business

LinkedIn to Include New ‘Wasta’ Section for Middle East Markets

The professional social media platform has unveiled its latest localisation efforts.

Published on February 27, 2014

Popular profession-based social media platform LinkedIn will soon be adding an entire section dedicated to Wasta to its database for Middle East users.

In an announcement made this morning, the company revealed that the ‘Wasta’ category would be launched next month and would instantly allow its “10 million plus users across the region to update their profiles with important information about who they know, who they’re related to and any other influential connections that could improve their chances of getting a job”.

“Localisation is absolutely vital for us,” said LinkedIn regional manager Hisham Caterjee. “Our MENA clients need to show prospective employers key abilities such as having an important uncle or being the shisha buddy of a high ranking civil servant.”

“About time” said LinkedIn user Wael See. “Instead of lying about my experience and stealing motivational quotes from Warren Buffett, I can simply tell people who the best man at my wedding was. He’s practically royalty.”

Related Topics:technology

37 Comments

Bobby

February 27, 2014 at 10:46 am

And about time too. It will save an awful lot of wasted time interviewing people who have no connections at all.

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sarahjane

February 27, 2014 at 10:57 am

*Whispers* Change the it’s to its … 🙂 PS. GREAT piece. Thanks.

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mw410

February 27, 2014 at 12:03 pm

well this is rubbish

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asameena

February 27, 2014 at 12:25 pm

This is a bullshit idea, what can the people i know add to my skills and work expertise?!!! forget about qualifications and go to “connections”… BIG FAIL!

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- Stranger
  
  February 28, 2014 at 4:34 pm
  
  asameena, so you don’t know anyone? Why should I be giving you a job if you are not being usefull to the business? Kudos to LinkedIn for this bold move.
  
  Reply
BritPop

February 27, 2014 at 12:56 pm

They should team up with http://www.ancestry.com, then many of us can show how we are descendents of Ghengis Khan….

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- David
  
  February 27, 2014 at 2:46 pm
  
  Or his Scottish cousin, Ghengis McCann!
  
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Norris Norse

February 27, 2014 at 1:12 pm

I am a Viking. Can i have a job?

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Ali bin Derdunda

February 27, 2014 at 1:16 pm

Beople, this is a great thing. Now all your friends will be able to see which friends are your most imbortant ones. Thanks you Facebook

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yazbaz

February 27, 2014 at 1:20 pm

THIS IS SATIRE GUYS – honestly when will people learn???????

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- Jan Janssen
  
  February 27, 2014 at 2:23 pm
  
  This is not satire and neither are any of the comments so far. All of it is completely serious.
  
  I, for one, am looking forward to Klout finally being able to give us a usable index on how much attention we have to pay to someone. Wasta is a much better indicator than things like number of followers or retweets. All we need is a simple number for it, so I can say my Wasta is 72 and yours is only 32, so if I hit your Yaris with my 911, accept your punishment with a graceful “yes boss” once the police arrive. It would make life so much easier if everybody just knows their place, instead of running into Europeans who unexpectedly turn out to have wasta, or Emirati who have a surprising lack of any wasta whatsoever.
  
  Reply
Wael Waitanzee

February 27, 2014 at 2:15 pm

Will I be able to include the fact I was in the restaurant next door to one that had someone important dining in it, so we practically met and could be best mates?

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Robert

February 27, 2014 at 5:48 pm

Shall ladies add in their cup size as well !!

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Rob Matheson

February 27, 2014 at 9:58 pm

I can see the value in a place like the Middle East. But from an ethical and professional standpoint it’s simply cringeworthy

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- Anonymous
  
  March 7, 2018 at 7:49 pm
  
  This is insulting
  
  Reply
Michael Henry

February 28, 2014 at 12:16 am

I think it’s better to add skills tests, like Freelancer.com to prove that this person can do this job and sure that will be in various industries, what do you think.

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Abdullah

February 28, 2014 at 6:50 am

Using relations power it is every where in the world .
But link this “service” by LinkedIn for Middle East only, it is big fault.

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Belal Al-Qadri

February 28, 2014 at 9:32 am

What a shame on you Linkedin!!!

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- Abduhl Klappstuhl
  
  February 28, 2014 at 12:07 pm
  
  You’re just jealous!
  
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Ghassan

February 28, 2014 at 10:56 am

It’s satire. This website is for satires. It is funny nevertheless

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Zainab

February 28, 2014 at 11:02 am

this is outrageous!!
Shouldn’t it all depend on the skills and if the person is even deserving!

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Eyass N. Awartani

February 28, 2014 at 2:17 pm

well , that escalated too damn high o.O

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Amr

February 28, 2014 at 11:47 pm

we(arab) were Looking like other respectful people on linkedin, but Linkedin thinks that we are not, congrats for the shit.

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Mohammed

March 1, 2014 at 6:21 am

It would be better to include sample of work sheet. projects. Video as an introduction or portfolio.

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Hummingbird

March 1, 2014 at 7:58 am

In other words, legalizing nepotism..so my professional experience is in how much I do stupid crap with other ppl? If that is the case a person don’t need to study or have experience. All anyone need is a good connection that will make him/her reach no matter how stupid and psycho that person was!

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- Chrystal Chipotle
  
  March 2, 2014 at 7:56 am
  
  You just hit the nail on the head, Hummingbird – welcome to how the UAE job seeker market actually does work. I would suggest however that you post this response on 24/7 or Gulf New’s website rather than a satirical page!
  
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samee

March 1, 2014 at 12:31 pm

Nationality is important this regard too hehehe, I was not given many jobs just because of my nationality

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doppler

March 2, 2014 at 7:59 am

Is this for real?! Umm, an American business trashing ethics and values for profit

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ASH

March 2, 2014 at 12:56 pm

It’s easy. Just have the names of the influential people you know on your arm and call it Inked In so as not to mistake it for Linked In.

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Dubaichick

March 3, 2014 at 10:26 am

Maybe it wasn’t your nationality but your poor grammar…

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kharoof

March 3, 2014 at 2:47 pm

I am excited about these culturally-tailored services. I hope they give extra points for those of us who manage to find a fancy car parked somewhere and take our picture with it, thereby illustrating the knack for tirkeeb afleim and akel hawa, two key elements in the Arab job market.

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Anonymous

March 4, 2014 at 5:51 am

Ridiculous!

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Anonymous

March 5, 2014 at 8:18 am

who will verify that the information presented is correct. Guys you are taking us back to medieval ages again. This is not the progress we are pursuing, on the contrary we have to fight back any moves like this.

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Shiroz Hamid

March 6, 2014 at 6:53 am

The title of this news should be “One of the ostensible professional social networking sites endorsing the worst method of recruiting”. No wonder why recruitment in this part of world is biased. If you are a recruiter or job hunter, you can see that most of the employers in this region explicitly ask for your religion, nationality, gender, marital status on your application, some even use these “attributes” as their screening tool.

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Anonymous

March 7, 2014 at 11:21 am

Fabulous idea. For all those who don’t get it, hopefully you have wasta, if not, poor you!

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Musa khan

March 12, 2014 at 11:48 am

This has been the same since long

Either your a women with tights or mini skirt you get the job .
or you have wasta..

this happenes 99 % in MENA

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Anonymous

March 7, 2018 at 7:51 pm

This is insulting and not professional if it’s true

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