Thread regarding Saudi Aramco layoffs

here's the breakdown...you ll be unhappy with work, most likely your family will hate this place and you will live only in between the time ur out of the county...ask for a package thst can compensate all this...

This is really low. Unless you are desperate, don’t take it. The first offer is always to see how desparate you are

Only the broke or those under some other duress join Aramco these days.

The good have all left or been surplussed.

@512
Yes...
I know one and only one thing for sure. And that is, as an expat, don't expect to climb any corporate ladders. For better or worse, that is reserved for Saudis. Just a cold hard fact of the situation. I hope that the recruiters are making that perfectly clear by now.

You cannot come to the conpany to furnish or further your career. Impossible with the mindset. It can't change or will.not change. So, you're either;

1. Wishing to be closer to early retirement.
2. Having to pay off debts back home.
3. Raise cash towards something.
4. In dire need of job.

In any case, set a time frame beofre leaving and be prepared to sweat and work harder to keep mental health in check.

most people i know consider aramco as their last employer before retirement that's why they hold on, grind day in day out and then get the heck out. If you plan to remain in workforce then this horizon shrinks. But agree locals do not see the forest for the trees...only see a bunch of trees everywhere but no clue where they are and why. It is hard to work with people like this unless u change ur perspective and approach. Of course if you d-mb urself down for too long it will not be good so plan ur exit well and grind grind grind...

No doubt, working there changes people. Some minorly and some majorly. A game of pros and cons, just hoping for better than zero-sum in the end.

You're being invited to a party to doscover that nobody really wants you to be there when you've arrived.

First realisation is when a short tempered employer picks you up at airport, and not the Aramco express which was promised back home.

Hate starts with the mouldy home they give you, questionably dubious electrical appliances and the critters your cohabiting with. If you're lucky, the ceiling or walls won't fall in one day or even in the middle of the night when in bed.

The sign that welcomed you to your new home, even though it's not your name, starts to hit home somethings' not quite right.

Unhappiness found in the lack of social outlets. Passing neighbours on the street is a challenge as no eye contact is made. A thought passes, will I turn out like that?

Despair realised in the work environment. A parallel environment is experienced for those that slack off and those that carry the ship. Bring a stab proof vest as daggers are plunged into your back without mercy, shame or regret.

There are some good people. If they haven't been driven to madness and mental health issues, they will in good time.

Good luck.

You better read this thread dude. We packed and zipped out before COVID and the overall workplace had gotten bad by then.
My experience and observation was 3-5 years was typical BEFORE layoffs started.
So Here is your answer. Your offer is lower than ours was in 2008. I wouldn’t touch it, not based on what I know about the job, the stability, and the work environment.

Meet and greet was pretty well oiled back in 2008/2009. What changed?

OP, where are you based? If you are US based with 15 years O&G experience as degreed technical/engineer, that base salary seems extremely low. You should be able to get at least $150-200k range in US.

Ha, memories of being left incommunicado at Damman airport waiting for my Aramco chaperone to turn up an hour late. Then failing to get a SIM card as the guy running stall bu-----d off for prayer. Being taken to some dark room to be given an Aramco temp pass and a useless handbook.

You would think that after many expats living in KSA you would develop a proper "meet and greet team" but it is left for the departments employees to ho tobtge airport and collect the new arrivals...nobody wants to do that as it is your personal 3-4 hours u give away...so from the moment you arrive yiu are greeted by a tired and frustrated co-worker who just wants to go thru this fast and drop you at your "new" house...welcome to the kingdom!

To reiterate, don't believe the spin from thetrecruiters. They are lyers. None have ever lived in KSA and have no clue what it's like working in country. There is no training or professional development for expats, only Thobes..code word for Saudis. The change from 3 month to 6 month probation means mamagement can evaluate you longer before they fire you home ŵithout a payout. 3 months was better for expats. Saudis are the worst people to work for. Don't leave a job in the west thinking that you're making a progressive career change..many have been fooled. Its unlikey you will be promoted to a G14,.let along a G15. The old Amanco days are long gone for expats.

