For a while now I have been applying for vacancies in countries like Qatar, Oman, United Arab Emirates, etc. I liked the idea of being in a warm place during the winter but strangely all applications are rejected. I am even doing video interviews, and I had two negative results from them. Whereas in European applications, the situation was completely different. People were more open-minded, easier to communicate, more motivated. There are fewer hosts and more applicants, so there is a lot of competition. I wonder if this is the reason for this result. Do you have any idea?
I suggest that you ask the home owner, diplomatically, why your application was rejected. You could say something like: “I understand that I haven’t been successful with my application to housesit for you however, it would really help me if you could advise me why”
When you apply make sure you read the listing thoroughly and that you comply with their requests. Are you personalising your application by mentioning the names of the pets & why you would make a good sitter for them?
Also remember that the pets come first.
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There are relatively few such sits and they’re often hosted by expatriates, rather than locals. The hosts probably have a bunch of applicants. And given that in many of those countries, there are guest workers and such, the hosts probably can pick from various applicants who don’t need to travel from far away, which can limit logistical problems.
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Hello og welcome to forum, @Hocaman !
I wonder why you say that people in Europe are more open-minded, easier to communicate, more motivated. My impression is that Gulf-hosts are expats as Maggie8k says, so one would think the characteristics were similar? My impression of the expat communities I have met, is that they are open-minded and well-rounded - often travelling a lot and accustomed to different cultures? Or did something come up in some way that could cause them to have a lower interest or prefer someone else?
As you got a video interview I assume your application was fine, since they used their time talking with you. So it could either be an «issue» or simply that other applicants were a «better» match. The host only needs one sitter, so the numbers game would suggest an 80 % chance of decline. Many hosts seem to prefer a sitter «like themselves», couples prefer couples, solo women prefer solo women etc. For hosts using THS to maintain the regular routine of the pet it makes sense. Hosts would also often prefer sitters with a number of 5±reviews - although number isn’t everything (it was a game-changer for me after four 5*-reviews) but a few is probably needed to be competitive in an attractive location.
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Thank you Garfield. I think it is a disadvantage for me that I am a 55-year-old single man and I come from a Muslim country. I mean, I did not experience this disadvantage in European applications, but in the Gulf countries, for some reason, it seemed to me that this was a disadvantage. Maybe because they live in a Muslim country, they have certain judgments and they choose accordingly. I just wanted to have some opinions. that is why I wrote this forum. Thank you again since you spend time for me.
When the owners set a video chat with you, they already know your gender, age and location, although that may not correspond with your country of origin.
There are different reasons why owners don’t choose a sitter after chatting. Sometimes they chat with different people and choose the one of their preference. But it’s true that not being chosen after chatting makes me wonder what the reason might be. I don’t overthink it though as it’s better to detect a non fit in time.
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