Your Journey to the Middle East: From Resume Submission to On-Site
Understanding the Timeline. Embarking on a medical career in the Middle East is an exciting and transformative journey. However, the timeline from submitting your resume to stepping onto hospital grounds can vary significantly, typically ranging from 3 to 9 months. This duration is influenced by hospital needs, credentialing processes, and visa requirements. Here’s a detailed guide to help you navigate this journey.
Step 1: Preparing and Submitting Your Resume. The first crucial step is to prepare a comprehensive resume. Ensure it includes detailed information about your qualifications, experience, and the facilities you’ve worked at. Here’s a checklist to get you started:
- Qualifications: List the complete name of the institution, country, and date of attainment.
- Experience: Include the institution’s name, start and end dates, position title, department, and detailed duties.
- Facility Information: Mention the size of the hospital/unit, type (public/private), and specialty.
- Publications/Research: List any relevant publications or research work.
Step 2: Initial Contact and Discussion. Once we receive your resume, we’ll reach out for a confidential and informal chat. This conversation helps us understand your personal and professional goals and allows us to discuss potential job opportunities that match your criteria.
Step 3: Submission and Interview Process. If you’re interested in the opportunities discussed, we’ll proceed to submit your resume to your chosen hospitals. If we do not have a position that meets your requirements, we will keep you application on file and will get in touh when a position opens up. The next steps can vary:
- Direct Offer: Some hospitals may extend an initial offer based on your resume.
- Interview: Others may request Microsoft Teams, Zoom Meeting or telephone interview.
Step 4: Offer Acceptance and Paperwork Collection. Upon accepting an offer (as received or after negotiations), we’ll begin the process of collecting necessary documents for credentialing and visa arrangements. The required documents include, copies of qualifications (medical degrees, residency certificates, fellowships, etc.), Current license, Employment and letters of reference, Passport, photo and etc.
Step 5: Credentialing Process. Credentialing is a thorough process that can take around 8 – 10 weeks. It starts with the verification of your paperwork. This process is conducted by a third party retained by relevant health authorities to perform the task. The process requires verification of qualifications/degrees, license and employment. After which, your file will be submitted to Heath Authority of country the position in. This process can take 1 to 4 weeks. At the end of this process the health authority will issue an approval to confirm that you can practice as physician in the country. Depending on the country you obtained your qualifications from, the Health Authorities may ask to sit for an exam, this can be in a form of Oral or written examination.
Step 6: Mobilization. Once your application is approved, the mobilization process starts, where hospital will issue the official contract of employment. We collect visa paperwork which would include Forms to complete, background check, and medical check-up.
Step 7: Employment Visa Processing. For hospitals in Saudi Arabia, we will manage your work visa application, which typically takes 1 to 2 weeks after receiving all documents. We’ll also arrange your travel, inform the hospital, and coordinate your orientation, housing, and airport reception. Where, for hospitals in the UAE and Qatar, the relevant hospital handles visa processing upon receiving the required documents.
The journey from submitting your resume to starting your new role in the Middle East is multi-faceted and can span several months. However, with thorough preparation and our dedicated support, you’ll navigate this process smoothly, ensuring a successful transition into your new professional chapter. Therefore, it is very important that you don not submit your resignation and you were told the process is over and you are ready to travel.
We’re here to guide you every step of the way, making your wish to working in the Middle East a reality.