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Post by GroveWanderer on Mar 29, 2013 11:35:08 GMT
In my experience it is not unusual for new hires to arrive on a Thursday evening. I think it's to allow you a day to settle in before the first work day of the week. Commissaries are open on a Friday as are some of the facilities, although some others are closed (mail center, for instance).
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Post by CalgaryTrooper on Apr 2, 2013 15:13:51 GMT
Here is update on my status: Application Position: Project Engineer Location: Dhahran, SA Online Resume Submission to U.S. Recruiter: a while go (don't remember) Follow-up email from Houston ASC recruiter: Jan. 10, 2013 Houston Interview conducted: Saay, Feb. 9th, 2013 Email offer received: Feb 26, 2013 Fedex offer received: March 06, 2013 Revised Email offer received: March 08, 2013 Revised Fedex offer received: March 11, 2013 Revised Offer and Medical and BI paperwork mailed to ASC: March 11, 2013 Relocation Adviser assigned: March 21, 2013 Received direct deposit/Visa app/booklet and other paperwork packet: March 21, 2013 More paper work "initial contact check list" etc via email from Relocation Advisor: March29, 2013 Mailed all paper work to Relocation Advisor through Fedex: April 01, 2013 Houston orientation and Medical: Tentatively scheduled for April 29, 2013 Visa Medical Cleared: BI Started: Reference Check for BI: Medical & BI cleared: Visa application approved: Departure date: Following are some miscellaneous things that might help you if your timeline is same as mine: I asked my relocation advisor regarding BI and she said that she has sent all forms to BI department. Hopefully they have started the process. Note sure if they are going to call my work references as I had shown on my ASC application or they will ask me again to confirm? I did indicate on my forms NOT to call my current supervisor until I have given my notice. I have also opted out of personal effects shipment. We have lots of stuff and it will be a pain to ship everything and then go through the stress of the whole process. I have been reading some posts and some folks were regretting sending their furniture etc. as everything can be bought there. I even found out they have an IKEA in Dhahran  By the way if you take "Cash in Lieu" option, the money is not bad.... You can buy all your furniture with it. Check with your relocation advisor for calculation of cash in lieu. I am also doing our visa medical during orientation in Houston. If you ask your relocation advisor to schedule it for Monday then you only need to take Monday off as they will fly you and your family on Sunday and will be back Monday night. Have a great day!! |
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Post by Riz1 on Apr 4, 2013 21:07:03 GMT
Update on my status below
Application: December 2012
Interview Scheduled: Feb 25th 2013
Pay Slip Requested: 04th April 2013
Pay Slip Sent: 04th April 2013
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Post by texas2rt on Apr 10, 2013 1:31:12 GMT
Hi Y'all,
Here is my long but hopefully fruitful timeline.
Applied for a position: Jan 2012
Email from recruiter: 10/16/2012
Skype Interview: 11/24/2012
Face to Face Interview: 02/13/2013
Offer Email: 02/20/2013
FedEx Offer Received: 02/24/2013
Offer accepted: 02/23/2013
BI and Medical Questionnaire mailed to Aramco: 03/05/2013
Visa Medical done: 04/01/2013
BI Started: 04/08/2013
BI Cleared:
Kids School Cleared: 04/16/2013
Visa Medical Cleared: 04/19/2013
Visa stamped:
Wow! FYI, after you get the "Offer" things do move rather quickly. I'm only waiting on BI and Visa now!
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Post by CalgaryTrooper on Apr 19, 2013 15:31:26 GMT
Update as of April 19, 2013: Application Position: Project Engineer Location: Dhahran, SA Online Resume Submission to U.S. Recruiter: a while go (don't remember) Follow-up email from Houston ASC recruiter: Jan. 10, 2013 Houston Interview conducted: Saay, Feb. 9th, 2013 Email offer received: Feb 26, 2013 Fedex offer received: March 06, 2013 Revised Email offer received: March 08, 2013 Revised Fedex offer received: March 11, 2013 Revised Offer and Medical and BI paperwork mailed to ASC: March 11, 2013 Relocation Adviser assigned: March 21, 2013 Received direct deposit/Visa app/booklet and other paperwork packet: March 21, 2013 More paper work "initial contact check list" etc via email from Relocation Advisor: March29, 2013 Mailed all paper work to Relocation Advisor through Fedex: April 01, 2013 Houston orientation and Medical: Tentatively scheduled for April 29, 2013 Visa Medical Cleared: BI Started: April 15, 2013 ( First contact made by BI investigator) Reference Check for BI: April 16, 2013 Medical & BI cleared: Visa application approved: Departure date: I have been giving information to my BI investigator regarding marriage, employment references etc etc. He phoned me yesterday with some final questions and said that my report is final and he will soon be sending it to Arabia. I am so relieved that BI is done and over with I guess the next step is to wait for final BI clearance from Arabia. Still waiting on medical assessment and clearance... and also Houston orientation/visa medical still needs to be scheduled. By the way, the relocation advisors are extremely slow in response (or no response at all)..they must be too buay? How is everyone else doing? It is kinda quiet around here...lol I bet everyone is busy in gathering and providing the right doocumentation.... I hope we all go through this phase soon and start the new chaptor of our lives CalgaryTrooper |
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Post by alter_alberta on Apr 20, 2013 5:52:28 GMT
Hi Calgary Trooper & other mates,
This is a very useful forum and great thing that everyone is sharing their info which is helping to all of us.
