Best photos of June 2: From a tomato fight in Colombia to fog over Sydney
Dead fish float to the surface of Ibn Najm marsh, about 25km north-east of Najaf in central Iraq. Authorities say the area relies on drainage water, which has turned saline. AFP
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Khaleej Times
23 minutes ago
- Khaleej Times
How to write that perfect CV in the UAE: Tips by an HR professional
One page can change your life. This one piece of paper is your invitation to a meeting, your certificate of excellence, and your chance to get a bumper raise before you've even begun a new job. What's on this precious note? Your CV. 'The worst thing you can do for your CV is write down your job description,' says HR veteran Anam Irfan, who has worked with the likes of Majid Al Futtaim and Tenaris, and across industries such as oil and gas and construction. The Pakistani expat, who has been in the UAE for 35 years, is currently the chief people officer and partner at byteSpark AI, and spoke to wknd. about the difference between a good CV and an effective one, what companies can do to draw and retain talent, and what you can do to boost your own profile in the tough-as-stone job market. Her firm is a headhunting initiative that uses AI to pursue candidates and link the right person to the right job. 'Our platform does a recruitment with speed, with efficiency. That, and we help people with CV-building skills,' explains Anam. If you are looking for a new job this year, you are, unsurprisingly, not alone. According to a survey by Censuswide, 75 per cent of the professionals in the UAE are searching for new employment in 2025. But to make your CV (and application) stand out, says Anam, 'Don't tell me what you were hired to do, impress me with what you have done. What you have achieved. A CV needs to be clear, concise, impactful. That means talking about outcomes, numbers.' To make things more engaging, she recommends paying attention to your personal brand. 'After all, if you don't write about your accomplishments on social media (or LinkedIn), how will a recruiter know about your abilities? With the new generation that is coming into the workforce, Gen-Z and Alpha, it will be all about the personal brand. They're all on social media, whether it's Instagram, or LinkedIn, or TikTok. If you want to excel, you need to up your game on these platforms.' Closing the gender gap As a woman who has worked in traditionally male-dominated industries, Anam says her formula for being seen and heard is simple: Show up with irrefutable data. 'If you have your own clear voice and influence at the table, and you come backed up with data — that's when magic really happens. I make sure that when I speak, it is with facts and figures, making them curious about 'why did she say what she said',' she adds. Having a comfortable relationship with your audience will also smooth your way to a receptive audience, the HR executive adds. 'You have to make sure that you're building relationships through the journey. Women have the gift of empathy; relationship-building is natural. When you do that, things become easy.' The first challenge to success — both when it comes to speaking to colleagues and presenting an argument (or counter-argument, for that matter), she says, is the negative self-talk that women tend to suffer from. According to a study, published by the US-based National Library of Medicine, positive self-talk has the ability to improve cognitive performance. 'We women sometimes lose out because we are very self-critical, thinking we need to over-prepare. Sometimes, we overthink and stop ourselves from expressing a certain viewpoint. You don't say it, but someone else does. And you are left reeling,' she says, adding that one needs to curb that instinct to keep mum at important moments. Don't tell me what you were hired to do, impress me with what you have done. What you have achieved. A CV needs to be clear, concise, impactful. That means talking about outcomes, numbers" Anam believes the foundation to professional success then begins in one's formative years. 'If you don't have a very good childhood, it impacts you and your personal skill set,' she explains. However, if you are taught resilience in the face of diversity, it will hold you in good stead. If you do find yourself without glowing personal skills though, remember that many things can be learned — all you need is a growth mindset; that ability to find lessons in everything. It's also why grooming is so important in a work place; it helps your discover and grow your abilities. 'You may have your own mindset and your own aspirations, but if the opportunity is not given in the right organisation, it changes everything,' she says. 'When I was just in training,' she recalls, 'I was already presenting budgets to CEOs — my mentors and leaders put me in the room and pushed me to learn by doing. My confidence was built up like this.' Anam is the mum of a six year old, and she laughs when asked about work-life balance. 'There is no such thing,' she says. 'For me, it's not about a work-life balance, it's really about integration. So, I have boundaries — at five, I have to leave. My son is six. He needs a mom. I need to spend at least couple of hours with him once he's back from school. He needs to have mealtimes with me. He needs to have his sleeping time with me. He needs to have some reading time with me. Once he's gone to bed, I can get back to any pending work that I have. The key is to know when to take a break and pause.' Corporations need to understand that you cannot have those legacy annual performance reviews. You need to move beyond that. Things are agile. That's where frustrations happen in employees — they feel it's not a fair assessment" Organisations too need a shift While she's quick to say that she's only worked in supportive firms, she does admit that the way many organisations do things leave a lot to be desired. 'Performance management systems are so outdated. There is usually an annual goal-setting in organisations and annual reviews; but the goal posts are constantly shifting. 'Corporations need to understand that you cannot have those legacy annual performance reviews. You need to move beyond that. Things are agile. That's where frustrations happen in employees — they feel it's not a fair assessment.' 'The other thing is, teaching employees about their potential growth trajectory. The more you know where you are heading, the greater will be your commitment to your cause,' she explains. At the end of the day, your turn with a company begins with an introduction — and you owe yourself the best one. Begin by working on an effective CV.
