17/07/2025
How I Secured a 6-Figure Job in Dubai with Just 7 Months of Marketing Experience, And Today, I’ve Completed 2 Years Here
It all started back in 2022 when I was about to graduate, but deep down I was afraid to enter the job market with skills that, according to me, were not enough. There’s a famous saying:
“Hard times teach you the most.”
I started looking for new, market-in-demand, and advanced skills. I did “Fundamentals of Digital Marketing” from Google Skillshop, and that was the time I realized the true potential of digital marketing. Soon after completing this course, I got a chance to start my internship at one of the leading digital communications agencies in Pakistan. There, I got a chance to practically apply the skills I had learned. I did that internship for 7 months only.
During the internship and also in my final semesters, my elder brother Engr M Ismail Khan offered me to come to Dubai. But I refused. I thought it's not the right time as I was not skilled enough to secure a job in an international and competitive market like Dubai.
After quitting the internship, I decided to take a break and also to further upskill myself through courses. So I moved to my village, Jallozai. But it turned out to be the wrong decision because during the 3-month break, I spent almost 4 weeks in hospitals, assisting or helping one or another relative, time to time.
It happens, and it’s the beauty of village life, that you always have someone by your side in hard times, as long as it’s not affecting your productivity. But since it was affecting mine, I moved back to Islamabad. It wasn’t for a job, not for projects, not for university — but solely for learning.
I stayed there for 4 months and went through all the targeted courses and learning.
During those 4 months, I secured around 5 certificates in digital marketing, paid media, social media, content, etc., all now shining proudly on my CV. These were actually diploma-level courses from Google on Coursera, consisting of 7 courses in total.
Special thanks to Zeeshan-ul-hassan Usmani, as I explored these courses after watching his video on “How to Learn Digital Marketing.” (Link in comments)
I’ll always be grateful to him.
Stay blessed, Zeeshani Sahab. 🙏
After completing 5 courses, I realized that it’s now enough to proceed with job hunting in Dubai. So I informed my brother Engr. Ismail to go ahead with the due process and required documentation.
It was April 29, 2023, four days after Eid, when I landed at Dubai International Airport. Within two days, I was all set to start job hunting, and so I did. I became active on LinkedIn and Indeed, the top job hunting sites in the UAE.
After just 10 days of coming to the UAE, I received a call from a real estate company in Abu Dhabi. They interviewed me, and I got selected.
But here comes the twist: they agreed on a good basic salary but said, “Spend one week with us and then we will decide.” I said OK. I started and completed the week — but still didn’t get any clear response on my visa.
One thing worth mentioning, after I started job hunting and saw the response, interview calls, and salary scales, I became very confident that with God’s grace and my parents’ prayers, I would surely secure a job here.
Otherwise, before coming, I was a bit afraid that I might not be able to secure a job in my field, so I had mentally prepared myself that even if I have to do a security job, I’ll do it, but I won’t go back... ahh.
So after completing one week in Abu Dhabi, I came back to Dubai — without informing the company, as they were asking me to spend one more week. Everyone around me was suggesting not to leave the company, saying “UAE market is like this, you have to compromise.” But I noticed their behaviour was very unprofessional.
I had to wait for their manager for half a day to check my assignment, because his office time was 2 PM, and then it was totally up to him whether to give time or not. This happened for 4 days.
So I replied, it’s better to do some other profile job instead of working with them.
On Monday, the company messaged me:
“Where are you? Come to the office.”
I responded:
“One week is enough to judge a person. Now if you want me to continue, send a signed offer letter — otherwise don’t waste your time, and mine as well.”
Chapter closed.
I started applying again, and after two weeks, I got another call from a company. The interview went well, and I got selected for the second round of the interview.
I got selected among 52 applicants, and I believe it happened because of those certifications, I was able to answer almost every question I was asked in the interview.
And after the second interview with the Vice Chairman of the company, I finally started my first job in Dubai, with only 7 months of experience. on June 5, 2023.
This month, I completed almost 2 years.
These 2 years have been very rewarding. I’ve learned a lot, upskilled myself a lot. If you want to check what I do and how I do it, visit my website:
Link: bilalbinyousaf.com
If you want me to continue this series, about interview process, CV tips, job hunting, marketing pay scales in Dubai, or anything else, comment below.
Would love to help others in their journey too.
