Will AI Decide Your Next Job in the Middle East? | Kirsty Koen – Group CHRO at IDS Borjomi Int.

Hiring in the Middle East is changing fast, and as Kirsty points out, the real story sits somewhere between the rise of AI and the power of genuine human connection. In this episode of Out of Office, Kirsty Koen, Group CHRO at IDS Borjomi International, talks through the unwritten rules of hiring in the region, why some candidates move forward easily, and why others fall out of the process without ever understanding what went wrong. We reveal: ↳ Why soft skills and relational intelligence now outweigh technical ability in today’s job market. ↳ How candidates can structure the perfect interview answer and show real value beyond the job description. ↳ What hiring managers get wrong about Gen Z ↳ Why AI and ATS systems are disrupting recruitment and how candidates can navigate the shift. ↳ The hidden expectations candidates never ask about but absolutely should. If you want to stop guessing what HR wants and to start landing opportunities in the Middle East, this is the episode to listen to. Chapters 00:00:00 Opening: The AI Hype and Middle East Hiring Reality 00:01:17 Understanding the Middle East's Familial Culture 00:03:14 The Three Dimensions of Hiring: Technical, Soft Skills, and Networking 00:04:46 Common Hiring Manager Mistakes 00:08:39 Red Flags: When Candidates Just Want Dubai 00:09:49 The Art of Asking Questions in Interviews 00:11:09 Quality Over Quantity: The Talent Abundance Myth 00:14:25 The Gen Z Question: Are We Overthinking It? 00:13:34 Career Longevity vs Job Hopping: The Complete Cycle 00:18:16 AI in Recruitment: The Black Box Interview Disaster 00:22:30 The Hunger Games: Competing in Dubai's Job Market Listen on: Spotify: Apple:  Connect with Kirsty:  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kirstykoen/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kewwiggs/ Follow Our Host: Mark Timms: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marktimmsgrg/