I have a question for CalgaryTrooper about the location of the job for Project Engineer position as I was interviewed on April 16 for the same position, but the location is in the western edge of the country for a petrochemical expansion called rabigh petrochemical. This is not what i expected. They said the family has to stay in Dhahran and I have to travel to site for 5 days and return to home over the weekend.
I appreciate if you can provide me some info.
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Post by mastei on Apr 20, 2013 6:41:48 GMT
Hi CalgaryTrooper,
I am having an interview for the role of project engineer in a couple of weeks, would you be so nice to let me know how your interview experience was - type of questions, what they were looking for, etc.?
Any advice would be highly appreciated...
Many thanks!!
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Post by CalgaryTrooper on Apr 20, 2013 13:39:07 GMT
Hi alter_alberta, my job location is Dhahran. However I do not have much details right now. Congratulations on your job!! Aramco is aggressively getting in to petro chemical business and this is great opportunity for you to be part of it. Although the travelling part might suck in the start but once you get in you can explore other opportunities. At least we will be living on the same compound so ya keep in touch Hi mastei, my interview questions revolved around project management. The first question was, who are you and what have you done, introduce yourself to us. Describe lifecycle of a project? How do you do project controls? How do I value engineer? With Most of the answers, they asked me to support with a practical example from my experience, what challenges I faced during different phases of a project and how did I resolve them? Also they went through my entire resume and asked me questions from my employment history, project I did etc etc. On personal side they asked me why is that I want to leave such a good job in Canada and move across the world to Aramco? Hopefully this helps |
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Post by alter_calgary on Apr 20, 2013 18:34:21 GMT
Thanks a lot Calgary_Trooper.
I am still in very early stage for the process. No communication yet.
I will share the details as soon as I have available. We can chat as well as I am also located in Calgary.
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Post by mastei on Apr 20, 2013 21:27:47 GMT
Hi CalgaryTrooper,
many thanks, this is really great feedback! Fingers crossed I'll be ready to join you guys in a short time...
All the best with your move!!
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Post by CalgaryTrooper on Apr 21, 2013 15:14:36 GMT
no problems alter_alberta and mastei. All the best
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Post by stevenmahon32 on Apr 22, 2013 17:49:41 GMT
Hi CalgaryTrooper
I have to agree with you with respect to the no response from the relocation adviser.
For me it has been more than 11 weeks since I sent my BI/Medical questioner. Thus far nothing cleared. True the BI takes longer for us who live outside North America, but there is no reason that ASC take a passive approach to our queries, even if they are extremely busy.
In any case remaining patient is the best bet.
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Post by Longhorn5 on Apr 23, 2013 2:16:29 GMT
o all,
Here's my final timeline posting:
Interviewed in Houston - Dec 11
Pay stubs - Dec 12
Rec offer - Jan 14
Accepted offer - Jan 21
Assigned relocation - Jan 29
Orientation in Houston(blood work, Xray, etc) - Feb 27
medical - Feb 18 (One step closer!)
BI -first week of April
Visa - April 19th
Depart - May 9th!
Hope to catch up with you all in Arabia.
Best of luck to all!
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revive
Senior Member
Posts: 180
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Post by revive on Apr 23, 2013 14:49:03 GMT
My relo advisor said she is handling 25+ candidates, some of whom live outside U.S. which makes things much more complicated. So yes, they are busy.
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Post by CalgaryTrooper on Apr 23, 2013 16:29:34 GMT
Steve and revive,
I agree. They are extremely busy and we have to be patient. But it is also not easy for us to live two lives at the same time and wait for the last minute to give up everything and move. We have house and cars and life here which we will have to say good bye to and everything takes time. I just wish there was an easier way or shorter time period. Having said that, everyone has gone through this process and one day we will be ready to depart as well!! There are frustrations along the way but if we share our experiences here then at least it gives you some comfort that we are not alone in it.
My relocation advisor had some family emergency and she just got back today. I was lucky to connect with her this morning and schedule Houston orientation/medical. My BI report is still not final and she has not heard any thing from SAMSO on our medical. Will wait and see....
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