Guest post by Stanley Albrighton
The past few decades have borne witness to a great number of changes in the Middle East. Many will associate the region with internal religious and political turmoil, however it is essential to understand that socioeconomic progress has ushered in a new era of advancement for the region. For this reason, the once-thought standard policies of executive recruitment have experienced a drastic shift in recent times. Let us first examine some of the changes occurring, and then apply these changes to noted shifts in recruitment policies.
Integration and Economic Factors
One of the most pivotal variables that has brought about changes in recruitment policies has to do with the fact that through technology, the Middle East is becoming increasingly integrated. If we then combine this with the rising wealth from oil and outside investments, it should come as no surprise that regional executive recruitment techniques have changed. Therefore, let us highlight some of the key points that have begun to affect recruitment policies.
A Lessened Desire for Western Talent
Although western expertise was once prized in this region, one must now take into account the fact that the internet age has produced a sizable number of trained professionals from other markets. Indeed, the Middle East is producing a large amount of experts in numerous fields. Notwithstanding the internally trained sector, the cost of western specialists has become prohibitively expensive for many corporations. Developing nations and those that have undergone significant economic distress are now offering up their expertise as well as many professionals that seek life outside of their respective countries. Therefore, this presents a valuable source of affordable executives while not sacrificing quality.
Arabic Speakers Needed
As the Middle East continues to gain a stronger foothold in the global economy, those who are fluent in Arabic are considered a commodity. In the past this was necessary for outside communications, but as this region has steadily become more integrated, Arabic speakers can increase intra-region communication effectively. As relatively few westerners have a sufficient grasp of Arabic (although the numbers are indeed on the rise), this illustrates another reason for a change in recruitment policy.
Attractive Financial Opportunities for Other Nations
Another key variable has to do with the fact that the Middle East’s domestic economies are largely tied to oil and natural gas production. As we have seen steady increases in the middle to long-term pricing in this sector, a large amount of liquidity is tied into the regional economy. Therefore, the Middle East represents an attractive foreign investment opportunity for the countries that can capitalize on such movement. This is one reason why executives looking to be recruited are experiencing a great deal of competition from countries such as India and China.
A Fertile Technological Hub
Although in the past the Middle East was seen as a source for raw materials alone, it is rapidly becoming one of the largest technological hubs in the world. Countries such as Israel, Jordan and Saudi Arabia have seen a great deal of technological companies seek to locate regional or global office in these regions. They realize that the burgeoning population, liquid capital and an increasingly specialized domestic workforce all represent attractive investment opportunities. Thus, they are more willing to recruit within the region than from abroad.
Lasting Effects of the Global Crisis
Lastly, it is important to recognize that many multinational corporations are still not recruiting at the levels they were prior to 2007. They prefer to keep expertise in-house as opposed to outsourcing capital. Unsurprisingly, this has been witnessed in the global corporations centered in the Middle East.
This paradigm shift reflects not only the growing influence the Middle East has on recruitment policies, but it signals a world that is becoming less defined by political and social borders than ever before. With further regional integration, a more professional workforce and access to cheaper labor from abroad, the westerner is not nearly in demand in the region as he or she was only a handful of years ago. While it may be argued that the Middle East still needs to deal with various regional tensions, it is nonetheless a fact that the landscape of executive recruitment due to economic progress has profoundly changed in this region.
About the Author:
Stanley Albrighton has worked with executive search firms for a number of years and has been lucky enough to recruit for various international and local organizations. He currently works for Marble Hill Partners, who help provide interim management.