Hi everyone,



I’ve been in Dubai for about a year and I’m now looking for a new role. I’ve applied to over 20 positions on job portals and through recruiters, and I’ve heard back from almost none of them. A colleague suggested the problem might be my CV rather than my experience, and I’m starting to think she’s right.



My current CV is the same one I used back home. I’ve since learned that hiring here can look quite different, with recruiters scanning documents quickly, applicant tracking systems filtering a lot of applications, and some companies expecting details that I’d normally leave off. I’m not sure what’s standard in the UAE and what isn’t.



I’ve seen a fewCV makers in Dubai advertised online, but I can’t tell which ones are genuinely good and which just drop your details into a template. Before I spend any money, I’d love to hear from people who’ve been through this:



Did using a professional CV maker in Dubai actually lead to more interview calls?

How do you tell a real writer from a template service?

Roughly what should I expect to pay, and is a higher price usually worth it?

Do they tailor the CV to your industry, or is it mostly generic?

Is it normal to include things like nationality, visa status, or a photo on a UAE CV?

Do most of them also help with cover letters and LinkedIn profiles?



I’d also welcome any warnings about services to avoid, or tips if you’ve rewritten your own CV with good results.



Thanks in advance, honest feedback (good or bad) would really help!