Is the name of your school important to find a job in Dubai?

“Can I find a decent job in a good company even if I graduated from a lesser-known school?

— That was me doubting about my chances when I came to Dubai… 

In the Philippines, if you are from a prestigious university, you have a great advantage over the graduates from smaller schools. You may agree or disagree with me, but that was the culture I experienced during my job hunting days. Sometimes it’s unfair, but at times it also makes sense.

Here in UAE though, employers care less about the university name (at least in my line of work – the digital and creative).

Companies are more interested in your experience and what you can bring to the organization. School name is the least of the employers’ concerns. I mean, not too many of them are aware of the reputation of Ateneo, La Salle, or UP, or the University of Whatsoever, right?

Don’t get me wrong. There are HR who go the extra mile to do background checks – especially if you’re up for bigger roles. But as an entry to a job, the name of your school is not a ticket. Oftentimes, background research is done to check on your character.

Because what matters more for employers here is your education, not your school name. 

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Top photo from unsplash