jbtc
Member
Posts: 38
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Post by jbtc on Jun 25, 2018 20:29:45 GMT
I accepted my job offer in mid-April and went for the orientation in May. During the orientation my Relocation Adviser told me that I had already passed the background investigation and the medical they were doing there in Houston was the remaining contingency. I passed that (as did my wife), and then in early June they applied for my visa. My RA has since advised that the visas were approved and she was just waiting to get final ok from the KSA before issuing the formal letter indicating I am all set to give notice to my current employer. This was around the first week of June.
Over three weeks have passed, but I have yet to get said final letter. We have already discussed timing for arrival in Dhahran and are targeting late July, but until I get that letter I have refrained from putting my home here on the market for sale or taking care of the plethora of other items I will need to address prior to my family moving. I have reached out to my RA several times asking on status of getting this final sign-off letter so that I notify my employer and get started on my home sale, etc., but each time she just advises that she hasn't gotten the ok yet to issue that final letter (I've been diligent in making sure I do not pester her but instead only reach out every few days and not daily).
Has anyone else experienced something similar and is this normal? She made it seem that it is just a formality at this point for me to get the final letter since I had already passed all contingencies including the background investigation and medical and they got our visas approved from the Saudi embassy, but given now that over three weeks have passed since final contingencies have passed and they still haven't issued the letter, I'm starting to get a bit nervous as to what the hold-up may be and whether there is still some risk that something may fall through. Any insight anyone can provide would be much appreciated.
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Post by watm6848k6 on Jun 25, 2018 22:32:57 GMT
Hi, It might help to know what department you will be working in or your professional background (e.g., engineering)?
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jbtc
Member
Posts: 38
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Post by jbtc on Jun 25, 2018 22:49:51 GMT
My background is in finance and the position would be as an M&A yst within the HR department.
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swan
Senior Member
Posts: 209
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Post by swan on Jun 25, 2018 23:36:11 GMT
I suspect you may have been caught in KSA slowdown in Government offices during Ramadan, and extended shutdown over Eid. Government offices should have reopened a couple of days ago.
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jbtc
Member
Posts: 38
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Post by jbtc on Jun 26, 2018 0:51:34 GMT
Ah ok, thanks swan. I hadn't realized there was an extension of Eid Al-Fitr, but that makes sense then.
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Post by canadian on Jun 26, 2018 2:58:39 GMT
My background is in finance and the position would be as an M&A yst within the HR department. Jbtc, We are thinking of applying as well in finance field. What do you say are the prospects of getting hired. How was the interview process ?My husband is in finance too and We were not too sure if its easier to get in accounting and finance? Please share your insight about whole process ? Thanks |
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jbtc
Member
Posts: 38
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Post by jbtc on Jun 26, 2018 11:41:38 GMT
Canadian, so my background is in finance, but the role is in the HR department in a finance function. As to the process, for me it was fairly straightforward. I applied online, and then about a month later I was contacted by someone at their ASC arm in Houston to set up an online interview. I interviewed with their team via Skype the following week (there were two Saudis and two expats). Interview lasted about 90 minutes and went quite well. About 3-4 weeks had passed when I got an email from the recruiter in Houston and she advised that they selected me from the candidates they interviewed and that an offer was forthcoming. The offer came in the next week (this was around early April), and since then I've been in the pre-move process. I'm hopeful for a late July move, and as mentioned in my original post I've been waiting for the final confirmation letter the past several weeks since I've been verbally advised that I have met all contingencies. Hopefully that written notice will come in this week.
As for the prospects of getting hired, that is tough for me to say as I only have insight into what the process has been like for me. You mentioned your background is in finance as well. Do you by chance have strong experience in SEC reporting? The only reason I bring that up is that during the orientation in Houston, the recruiter running the orientation made a point of advising that they are in strong need of SEC reporting folks now, so if you have any background in that this seems to be in high demand for them right now.
