The Banking Executive Magazine - May 2024 Issue

In the UAE private sector, it is not un- common for employees to have a side hustle. Recruitment experts said that it is important for employees and job-seekers to discuss this with po- tential employers during the inter- view process. Kameron Hutchinson, recruitment director at Allsopp & Allsopp, ad- vised job seekers to be upfront dur- ing interviews. "You should research the employer you're considering; if they have a strict policy that requires 100% of your time, that's not the right em- ployer for you," Hutchinson told Khaleej Times. Hutchinson noted that the key is to ensure that the full-time job remains the main focus. "You should not be misleading dur- ing an interview. If you can give 100 per cent of what the employer re- quires and you have some time and energy left over to do something on the side, follow your passion and go for it," he said. When asked about how common it is for employers to have a second source of income in the UAE, Hutchinson noted that it is very com- mon. He also noted that private sec- tor policies are changing. "It's already happening — many cor- porates and firms are changing their policies to allow people to have something on the side other than their full-time job," he said. "That's why we love Dubai - you can do many things at once, you don't have to be confined to one job." Hutchinson, a British expatriate, noted the mental difference between the UAE and his home country. "In the UK, the mentality is to have a 9- 5 job, 30 days of annual leave and that's it," he said. Hutchinson said that side hustles could include running an active so- cial media brand that generates in- come from views or collaborations, without a full-time commitment. "Some people need a full-time job to afford their passion on the side," he explained. Hutchinson also recommended building an effective relationship with your employer. "If you show up to an interview and say 'Hello, I want this job but I have a side hustle,' the chances are that the employer won't favour you," he said. "But if you have been giving your full performance, impressing the em- ployer, and showing your true value, then you can have a discussion with them about it.” Nicki Wilson, owner and managing director of Genie Recruitment, has the BANKING EXECUTIVE 40 ISSUE 185 MAY 2024 Career Chronicle UAE: MOST EMPLOYEES HAVE A SECOND JOB OR BUSINESS