How to Get a Visual Merchandising Job in Abu Dhabi
As a visual merchandiser, you must attract people's attention to your store in a busy shopping center or mall. However, you must also make the merchandise look appealing to the consumers and also plan special signs and displays for holidays, sales or other special events. Getting a job as a visual merchandiser in Abu Dhabi requires not only expertise in the field, but also connections and an understanding of the culture of shopping within United Arab Emirates (UAE).
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Instructions
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Gain as much experience as possible in retail sales, especially in the area of home design or fashion. If you have gone to school to study fashion, business or marketing, you already have an advantage. Even if it's a smaller store, your experience will count.
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Cultivate your skills to be an effective visual merchandiser. You must also be highly creative, communicate your ideas effectively and be willing to work flexible hours to get the job done. You must deal effectively with corporate politics, and your merchandising displays must effectively push the items that need to be sold with artistic flair that fits with corporate vision for the store. Also, some employers want people experienced in AutoCAD, MS Word or other relevant software to generate reports and mockups.
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Update your CV/resume. Create a portfolio of your work by taking high-quality photographs of your visual-merchandising displays, and even have some digital photos that you can send by email. If you are applying for a job abroad, a portfolio can showcase your work even if you aren't yet called in for a face-to-face interview.
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Find an employer who can sponsor you. If you are not an Emirati citizen, you need an employer to sponsor you to work in Abu Dhabi or anywhere else in the UAE. If you already live in Abu Dhabi, go to the Marina Mall or one of the other shopping centers to talk to the managers about any possible open positions. You can also check the local English-language newspapers, like Gulf News, for ads.
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Apply from your home country for a visual-merchandising job. Many people, especially U.K. citizens, often apply for jobs from their home country through an international recruitment agency, either in person or online. Other applicants respond to newspaper ads for jobs in the UAE and the Middle East. These ads will often state the salary range, requirements and other benefits you will receive from the employer.
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Tips & Warnings
Although Abu Dhabi is a modern city, Emirati culture is still a bit more conservative than that of Europe or the U.S. Your visual-merchandising displays may need to reflect these cultural sensitivities, especially in the area of men's and women's fashions. Talk to your local store manager and corporate office about what is considered appropriate.