Khaleej Times
23 minutes ago
- Khaleej Times
UAE: Travelling for Hajj? New smart medical bag launched for pilgrims
A smart medical bag, that marks a new advancement in portable healthcare for Hajj pilgrims, has been introduced with the launch of 'Masand'. This innovative unit is tailored to assist healthcare teams in fast-paced, mobile environments where prompt diagnosis and treatment are essential. This bag has been developed by health-tech company Doctory in collaboration with the Sharjah Open Innovation Lab (SoiLAB). The innovative medical bag integrates advanced diagnostic tools into a single portable unit, allowing for rapid and effective health assessments during the pilgrimage. Developed through close cooperation between Doctory's healthcare experts and SoiLAB's engineering team, 'Masand' harnesses technologies including 3D printing, additive manufacturing, laser cutting, and precision electronics. The launch reinforces the Sharjah Research, Technology and Innovation Park's (SRTI Park) reputation as a regional hub for next-generation medical devices, born from dynamic partnerships between government, academia, and industry. Hussain Al Mahmoudi, CEO of SRTI Park, said, 'Doctory's innovative products, designed within SoiLAB, are a model of health innovation. This project reflects our commitment to empowering creative and innovative companies to turn their ideas into tangible solutions that improve lives. The Hajj season provides a unique opportunity to test these solutions in real-world conditions, showcasing SRTI Park's ability to turn research and innovation into practical outcomes.' He added, 'We are dedicated to enabling innovators by providing world-class research and development facilities, advanced industrial expertise, and supportive investment networks. Our goal is to create an environment where pioneering ideas in health technology can thrive, transforming how medical solutions are developed and implemented.' How does it work? The 'Masand' medical bag can directly connect patients with a network of specialised doctors, enabling remote diagnosis and treatment — even in areas with limited access to healthcare facilities. The bag has attracted significant attention from medical authorities and regulatory bodies during the current Hajj season, where it has proven effective in managing emergency health cases at the holy sites. Osama Shamsi Pasha, Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of Doctory, said, "The 'Masand' medical bag represents a significant leap in mobile healthcare, made possible by the advanced innovation environment and world-class team at SoiLAB. We have had previous successful collaborations with SoiLAB, such as developing the 'Doctory Chair,' which reinforces our confidence that SRTI Park is the ideal environment for testing ambitious ideas and turning them into practical products."
Gulf Today
an hour ago
- Gulf Today
Pilgrims seek forgiveness and shade on Mount Arafat during key Hajj ritual
Tens of thousands of Muslim pilgrims clambered up rocks and nestled between boulders on Thursday as they embarked on a day of worship under a scorching sun at the Hajj in Saudi Arabia. Braving the heat and uneven surfaces, they scaled Mount Arafat to perform a key ritual of the annual Islamic pilgrimage. They opened their arms in prayer, smartphones and hearts raised, as outsized fans sprayed fine mists of water to cool them during their long hours of worship. Pilgrims must remain in Arafat until sunset. Temperatures exceeded 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit). Away from the worship, an ice cream kiosk nearby provided some relief. Salem Naji Ahmed, from Yemen, travelled four days overland to neighbouring Saudi Arabia because he couldn't afford the flight. A Muslim pilgrim prays at Jabal Al Rahmah, also known as Mount Arafat, during the annual Hajj pilgrimage. Reuters "These sacred feelings are the most luxurious and best thing about Arafat,' he told The Associated Press. "We came from Yemen, four days and nights. It was very tiring, but we came to please Allah and perform one of his obligations in the holy sites and in the best area on earth.' The rocky hill holds immense significance in Islam. Arafat is mentioned in the Holy Quran and it is where the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is said to have given his last sermon on his final Hajj. Muslim pilgrims pray at dawn on Mount Arafat. AFP According to traditional sayings of the prophet, the Day of Arafat is the most sacred day of the year, when God draws near to the faithful and forgives their sins. Hatem Salem, from Egypt, said: "We cannot express the feeling. We feel the best at the holy sites with a humble heart and faith." Hajj is one of the Five Pillars of Islam, a religious obligation involving rituals and acts of worship that every Muslim must fulfil if they have the money and are physically able to do it. The authorities have not disclosed the total number of pilgrims at this year's Hajj. Earlier, they said more than 1.5 million foreigners were participating. Last year, there were 1,611,310 pilgrims from outside the country. Associated Press