Are you unemployed and desperate for cash?

If not then the answer to this question is RUN AWAY.

GC13 is very low in the pecking order, it’s for locals with 5-8 years experience. You’ll be reporting to some junior gimp younger than you and surrounded by entitled lazy goons, you will be treated with zero respect. There will be no rises and no promotions ever. Do you want to end your career?

Are you one of those expats that as a first thing, takes out a bank loan to buy a car because they have no savings? Seems to be the default these days…

By the way that base salary is less than half someone I know on GC14, also consider the other 100k they promise may never arrive - you cannot trust that to be paid. Read the rest of this site.

Consider future financials too unless you feel comfortable getting out before the 6 mos probation is up, the easiest way to get out quickly, or go with the average expat 2 year resignation. That means you are confident you can get another job at any time in this volatile industry. Aramco hurts your resume or at minimum does not help. At least it does not for real companies offering real careers without the race and religion markers. 1-3% annual raise on average. Inflation and new expat taxes exceed that puny raise with every calendar flip here. So it needs to be a real good offer compared to what you earn now. You start falling behind financially as soon as you stand in line at the airport while passports passes over you in favor of saudis that got redressed on the plane. Oil is low. Profits decreasing and su-ked off by more important kingdom initiatives. Bonuses too. Working harder, working smarter, adding real value to your dept will not help. You will most likely be annually reviewed as average, that’s the top, and treated like sc-m, also the top. No matter what you do. There’s really no one with real experience and decency left except a few grinding to an end goal. All the real go getters got and get. And finally, if you do make it past 2 years at some point some of the benefits that made you believe the current offer is a good one, will be taken from you. Grandfathering is a thing of the past. Many unknowns to really understand how you will do. But the chances of doing well are getting smaller. And smaller.

If the money will change your life drastically or fast track retirement, then go for it. Just don't go posting here later, whining like you never knew what you got yourself into. Been there, all that's been said here are true.

@fx ...sounds mostly accurate, in my experience.

Agree with most here...the picture they paint during on-boarding does not match really at all...old molded houses they lock you in, 6-month probation during which they can throw you out for any reason (nobody cares what you go thru just to get there), bad water and air, constant jet fighters take off and land so close you can practically see the pilots, dull camp with nothing to do, crazy drivers off camp, deliveries stuck at security or not taking your orders just because you live on camp...and before all that - you will have to go thru extensive FBI clearance (hope you have no speeding tickets as it is the biggest concern here) and don't forget the blood test before you leave and after you come into the country...I heard of cases that expats were sent back because of something they found in the blood (this is after you already get here - required for ur iqama)...lots of things to consider - I would think long and hard about the move.

Sure, go for it, you will have the adventure of your life

your biggest risk is that you will probably get rid of you after 3 or 6 months. you quitted your job and start all over again

The way you wrote it doesn't give us much info but all I can say is try to avoid Saudi Aramco. All you have to do is read through this forum and you will understand. Remember that not long ago (2021-2022) we had a missile shrapnel and drones being aimed to this camp. There is a contaminated water source under the camp. Aerosols-solids on air that can cause COPD or even worse. Jet fighters scrambling. An intense hatred for expats plus arrogancy, incompetency, lazyness at work. Many marriages ruined. Domestic violence. No community (as we used to have years ago). This is my last year here and I speak the truth. Unless youre desperate. Whatever they offered you, I can promise, it will not compensate all the trouble.

The question should be... 'can you do the time and maintain your mental health?'.
No one can really answer that question at this time. I say roll the dice and take a chance
but go in with a light footprint. Make sure that you can easily leave, in a hurry. If the place and the job suit you then you can add toys, diversions and pseudo-roots.

Financially, run the numbers and do the math it entirely depends upon your own goals, timelines and situation. Too many variables that are unknown to offer advice. If you are seeking whether or not the package is considered good for a single bachelor status employee, no, it’s not.