Qatar Foundation Corporate Culture

keiko
By keiko

Please private message me if you can share information about the corporate culture within Qatar Foundation. I would like to know both the positive and negative. To know whether or not it is a good fit. Thanks.

By Bachus• 12 Mar 2012 22:11
Bachus

Much better jjj75! Finally a substantive reply.

The division you are in keiko sounds sufficiently high up and specialized that the you won't have to worry about Qatarization (which is the program that aims to place nationals in employment), but you very well could feel the indirect effects of it on the lower level administrative staff and mid-level support staff.

My advice is to insist on a recruitment visit. It will give you a chance to see the place and make useful contacts. It is more than just a job change, it is complete lifestyle issue in that QF is a company town--QF housing, QF medical, etc., etc.

If you are coming from the US, you will also want to look at the tax implications in that non-salaried benefits (such as housing, car allowance, family leave allowances) are all considered taxable income by the IRS. The American universities within QF are good about offering tax protection offsets, but I don't know about QF. But then QF probably doesn't share income information with the IRS.

Good luck.

By tonyhanna1• 12 Mar 2012 11:47
tonyhanna1

Osman u r right but isn't it the case all over the region :)

By osman_sonic• 12 Mar 2012 10:21
osman_sonic

but i think their hiring procedure is very slow and even their irecruitment website is not functioning properly now.

By tonyhanna1• 12 Mar 2012 08:52
Rating: 2/5
tonyhanna1

Oh welcome to QL don't be bothered by those comments, you will get a lot of them from people wanting to add their points with non-sense comments.

Volleygirl5 I agree with you they are a pain now, can't have a meaningful conversation without them interfering with lame comments (wait to see how they will react next)

As for your questions keiko, the "culture" is not yet established at QF but the atmosphere is good as I know.

You have to work harder than in other entities in Qatar but it is worth it.

Respect and professionalism are there,

Cheers

By jjj75• 12 Mar 2012 08:25
Rating: 3/5
jjj75

Bachus - something wrong with you? While feel the need to have a go at someone because they went to bed?

Ok, you want my opinion, this is it.

Not all of QF is the same, the directorates have a different work culture to the centres. In some areas it is very indicative of Qatar, in that it's style is very Arab or more to the point very Qatari. It is very difficult for a non-qatari to get a promotion as their aim is to 100% Qatarize. To that end, it is very common for someone's role to be Qatarized with little notice. Expect to work with them for about 3 years and then move on.

I would say in a lot of areas of QF, it is a very conservative place to work and not just in dress. Managing change is very difficult too.

It is a good experience overall and is an excellent springboard to find work elsewhere in the ME.

Is that ok Bachus or are you going to find something to critize here too?

By keiko• 12 Mar 2012 06:15
keiko

The position is with the Qatar Science and Technology Park in Intellectual Property. I didn't realize that we would be splitting hairs over the use of a term!

The position works with the corporate sponsorship, government sponsorship - as well as academic research. It is a fairly typical high level analytical research function.

I met with one of the hiring authorities in Boston last month. She described it like working with a start up venture. She then laughed and said the whole country is like working with a start up. Her point is that it requires patience and that I should not expect it to function fluidly as it might in the United States.

I appreciate all feedback and look forward to moving to Doha. And by the way, the picture is of Keiko - my Siamese cat.

By Bachus• 11 Mar 2012 14:32
Bachus

Bet yet you keep posting on the thread without offering a view ?!?!

By jjj75• 11 Mar 2012 09:13
jjj75

I could have given a more thorough answer but I was tired and I wanted to establish that the OP was aware of the basics first. Then someone made a silly comment and I really could not be bothered to get into it after that.

By volleygirl5• 11 Mar 2012 07:00
volleygirl5

Like I said what a GROUCH!!! And a troll looking for attention. Doesn't know what something means, tells someone off based on her ignorance and then still doesn't have anything meaningful to add. These people are getting to be a real pain on QL.

for keiko try this blog

http://www.jobs.ac.uk/blogs/working-in-qatar/tag/qf/

By Bachus• 11 Mar 2012 06:46
Rating: 2/5
Bachus

Maybe instead of commenting twice about nomenclature you could have split the difference.

Don't worry keiko, this poster is not typical of Foundation staff.

By jjj75• 11 Mar 2012 06:29
jjj75

Because I went to bed instead

By volleygirl5• 11 Mar 2012 05:53
volleygirl5

What a grouch!!! :(

As said above depends on where in QF. Can you tell us what division or uni? The American universities are said to be some of the best places in Doha to work. My mum works at one and loves it (on most days!).

By Bachus• 11 Mar 2012 05:30
Rating: 5/5
Bachus

My wife works for one of QF's divisions. She likes its. The atmosphere is friendly, professional and the salary and benefits are good. The expectation of working hours is reasonable, but probably depends on the position. There is a strong national and other Arab presence (with preference for advancement for locals, understandably), so there is that element, but these are generally well-educated professionals.

However, the corporate culture varies between the Foundation's operations and the various university campuses and Qatar Academy--which are really autonomous units under the umbrella of the Foundation. ROTA is fairly autonomous also. So it really depends on which entity you plan to work for.

jjj75--If you know what the OP is asking and you can answer it, how about answering the question after the ticking off?

By jjj75• 10 Mar 2012 20:24
jjj75

Well aware what the OP was asking, was not being sarcastic, setting the record straight, in case the OP was not aware. It is always as well to phrase the subject carefully if asking a question. As someone who has actually worked at QF, can assure you that they would not like that terminology - have you worked there?

By anonymous• 10 Mar 2012 20:20
anonymous

Duh! Corporate culture does not necessarily tantamount to being a "corporation" of a company. The author is simply asking how does it look like to work with these organizations. E.g. a non-profit, a joint venture or a sole enterprise company (WHICH ARE NOT CLASSIFIED AS CORPORATION) may have a "corporate culture". Get the point?

By jjj75• 10 Mar 2012 20:03
jjj75

First things first, it is not a corporation

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