Tokyo, to earn a spot in the inaugural Queen of Mats.
Electoral College Victory
Trump has so far secured 295 Electoral College votes, according to the Associated Press, exceeding the 270 needed to win. Only Nevada and Arizona remain to be called, and both swing states are leaning Republican. Trump swept all five remaining swing states, North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, sealing his path to victory and giving him a strong mandate.
Popular Vote Tally
The count is ongoing, but Trump currently leads with nearly 51 per cent of the popular vote to Harris’s 47.6 per cent. Trump has over 72.2 million votes, while Harris trails with approximately 67.4 million.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Profile
Co-founders of the company: Vilhelm Hedberg and Ravi Bhusari
Launch year: In 2016 ekar launched and signed an agreement with Etihad Airways in Abu Dhabi. In January 2017 ekar launched in Dubai in a partnership with the RTA.
Number of employees: Over 50
Financing stage: Series B currently being finalised
Investors: Series A - Audacia Capital
Sector of operation: Transport
INDIA V SOUTH AFRICA
First Test: October 2-6, at Visakhapatnam
Second Test: October 10-14, at Maharashtra
Third Test: October 19-23, at Ranchi
Oscars in the UAE
The 90th Academy Awards will be aired in the UAE from 3.30am on Monday, March 5 on OSN, with the ceremony starting at 5am
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UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
From Zero
Artist: Linkin Park
Label: Warner Records
Number of tracks: 11
Rating: 4/5
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
Cricket World Cup League 2
UAE squad
Rahul Chopra (captain), Aayan Afzal Khan, Ali Naseer, Aryansh Sharma, Basil Hameed, Dhruv Parashar, Junaid Siddique, Muhammad Farooq, Muhammad Jawadullah, Muhammad Waseem, Omid Rahman, Rahul Bhatia, Tanish Suri, Vishnu Sukumaran, Vriitya Aravind
Fixtures
Friday, November 1 – Oman v UAE
Sunday, November 3 – UAE v Netherlands
Thursday, November 7 – UAE v Oman
Saturday, November 9 – Netherlands v UAE
Business Insights
- As per the document, there are six filing options, including choosing to report on a realisation basis and transitional rules for pre-tax period gains or losses.
- SMEs with revenue below Dh3 million per annum can opt for transitional relief until 2026, treating them as having no taxable income.
- Larger entities have specific provisions for asset and liability movements, business restructuring, and handling foreign permanent establishments.
Company%20Profile
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Citadel: Honey Bunny first episode
Directors: Raj & DK
Stars: Varun Dhawan, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Kashvi Majmundar, Kay Kay Menon
Rating: 4/5
Singham Again
Director: Rohit Shetty
Stars: Ajay Devgn, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ranveer Singh, Akshay Kumar, Tiger Shroff, Deepika Padukone
Rating: 3/5
