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Post by coyotep on Oct 10, 2023 17:17:20 GMT
My flight is booked and I leave within a month. I am starting to get really cold feet the more I read into the company and the position. The people I've contacted on LinkedIn have mostly reassured me, but it's hard to ignore the negativity on this thread. I have 13 years experience and under 40 years of age. I need the money to pay back some significant debts (due to many reasons), but have no clue what I am giving up. I am an engineer going to an engineering position. I am having a difficult time imagining it can THAT bad, but you never know. Does anyone have any additional insights into how bad it is to work for Aramco these days? Has it been good?
If I choose to leave now, I am pretty sure I will be blacklisted for life?
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Oct 10, 2023 20:47:56 GMT
If you’re coming here for the soul reason to pay off debts then focus on that goal, once it’s achieved then reevaluate whether you wish to stay longer. Roles and career expectations here are not what they once were, it is what it is. Being under 40 does mean sacrificing an element of career progression as you will stagnate here, but then again if it’s a pure money play, with an exit date then may work for you.
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Post by BlueStaff on Oct 11, 2023 13:16:26 GMT
I honestly don't know why, but there is a huge amount of ill-will shown towards Aramco online. Yet many people are here, have been here for 5 / 10 / 15 years or more - it can't be all that bad.
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Post by zmahmood on Oct 11, 2023 22:04:36 GMT
My flight is booked and I leave within a month. I am starting to get really cold feet the more I read into the company and the position. The people I've contacted on LinkedIn have mostly reassured me, but it's hard to ignore the negativity on this thread. I have 13 years experience and under 40 years of age. I need the money to pay back some significant debts (due to many reasons), but have no clue what I am giving up. I am an engineer going to an engineering position. I am having a difficult time imagining it can THAT bad, but you never know. Does anyone have any additional insights into how bad it is to work for Aramco these days? Has it been good? If I choose to leave now, I am pretty sure I will be blacklisted for life? Hi, I saw your posts and found a lot of relevance in the questions you had. I am expecting my visa by the end of October & i have been offered position in LP. I am not sure about the residences in Jeddah and expat schools, which ones are better than others. Can you please share some resources where you found information on residence in Jeddah & international schools. Have you been able to secure a residence in Jeddah and what are better areas to consider. In your search did you also think about non-compound/non-gated communities? Thanks zeem |
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Post by zmahmood on Oct 11, 2023 22:05:41 GMT
can you share your email address where we could communicate more easily. would appreciate your help.
thanks
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Post by coyotep on Oct 11, 2023 22:15:48 GMT
I honestly don't know why, but there is a huge amount of ill-will shown towards Aramco online. Yet many people are here, have been here for 5 / 10 / 15 years or more - it can't be all that bad. I agree with that and it's the largest oil and gas company on the planet. I think Aramco looks great on a resume, so it isn't as if money is the only incentive. |
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Post by coyotep on Oct 11, 2023 22:15:59 GMT
can you share your email address where we could communicate more easily. would appreciate your help. thanks Check you DM |
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Post by coyotep on Oct 11, 2023 22:17:24 GMT
If you’re coming here for the soul reason to pay off debts then focus on that goal, once it’s achieved then reevaluate whether you wish to stay longer. Roles and career expectations here are not what they once were, it is what it is. Being under 40 does mean sacrificing an element of career progression as you will stagnate here, but then again if it’s a pure money play, with an exit date then may work for you. Thanks for the insight. Temporarily seeking an expat assignment for financial reasons seems like a reasonable approach and I think I'm just overthinking the downside given some of the post I've seen on this site. If I were going to S or Exxon or BP under the same position I wouldn't think twice about it, so not sure why this is scaring me. |
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tamsin
Senior VIP Expat
Posts: 655
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Post by tamsin on Oct 12, 2023 4:07:54 GMT
If you’re coming here for the soul reason to pay off debts then focus on that goal, once it’s achieved then reevaluate whether you wish to stay longer. Roles and career expectations here are not what they once were, it is what it is. Being under 40 does mean sacrificing an element of career progression as you will stagnate here, but then again if it’s a pure money play, with an exit date then may work for you. Thanks for the insight. Temporarily seeking an expat assignment for financial reasons seems like a reasonable approach and I think I'm just overthinking the downside given some of the post I've seen on this site. If I were going to S or Exxon or BP under the same position I wouldn't think twice about it, so not sure why this is scaring me. People quite often only spare the time to share dissatisfaction. My husband is an engineer, he loves his job. The projects are exciting, the funding is there, the support is there. He loves the working hours, the relaxed nature of the workplace. He’s one of few expats in his dept and the only westerner, non Muslim. Never felt overlooked, overworked or any of the things I see written. The complaints I hear here are usually more about the driving, the heat, exit visas rather than the company or are generic expat problems. |
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tamsin
Senior VIP Expat
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Post by tamsin on Oct 12, 2023 4:49:54 GMT
I also wonder if the fear is based on feeling forced into this choice due to circumstances and worrying that things could just be a different kind of worse.
Which would be a very natural reaction, particularly if one is already under stress and overthinking.
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jrs
Senior Member
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Post by jrs on Oct 12, 2023 4:55:21 GMT
What should also weigh into your decision is your family situation. Are you married? Have kids? Good place here if you have young kids (4 to 15) and they’re into sports and other extracurricular activities.
Every job and manager is different so experiences vary. My job experience has been positive, so far. In fact, I was here from 08 to 13. Left for family reasons and we regretted and missed it here. (granted I heard COVID was very rough here and glad I missed that!). We returned end of last year and so glad we did! Plan on staying until I’m 60 now. I work in finance and an American from Houston area. I’m married with three kids. Two in college in US and a 10 year old here with us who plays baseball and basketball in the local leagues here. My youngest, my wife and I have made lots of friends for our short time here. Some of my friends were still here from 10 years ago.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Oct 12, 2023 5:25:47 GMT
Absolutely depends on where and who you are working for. Parts of the company are ok, others have a very high expat turnover (you can guess why). If you have clear savings plan, and it seems you do, then that is the focus and anything else is secondary until you hit the target. Living here is easier for those that are able to lower expectations and quickly adapt. Getting yourself involved with sports or other hobbies is a good way to keep an even keel when things start to get tough. Regular breaks away help also.
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