Client Success Story: Dubai City FC x Jobs4Football

Jobs4football are thrilled to share another success story showcasing Jobs4Football’s expertise in global football recruitment and talent acquisition.  This time, Jobs4football were engaged by United Arab Emirates based club Dubai City FC to deliver a game-changing appointment for their academy. In this case study Jobs4football will highlight each critical stage of the recruitment process culminating in a timely appointment which over exceeded client expectations.

About Dubai City FC and the Challenge

Dubai City FC, a growing football club based in Dubai, UAE, has made significant strides in fostering football development through their holistic approach over a number of years. With a thriving academy for boys and girls and a Men’s first team competing in the UAE’s 3rd league, they’ve established themselves as a beacon for football excellence in the region.

In June 2024, Dubai City FC CEO Terry Kidd approached Jobs4Football with an urgent recruitment need. Having witnessed the successful outcomes and positive referrals from other clubs and academies using our services, Terry had no doubt about who to engage for this critical hire.

The club needed an academy coach who would:
– Fit seamlessly into the club’s culture
– Be available at very short notice
– Possess all necessary professional qualifications
– Have the personal profile to adapt to Middle Eastern culture

However, the recruitment process faced significant hurdles as the role was delayed 4 months to December 2024 and therefore many of the initial applicants were already in post or now not interested in the role. The process had to be restarted from scratch and the extremely tight timeline had become even more urgent! A shortlist was required within 14 days, candidates had to be available to relocate within 4 weeks which delivered huge constraints on the available talent pool.

Jobs4Football Solution

Recognising the urgency and complexity of the situation, Jobs4Football HQ sprang into action with a multi-faceted approach:

1. Aggressive Social Media Campaign: Leveraging the strong desire among coaches to work in Dubai, we launched a comprehensive social media push across all platforms including X, Instagram, Facebook and with a particular focus on LinkedIn leveraging our circa 100k football specific followers.

2. Multi-Strategy Promotion:
– Featured as our “Job of the Week” across all social media channels
– Promoted via our newsletter to current members and LinkedIn newsletter subscribers
– Shared with our WhatsApp community for maximum reach

3. Engaging Video Content: Jobs4Football Co-Founder Nick McCreery created a job description video to captivate potential candidates and provide deeper insights into the role whilst highlighting the urgent nature.

4. Streamlined Screening Process:
– Daily screening of over 150 received applications in total using our bespoke candidate management system.
– Creation of a longlist featuring the top 10 candidates
– Utilisation of our integrated WhatsApp Template software to send key screening questions to longlisted candidates
– Phone screening conducted by Jobs4football consultants with the most promising candidates

5. Final Shortlisting: A shortlist of 3 exceptional candidates was presented to Dubai City FC who passed screening evaluated in relation to personal, professional and budget expectations. The client requested a two-stage interview process:
– First stage: Interview with Terry Kidd and a member of the coaching staff
– Final stage: One-on-one interview with Terry Kidd, focusing on cultural fit

The Result: A Perfect Match

After a rigorous and time sensitive selection process, one candidate stood out for his passionate drive for football and ambition to carve a career in a new environment: Tyler Scarth. An ex-professional footballer with recent experience at Sunderland Foundation of Light, Tyler impressed with his dedication as a student of the game, his UEFA B licence qualification and impressive references.

Jobs4Football didn’t stop at just making the placement. It is always imperative to go above and beyond to ensure Tyler’s smooth transition to his new role and environment. Our consultants provided comprehensive information about living and working in Dubai, offered cultural insights to minimise potential culture shock and supported the onboarding process to ensure a seamless integration

Tyler expressed his appreciation for our support:

“From end to end, the process was seamless, and I was kept updated throughout. Jobs4Football have been an unbelievable comfort for me, going into so much detail about the role, the environment, and what it would be like to live and work in Dubai. Without this support, it would have been a much harder decision to take the role.”

Overall here are the Key Takeaways from This Success Story:

1. Rapid Response: Despite the tight timeline, Jobs4Football delivered a high-quality shortlist within the 14-day window.

2. Global Reach: Our multi-channel approach attracted over 150 qualified candidates in a short period.

3. Efficient Screening: Our three-layer screening process ensured only the best-fit candidates reached the final stages.

4. Cultural Consideration: Jobs4football  prioritise candidates who could adapt quickly to the Middle Eastern culture, ensuring long-term retention.

5. Beyond Placement Support: Jobs4football commitment to both client and candidate extended well beyond the initial placement, facilitating a smooth transition.

6. Expertise in Niche Requirements: Jobs4football successfully navigated the challenge of finding immediately available, highly qualified candidates.

This success story underscores Jobs4Football’s ability to deliver exceptional results even under the most demanding circumstances. By combining an extensive network, cutting-edge technology, proactive consultant mindset and personalised approach, Jobs4football continue to set the standard in football recruitment.

For clubs and academies facing similar recruitment challenges, Jobs4Football stands ready to provide tailored solutions that drive success both on and off the pitch.