Remote working became widespread during the pandemic. Getty Images
Remote working became widespread during the pandemic. Getty Images
Remote working became widespread during the pandemic. Getty Images
Remote working became widespread during the pandemic. Getty Images

Digital platform launched to evaluate jobseekers' remote readiness skills


Fareed Rahman
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ETS, a global education and talent solutions entity, has teamed up with the US-based career tech platform Localized to launch a digital initiative that will assess the remote readiness skills of job seekers, as more people opt to work remotely or in a hybrid environment.

Anywherepro evaluates skills that are essential for professionals to succeed in a remote environment, including effective communication, cross-functional collaboration, mentorship and feedback, the two companies said on Tuesday.

Skills will be evaluated through a test that costs $29.99, according to the ETS website. After passing the test, candidates will get a digital badge that can be displayed on their LinkedIn and other recruitment platforms.

“Employers today are looking for talent across the globe that can demonstrate that they are skilled at taking on the demands of our evolving global economy,” said Michelle Froah, senior vice president of corporate solutions at ETS.

Anywherepro will equip employers “with the tools and solutions they need to measure the capabilities of talent across the globe to enhance their workforce and build robust, effective teams no matter where they are located”.

The announcement comes as digital jobs, which can be performed from anywhere, continue to rise globally amid a rapid adoption of technology and growing acceptance of online work.

Remote working has been especially widespread since the Covid-19 pandemic, when the shift to working from home became the new normal. Many employers opted to allow their staff to continue working remotely rather than requiring them to return to the office on a full-time basis.

The World Economic Forum expects global digital jobs to rise to 92 million by 2030 from 73 million currently, it said in April.

In lower and middle-income countries especially, a surplus of skilled and educated workers exists, the WEF said. These workers could help fill labour shortages experienced in high and upper-middle-income countries through global digital jobs.

For example, Hungary, Germany and Belgium have relative shortages in technology, creativity and problem-solving skills. Meanwhile, the Ivory Coast, Ghana and Jordan have workers with these skills and labour surpluses, it said.

“[The rise of] global digital jobs pose an opportunity for both the labour markets in advanced economies that have been exceptionally tight and for developing economies that face higher unemployment rates through connecting talent and job opportunities across borders,” the WEF said.

Remote working is rising in popularity since the Covid-19 pandemic. Photo: Marvin Meyer / Unsplash
Remote working is rising in popularity since the Covid-19 pandemic. Photo: Marvin Meyer / Unsplash

Localized works with universities in the GCC and across the Middle East, including King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Carnegie Mellon Qatar, Princess Sumaya University for Technology in Jordan, New York University Abu Dhabi and more.

The initiative could also help recruiters in the UAE and the broader region as they look to employ the right talent amid significant advances in the technology sector, such as artificial intelligence.

The UAE's digital economy is expected to grow to more than $140 billion in 2031, up from almost $38 billion last year, according to a report by the Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy.

AI is among the top 10 skill shortages listed by employers in the UAE, according to the Cooper Fitch 2024 UAE Salary Guide.

With AI on course to contribute about $96 billion to the UAE’s economy by the end of the decade, qualified and experienced technology candidates are likely to remain in high demand among large tech companies and government entities alike, the recruitment consultancy said.

Dust and sand storms compared

Sand storm

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Total fights: 32
Wins: 28
Wins by KO: 26
Losses: 4

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Stars: Gang Dong-won, Lee Jung-hyun, Lee Ra

Director: ​Yeon Sang-ho

Rating: 2/5

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Shane McMahon defeated Roman Reigns

Lars Sullivan won by disqualification against Lucha House Party

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Tips for job-seekers
  • Do not submit your application through the Easy Apply button on LinkedIn. Employers receive between 600 and 800 replies for each job advert on the platform. If you are the right fit for a job, connect to a relevant person in the company on LinkedIn and send them a direct message.
  • Make sure you are an exact fit for the job advertised. If you are an HR manager with five years’ experience in retail and the job requires a similar candidate with five years’ experience in consumer, you should apply. But if you have no experience in HR, do not apply for the job.

David Mackenzie, founder of recruitment agency Mackenzie Jones Middle East

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New process leads to panic among jobseekers

As a UAE-based travel agent who processes tourist visas from the Philippines, Jennifer Pacia Gado is fielding a lot of calls from concerned travellers just now. And they are all asking the same question.  

“My clients are mostly Filipinos, and they [all want to know] about good conduct certificates,” says the 34-year-old Filipina, who has lived in the UAE for five years.

Ms Gado contacted the Philippines Embassy to get more information on the certificate so she can share it with her clients. She says many are worried about the process and associated costs – which could be as high as Dh500 to obtain and attest a good conduct certificate from the Philippines for jobseekers already living in the UAE. 

“They are worried about this because when they arrive here without the NBI [National Bureau of Investigation] clearance, it is a hassle because it takes time,” she says.

“They need to go first to the embassy to apply for the application of the NBI clearance. After that they have go to the police station [in the UAE] for the fingerprints. And then they will apply for the special power of attorney so that someone can finish the process in the Philippines. So it is a long process and more expensive if you are doing it from here.”

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Group A: UAE, Spain, South Africa, Jamaica

Group B: Bangladesh, Serbia, Korea

Group C: Bharat, Denmark, Kenya, USA

Group D: Oman, Austria, Rwanda

Updated: September 10, 2024, 4:54 PM`