While studying for undergraduate and graduate degrees in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Balamand in Lebanon, Nizzar Melki spent his time outside of class pursuing his passions: modeling and acting. In addition to participating in the "Mr. Lebanon" pageant in 2009, Nizzar also starred on three different TV series and one of Lebanon's most popular talent shows.
These days, Nizzar works as a Talent Acquisition Manager at TikTok in Dubai. We spoke with him to learn more about his unconventional career journey, and how his past experiences with acting and entertainment have impacted his work so far at TikTok.
Tell us more about your acting background and what you did before joining TikTok.
"I grew up in Lebanon and have loved being in front of a camera for as long as I can remember. Whether through acting or modeling, I've always enjoyed putting myself out there and expressing myself. My professional experiences in this area were mainly while I was in university, when I spent over two years acting on various Lebanese TV shows and even competed in the 2009 'Mr. Lebanon' pageant, which was a lot of fun. I also participated in my country's equivalent of 'America's Got Talent' and it was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience!
Although it was my passion, acting in a small country like Lebanon didn't pay very well, so the first job I took after graduating was in mechanical engineering. I later transitioned into an HR role after realizing it was a better fit, and I've been working in recruiting for the past eight years."
How has your passion for acting impacted what you do now at TikTok?
"As a Talent Acquisition Manger at TikTok, I'm responsible for identifying, recruiting, and retaining talented candidates who fit our culture. One of the reasons I love acting is because I can tap into my extroverted side and interact with super talented and interesting people. I feel like I'm doing the same thing now at TikTok, since I connect with new candidates and employees every day, working to understand them and often solve their problems. As a 'people person,' I love this side of my work, and I feel especially fulfilled when I can tell a candidate they've been shortlisted for their dream job.
But don't think I've left behind entertainment altogether -- our employee engagement events give me the chance to MC! I organize and host Trivia Nights in the Dubai office, and I've been getting involved with other company events as well. My colleagues at TikTok come from many different backgrounds, so I'm always blown away by the incredible talents that are showcased at these events."
How has TikTok allowed you to grow in your career?
"Above all, I've learned to take more initiative with my work and become less dependent on following a set of instructions. TikTok has many practices in place that encourage us to be independent with our work and learning processes, so I have a lot of autonomy to drive initiatives and take on problems that I believe are significant. The company is also growing really fast, especially here in the MENAT region, which has given me the chance to diversify my work and contribute in multiple key areas. Leaders at TikTok have an open-door policy, so I've been given all the support and information I need to succeed."
In your opinion as both a recruiter and employee, what kind of person is most likely to join and succeed at TikTok?
"For this, I'll echo the words of my colleague Shant Oknayan (General Manager for Global Business Solutions in the MENAT region): 'the secret to succeeding at TikTok is being humble and ambitious (humbitious)!'
In other words, are you willing to get your hands dirty, roll up your sleeves, and embrace all challenges as they come? Working at TikTok is very fast-paced and the learning curve is steep, so you need to be adaptable and aim high to make an impact. Humility is also important because we all treat each other as equals -- regardless of position or experience -- and you're expected to put ego aside and contribute in any way you can. When a candidate shows these qualities, I know they'll add something meaningful to our culture."
Do you want to join us at TikTok? Find out more about our career opportunities by visiting our jobs page. You can also learn more about us on LinkedIn, TikTok, and YouTube.
At TikTok, it's your turn to make a change!
