I was about to accept a job at an advertising agency here, until I saw a job posting on Bayt.com for a Community Manager for GoNabit. When I read it I had a gut feeling that this was my dream job. The way the job description was written made it sound exciting, young, and fun.
I read the job posting at 2 am and I tried to go to sleep afterwards, but I was so excited, I couldn’t. My mind was buzzing trying to think of ways to stand out when I send my CV.
Since a big part of the job involved social media, I created a Facebook group to get Dan Stuart’s (CEO) attention. The idea behind it was I wanted to show him I could create buzz online, and I promised I’d have 500 followers within a week. So I emailed everyone I knew, messaged all my friends on Facebook asking them to ask their friends to join too. It was cool because I had random strangers writing and wishing me luck and everyone was so supportive. I had 500 followers in three days. And I got the interview!
Venita : Would it have bothered you if after promoting yourself through facebook, you didn’t get the job?
Danielle: Yes of course, I was putting myself out there but I believe in going after what you believe in. I turned down a job offer without even knowing if I’d get an interview with GoNabit. But I had to try. And what’s the worst that could happen? I’m so happy I did because I love my job. Not just saying it, but I enjoy every bit of it. The team is amazing and close-knit. It’s an exciting atmosphere, and we’re all in it together.
Venita: What is your typical day at work like?
Danielle: My job includes a bit of everything. I manage our social media accounts, such as Facebook, Twitter, Foursquare, etc. I spread the word about the deal, and get people talking about it online. I go to the city, meet Abu Dhabi residents, find out what makes them tick. And I’m always out trying to discover new places. I write the copy for all the deals, so whenever you’re reading the deal descriptions, it’s what I’ve written.
Venita: What deals do you usually focus on?
Danielle: We run a variety so there is something for everyone. For example, we’ve had yoga classes, restaurants, beauty salons, and summer camps as past Nabits. We don’t want to run deals that focus only on certain people. We want to keep as many people as possible happy.
Venita: What is the favorite part of your job?
Danielle: I go out and try so many new things. I go to places where I wouldn’t otherwise. I am getting to meet so many people through my job and to discover parts of Abu Dhabi that I didn’t even know existed.
Venita: How effective is social media in Abu Dhabi?
Danielle: At the moment Facebook seems to be the most popular, and businesses have caught on to that, because now it’s almost impossible not to find businesses with Facebook pages. It’s really important for a business because not only are you creating an online presence, but it’s essential to connect to your customers, and have conversations with them. Twitter is still picking up in Abu Dhabi, but there are more people joining every day, and I think we’ll reach the same level of Tweeps in Dubai soon.
