Jobless man uses Porsche as advertisement

ex-expat
By ex-expat

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/dubai/4307390/Joble...

A construction manager who lost his job in Dubai has scrawled an advert on his Porsche in a bid to find new work.

Devastated Andrew Blair, 28, took a permanent black marker pen to his gleaming white Porsche Boxster S just hours after he lost his £75k tax free dream job.

Driving home through rush hour traffic with "made redundant today" and "project construction manager" on the rear of his vehicle, Mr Blair prompted calls from more than a dozen potential employers.

The scene is a modern echo of the 1920s Great Depression where jobless city traders walked the streets wearing billboards and placed signs looking for work on their cars.

But his advert will not come for free. He is expecting the re-spray of his paintwork to cost £1,000.

"Perhaps it was a moment of madness but it struck me as the best way advertise," he said. "I'm hoping the right person will see it and give me a job."

Mr Blair, originally of Gleneagles, has seen 13 of his friends lose their jobs in the marketing, PR, fashion and media sectors during the last fortnight.

He transferred to the Middle East in June 2007 from Bristol, UK. The new job earned him three times his UK salary, all of which was tax free.

Despite gloomy prospects in Dubai as the credit crunch hits Mr Blair insists he has no intention of heading back to the UK where the job market is worse.

He said: "Many of my mates are packing up and leaving. But I wouldn't return if you paid me. There are still prospects here and it's a thriving city packed with bars and clubs.

"And then there's the warm climate and the beach and the food. It's paradise."

By killjoy1975• 22 Jan 2009 15:35
killjoy1975

Doubt that my Aveo would get the same attention.

Of course as someone says, all employment is controlled, so unless he gets a release letter he may be heading off back to the UK.

If my company, heaven forbid, gets rid of staff and I be one of them. I would go back to the UK rather than scrounge around looking for rich pickings.

That's why even though I have been here only 3 months I am keeping my feet firmly on the ground and transferring as much cash as I can possibly afford to back to the UK.

By ex-expat• 22 Jan 2009 15:24
ex-expat

Rizks. No, we are NOT the same person, unless I've developed schizophrenia lately and didn't realise it...

By ace23• 22 Jan 2009 14:18
ace23

Why am i not surprised!

By Rizks• 22 Jan 2009 13:03
Rizks

ex-expat and britexpat...

hmmmm... u both the same person ?

By Formatted Soul• 22 Jan 2009 13:00
Formatted Soul

Yea how will he leave when everything is taken care of by the employer….They can’t even imagine such a life style in his own country…

I bet he cannot find such a job in UK or else where in the world...27 yr old project Construction Manager…(How many years experience he will have??) In this part of the world some employers are dumb enough to employ such people with very high salary even if they are not worth it! ( No offence meant) its just the normal practice here..

Seen many people who are making such big bucks doing nothing ...especially in the construction industry...when people under them work so hard and get things going..I know one white contracts manager ..who was making like 60K..when terminated didn’t want to leave…he got offers from many other companies…but guess what…………….. he don’t have a proof to show his qualification! No certificates…lol

He is clever and there will be more dumb employers in Dubai…lol

By britexpat• 22 Jan 2009 12:56
britexpat

I'll use a marker with washable ink because I can't afford to have the KIA resprayed.

By gypsy_coy• 22 Jan 2009 12:32
gypsy_coy

hmmmm i can read the handwriting on the wall,wonderin whats next......

By Victory_278692• 22 Jan 2009 12:14
Victory_278692

provided us with an innovative marketing style.

By britexpat• 22 Jan 2009 12:11
britexpat

Good luck to him..

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