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Post by canadian on Jun 26, 2018 14:28:23 GMT
Canadian, so my background is in finance, but the role is in the HR department in a finance function. As to the process, for me it was fairly straightforward. I applied online, and then about a month later I was contacted by someone at their ASC arm in Houston to set up an online interview. I interviewed with their team via Skype the following week (there were two Saudis and two expats). Interview lasted about 90 minutes and went quite well. About 3-4 weeks had passed when I got an email from the recruiter in Houston and she advised that they selected me from the candidates they interviewed and that an offer was forthcoming. The offer came in the next week (this was around early April), and since then I've been in the pre-move process. I'm hopeful for a late July move, and as mentioned in my original post I've been waiting for the final confirmation letter the past several weeks since I've been verbally advised that I have met all contingencies. Hopefully that written notice will come in this week. As for the prospects of getting hired, that is tough for me to say as I only have insight into what the process has been like for me. You mentioned your background is in finance as well. Do you by chance have strong experience in SEC reporting? The only reason I bring that up is that during the orientation in Houston, the recruiter running the orientation made a point of advising that they are in strong need of SEC reporting folks now, so if you have any background in that this seems to be in high demand for them right now. Thankyou very much jbtc,I highly appreciate you answering with detailed reply. As per background in Finance my husband deals with financial reporting mostly. He doesnt work with sec directly but has knowledge of it. Its good to know and thanks again for giving me your insight. Do you mind sharing which gc level you were offered |
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Post by canadian on Jun 26, 2018 14:30:33 GMT
Canadian, so my background is in finance, but the role is in the HR department in a finance function. As to the process, for me it was fairly straightforward. I applied online, and then about a month later I was contacted by someone at their ASC arm in Houston to set up an online interview. I interviewed with their team via Skype the following week (there were two Saudis and two expats). Interview lasted about 90 minutes and went quite well. About 3-4 weeks had passed when I got an email from the recruiter in Houston and she advised that they selected me from the candidates they interviewed and that an offer was forthcoming. The offer came in the next week (this was around early April), and since then I've been in the pre-move process. I'm hopeful for a late July move, and as mentioned in my original post I've been waiting for the final confirmation letter the past several weeks since I've been verbally advised that I have met all contingencies. Hopefully that written notice will come in this week. As for the prospects of getting hired, that is tough for me to say as I only have insight into what the process has been like for me. You mentioned your background is in finance as well. Do you by chance have strong experience in SEC reporting? The only reason I bring that up is that during the orientation in Houston, the recruiter running the orientation made a point of advising that they are in strong need of SEC reporting folks now, so if you have any background in that this seems to be in high demand for them right now. Thankyou very much jbtc,I highly appreciate you answering with detailed reply. As per background in Finance my husband deals with financial reporting mostly. He doesnt work with sec directly but has knowledge of it. Its good to know and thanks again for giving me your insight. Do you mind sharing which gc level you were offered I have heard from so many people now a days that getting hired in saudia is becoming very hard. So thats why I asked you about prospects of getting hired. |
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Post by StarboyX on Jun 27, 2018 19:18:07 GMT
Yes, this is normal, and again, b/c Ramadan and Eid just ended, there could be delays.
The bigger picture is you've made it this far, sit tight, be patient, and you'll be informed soon.
On that note, it's out of the RA's hands b/c all decisions are made from here, and since they have so many other candidates in process, when they have an update, they will contact you.
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jbtc
Member
Posts: 38
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Post by jbtc on Jun 28, 2018 11:46:17 GMT
Thank you starboy
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jbtc
Member
Posts: 38
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Post by jbtc on Jul 11, 2018 13:28:41 GMT
I just got the word that final clearance from SA came in, I will be speaking with the relo advisor later today. What is the leeway for negotiating the departure date? Give the lag that has occurred in getting this final clearance and how many things I have delayed in doing and thus still have to do (i.e., home sale, early return of car leases, etc.), I would like to set up a late August arrival date to Dhahran. Is that doable? Or do they insist on a quicker move?
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Post by StarboyX on Jul 11, 2018 15:52:08 GMT
Once the confirmation letter is sent, the sooner, the better.
Each case is different, and sometimes teachers have to wait until the end of the school to leave.
The concern know from all angles is will you ahead with the move, because unfortunately, some people do get cold feet, and back out at the last minute.
Can you imagine the time, effort, and money lost, before even arriving?
Hence, the sooner, the better.
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jbtc
Member
Posts: 38
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Post by jbtc on Jul 12, 2018 1:54:43 GMT
Yes, I can certainly see that as a risk that some folks back out last minute when the concept of actually moving to KSA becomes more real. That's not my case here and not part of my desire to set the move date for later in August, but I certainly see your point.
Just curious, any statistics as to what percentage of candidates actually do back out last minute? Your point is valid that this would definitively be a big hit to Aramco to have to incur all those costs to bring on someone onto a high level position involving relocation only for the individual to back out at the end.
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Post by omega on Jul 12, 2018 8:26:27 GMT
Set the relocation date for whenever is convenient for you (within reason of course, but late August or even late September are both perfectly reasonable). The relocation advisor wants you to move asap (as he wants to 'close' your file), but you wont get any extra credit for inconveniencing your family and moving earlier. Frankly speaking, choosing late September makes more sense, weather wise too. By the way you are not supposed to resign until the final confirmation later (and visa) being issued, so relocating two months after receiving it, is very reasonable (one might say, even early).
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