Dubai attracts recruiters from all over the world. Louise Vine has spent the last 18 years learning how the market really works.
Louise is the founder of Inspire Selection, a specialist finance and accounting recruitment firm based in Dubai. Over the last 13 years, she has built a fully remote business operating on a commission-only model while navigating a market where fee pressure is intense, cultural differences shape every interaction, and jobs can disappear without warning.
Last year, 70% of Louise's assignments were either canceled or put on hold.
Louise covers the challenges that catch Western recruiters off guard, why agencies charging 8% fees have changed client expectations, and how she introduced engagement fees to protect her team's time. She also explains how her commission-only model works, why only a small percentage of recruiters are suited to it, and what she has learned about hiring, accountability, and building culture in a fully remote business.
If you're considering Dubai, exploring commission-only recruitment, or looking for a different way to build a recruitment business, this episode is worth your time.
In this episode:
How Louise went from Robert Half in the UK to building a recruitment business in Dubai
What recruiters need to understand about the realities of the UAE market
Why nationality-based salary bands still exist in some organizations
How fee pressure impacts recruitment firms across Dubai
Why 70% of Louise's jobs went on hold or were canceled last year
The engagement fee strategy that changed client behavior
The pros and cons of a commission-only recruitment business
How to manage performance without micromanaging
Building culture and accountability in a remote team
Episode Highlights:
00:00 Intro
02:17 Growing up in Yorkshire and how it shaped Louise's resilience
15:51 The Facebook photos that convinced Louise to move to Dubai
17:25 Becoming top biller in her first quarter in Dubai
22:37 Nationality-based salary bands and what they mean for recruiters
27:06 Why 70% of jobs went on hold and how the engagement fee changed things
37:43 The commission-only model: 60-80% payouts, fully remote, no base salary
44:07 The hidden cost of commission-only, most owners don't see coming
46:18 How Louise manages performance without micromanaging 56:30 Why finding the right person for a commission-only model is harder than it sounds
1:03:07 How Louise builds team culture with everyone working from home
About Louise Vine Louise Vine is the founder of Inspire Selection, a specialist finance and accounting recruitment agency based in Dubai. She moved to Dubai from England 18 years ago and launched Inspire Selection 13 years ago. Today she leads a team of nine billers and three support staff, all working remotely on a commission-only model.
Connect with Louise: Louise on LinkedIn, inspireselection.com
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Free Resources:
Take the Recruitment Freedom Scorecard: recruitmentcoach.com/scorecard
Book a free Strategy Session with Mark: recruitmentcoach.com/strategy-session
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