I’ve been offered a position in an internal consulting department in Aramco based in Dhahran at grade 14, basic salary of 7.5K before the add ons. This is much less than I was expecting for a expat role. Should I even brother negotiating or just tell them to spin on it? I have 3 kids, single parent. I’m British of Indian origin.
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There are secretaries on more than that! I'd take the advice already posted here and seriously consider if it is even worth negotiating. See other recent posts too for info on what life is actually like in Dhahran.
You made the right call. The Saudis in OCD are beyond useless. It’s a place where career nomads go to ‘try something else’ after they have failed at whatever, feigning enthusiasm while secretly hoping for a move to a real job ASAP. Consequently, it’s stacked to the rafters with fcukwits. And some of the expats there claim to know their field but don’t seem to really know much at all. At least that was my direct experience with them. We held them at bay on projects while pretending to cooperate. They and their managers were so d-mb they didn’t notice. Or care probably. Avoid OCD.
Single parent with 3 kids? If Female, that may explain why such a low ball offer as well.
Regardless, they would expect you to come out single status.
Ghosting them is a great idea. 7.5k per month at GR 14...unfreaking believable. Despicable bunch of roaches.
You’ve made the right call!
Yes, Aramco typically doesn’t consider equity or bonus arrangements on compensation, even if that makes up most of a candidate’s current package…They are just too thick and arrogant to understand the basics of an employment package, especially those in more senior roles.
It’s based on a re--rded inherent belief by management that Aramco ALWAYS knows best...
FWIW, OCD are a complete bunch of fcuktards anyway, even by Aramco standards and that’s saying something!
They took over a year to “evaluate” job roles and org design in one area, only to reply with “all is ok” ..aka they did absolutely nothing. The entire area is staffed by inbreed and imbeciles doing their time before being promoted by their eldest cousin.
In any normal company OCD simply would not exist. They are like a cancer, eating away at its host.
I used the British passport. Only one I have. I gave payslips. I work for a company that pays a chunk of my package in stocks. Aramco wouldn’t listen to that, they just kept referring to my base salary when I highlighted it to them. Which century are they in?
As it happens I have another offer here in the U.K. and decided to take it. Thanks for the advice. Who’s want to work for a department called OCD anyway? Haha.
ps The interview was a joke. Any monkey could pass it.
Not sure why you would bother to respond at all to such an offer. Just ghost them the way they have done to so many other candidates. Aramco knows this offer is insulting. If they are at all interested, you will get a follow up. If not, then they were just testing the market and you were the lab rat. Don't give them any feedback.
Presumably you've given them your pay slips and they came back with this? You must either be on a craap salary in Britain or unemployed to get that kind of offer.
Don't waste your time pursuing Aramco, you'll ki-l your future earnings locking in so low + and the culture is utterly toxic.
FYI folks are on on double that base figure @ GC14.
In the old days, the standard practice was to offer 25% above you current salary. If that is your case, or you are currently unemployed, then that sounds about right. Also, I hope you have degrees from a a well known university and are a registered engineer. If not on either case, then your time there will be very short.
You say British, but did you apply using a British passport or Indian passport? That number is very low for global and British passport holder and GC14.
Reject it. That’s grade 12 level salary (assuming GBP). You will regret it if you accept such a low offer. Most you will ever gain is 2 percent per year on that, so it will not keep up with inflation. And don't count on ever getting a promotion to grade 15.
Don't go near it. You will regret it. You will face monthsvof jumping through hoops, then could be dropped at the last minute. This is not the golden goose.
The air quality is so bad it is not good for kids or anyone with a respiratory condition.
It is also a horrible place to work and they treat anyone who isnt white or saudi like s@@t.