Tag Archives: Louise Karim Dubai

Looking to get back to work? |Try these Mums@work workshops that aim to help and support mums considering getting back into the industry.

I left the corporate world almost 7 years ago but never stopped working as I moved to Dubai to help the family business.  I always wonder if I am qualified to go back to investment management again; can I can remember how to do a corporate interview, function socially in a new work environment, am I too old, and I wonder what the corporate work space in Dubai is like vs the work space in the UK?  I know I am not alone in my feelings as there are many mums looking to get back to work as their kids are becoming more independent and they are just not sure where to start.  Mums@work, is a recruitment agency designed specifically for mums, and they have launched a series of workshops to bring industry experts on board to update mums what companies are looking for, and to answer questions whilst aiming to encourage mums who are seeking to work again.

I think mums add to the working environment in Dubai.  Many of us have been at the top of our game in different industries in London, New York, Rome, Paris, Sydney, and then in the last couple of years we have taken care of our family.  I know as a person I have never worked harder or been more challenged then when I had my children.  I learnt new skills and learnt more about my strengths and weaknesses, and I definitely get more jobs done now then when I was living in London on a daily basis.  David Mackenzie, founder of Mums@work realised mums were able to pack a full day’s work into the space of 6 hours because their brains had been rewired since becoming mothers – they had become more focused and efficient with their time.

Mums@Work Career Event on 5th October 2016 will be the first of a series of workshops offering support and advice to Mums considering returning to the workplace 

Mums@Work, which seeks to revitalise the careers of mums in the UAE following having children is launching monthly workshops to give mums support as they consider returning to the workplace. Launching at the InterContinental Dubai Marina on 5th October 2016, around 100 Mums@Work candidates will have the chance to network with and gain useful advice from speakers from global brands including PwC Middle East, Bayer, Mumzworld and Edelman.

Backed by the one of the largest recruitment firms in the GCC, Mackenzie Jones, Mums@Work seeks to revitalise the careers of mums in the UAE by offering them attractive working packages, which include part-time and flexible working hours with multinationals, locals and SME companies.

mumsatwork.ae is an ever-growing platform that covers a wide range of articles including career, work/life balance and lifestyle pieces for the working mum. Regional experts with a wide range of expertise are on hand to give mums the ultimate advice to bagging their dream job. The most popular articles to date include Ask the Expert Panel, How to Dress for an Interview and Why Being a Mum is a Positive Skill in the Workplace.

Says Managing Director of Mums@Work, Louise Karim: “With our new monthly workshops and content packed website we are able to provide mums with all the tools they need to connect back with their chosen careers. We are here to guide, mentor and ensure that these women have the support, skills and confidence to get the jobs they want. We have gone to great lengths to make the transition from ‘Mum’ to ‘Career Mum’ as seamless as possible for this highly skilled and productive target audience.”

Says Mums@Work Founder, David Mackenzie: “We are working with some of the region’s biggest companies and successful SME’s to ensure roles benefit both the mums, through offering them the right choices and working hours, as well as the businesses, by providing them with a huge wealth of talent in the form of women who had successful careers, but took time off for their families.”

Becoming a member of the Mums@Work online community allows for great benefits, from job alerts to member news and offers, as well as being the first to know about Mums@Work events and workshops. Signing up couldn’t be easier, simply visit the site and register.

mumsatwork.ae has already clocked more than 15,000 hits per month since its launch and is growing by around 1,000 community members a month.

For more information and to register your interest, whether as a candidate or client, please visit:www.mumsatwork.ae

Mums@Work officially launches in the UAE giving mums the opportunity to revitalise their careers and connect with employers across the region

It’s not that we don’t love our children but some of us have to work, and others want to work.  It is a pretty high statistic that so many mums want to do some form of work.  I have always felt that through the blog there was an untapped source of talent among the mummy pool in the UAE and it was one of my reasons to launch this blog as a showcase for many talented women who also happen to be mums.  Many are ex-lawyers for large cooperations, doctors, bankers but who gave up their jobs to move to Dubai.  The brain capacity is still there, and they want to use it.  I have always thought to start a company like this but didn’t have the know how so I am glad that Louise Karim and David Mackenzie created Mums@Work to give mum better options for their future stay in the UAE.

On average 77% of mothers in the UAE who have taken time out from their careers to have children, are keen to get back to work according to a recent survey conducted by Mums@Work in association with YouGov.

Interestingly when focusing on mothers aged between 30-39 years old, this statistic increased to 88% of mothers who had either returned or were eager to get back to work.  It also revealed that 49% of mums looking to return to work would only do so if there were flexible or part time working options available.

The biggest barrier for mums returning to the workplace was flexibility, with more than 38% of women claiming that they couldn’t juggle family and workplace commitments.

According to the research carried out by Mums@Work, the number one driver for mums returning to work was financial stability, with 19% returning for the independence that comes with employment.

Backed by one of the largest independent recruitment firms in the GCC – Mackenzie Jones, Mums@Work is the first company of its kind in the Middle East, focused on helping mums to revitalise their careers and guiding them to the jobs they want. Tapping into the wealth of talent and connecting mums with potential employers who are looking to fill full-time and part-time roles.

Louise Karim, Managing Director of Mums@Work commented on the launch: “The findings are extremely interesting and further strengthen our commitment to providing a platform that gives the 77% of mothers across the UAE the opportunities that they are looking for. Mums@Work brings a solution that so many mothers, not to mention employers, are crying out for.

In a market like the UAE it is great to see how many senior positions women and more to the point, women with children, hold. There is a wealth of women in this market who have taken time off to raise their children and after either a short or extended break, are not sure of the best route back to their chosen profession; that also suits their family. This research shows the sheer volume of women looking to return to work after having children and the key driver of this being financial stability.

“Mums@Work is here to help. We are not only  connecting candidates and clients – we go way beyond this. We are here to guide, mentor and ensure that these women have the skills and confidence they need to get the jobs they want. We also want to make sure that they have the choices and right working hours to suit their families. Gone are the days when women have to choose between and family and their careers.”

David Mackenzie, Founder at Mums@Work added: “To me it is madness that we didn’t come up with the Mums@Work concept years ago, and the research findings further highlight the need for such a service in today’s climate. There is such a huge wealth of talent in the form of women who have had successful careers and have chosen to dedicate time to their families.  Our experience in the market backed by research has shown us that often after the first few years, once children start nursery/school, mothers are looking for opportunities to revitalise their careers and get back into the workplace, but with hours to suit them. There are also an increasing number of employers looking for highly skilled employees who are flexible in their work patterns.

“Inline with the UAE’s commitment to gender equality and diversity, as outlined by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, Mums@Work offers the perfect solution; an answer to the war on talent, while bringing significant savings to employers – who can hire employees on a part-time, as opposed to full-time basis. Everyone wins and we see an influx of talent to the job market.”

Those looking to register their interest, whether as a candidate or client can visit: www.mumsatwork.ae