expat salary offer--please help!

volleygirl5
By volleygirl5

A girlfriend of mine asked me to post this for her husband. He does not have a QL account and I have no idea how to answer his questions because I am just a student and in Doha part time myself. THANKS!!!

Hi

I have been offered a job as a financial consultant in Qatar. I have five years experience with a good City firm in London. I have no experience in the specific job I would do in Qatar, but I have the usual general qualifications (BA, MBA, etc.). I would be somewhere in the middle management of the firm. I am anxious for an adventure, but I want to make sure I am receiving good compensation for my work.

Base salary: 43,000 per month
Possibility of annual performance bonuses of up to 100,000
Furnished villa in compound (including utilities) or 20,000 per month to find own accommodation
Vehicle with driver for three months, then 4,000 per month car allowance
Multi-exit visa so I don’t have to rely on firm’s permission or hand over passport
Travel allowance of 25,000 per member of family
School fees and transportation allowance for children (2)
Initial signing bonus of 50,000
All relocation expenses.

The contract is initially for three years, but if we agree to separate after one year then I would receive three months benefits and salary as severance.

The benefits seem good, but the base salary seems low to me given how much I have heard expats get paid in Qatar. It’s less than I get in the UK, but then no benefits package and I pay taxes. I don’t want to arrive in Qatar and find that an underling is making more because he had the sense to negotiate.

Any suggestions?

By volleygirl5• 24 Feb 2011 15:41
volleygirl5

a tad harsh lincolnpirate. the fella's just tryin to make sure his salary is on par with what others are making.

By Uranus1• 24 Feb 2011 14:53
Uranus1

He's professional enough to get a decent offer. Let's not judge him. No one is making anyone comment on this thread. I posted on QL before I arrived--there's a section in QL for these things--and I appreciated the advice I got. It ended up with me going back with a counter proposal, which they quickly met. Had I not, I would have felt like a turd when I found out colleagues beneath me were paid more.

I still say it is low if the base is less that he is getting in the UK.

By anonymous• 24 Feb 2011 13:40
anonymous

This guy definitely is NOT a professional! QL would be the last thing to consult if I wanted to get a job. Why don't people have their price? You can hire me, yes. But I will tell you what I want, not you, the employer. And if you really want me, you will pay what I want.

By Mandilulur• 24 Feb 2011 13:33
Mandilulur

Not sure I'd come for less money ... the adventure isn't all THAT great.

Mandi

By pennie• 24 Feb 2011 12:52
pennie

randomguy.... you are quite right... that is a s..t load of dosh! Why the hesitation?!

Sounds too good to be true!

By randomguy• 24 Feb 2011 11:34
randomguy

Nearly 7,400 GBP per month basic without any taxes is too low for him?

How much is he making back in England?

By anonymous• 24 Feb 2011 11:32
Rating: 4/5
anonymous

You state financial consultant - that is too general. What would be your roles & responsibilities – reporting lines.

Five years experience in a city firm - I'm assuming you are not in accounting/auditing but in consulting - Business Advisory, Corporate finance, etc. Again not from McK’s, Booz, BCG, ATK or atleast the Big Four.

5 years experience - again not sure on the background and your career progression through those 5 years.

Mainly you state - you have no experience in the field you'd do in Qatar. Key point.

Your salary seems very high although you state your salary in the UK in more than this offer - but that is for those 5 yrs expeirence. Here it is new role with minimum expeirence in that field.

Wish your friend all the best and hope he pulls it through his probation.

By anonymous• 24 Feb 2011 11:05
Rating: 3/5
anonymous

Well to be the offer looks really good . Please understand you are comparing the base salary ONLY not any others in the offer, where they are all really goodand what i feel is it is a good offer with a good , considering your qualification and just 5 years experience in finance. I like to know this Generous Employer. hahahahah

By pdpicasso• 24 Feb 2011 10:37
pdpicasso

all these figures are in riyals or pounds????

By no_name• 24 Feb 2011 10:35
no_name

it is definetely fine. go for that.

By bibo• 24 Feb 2011 10:30
bibo

Excellent package... tell your friend to go ahead

By asakamokadto• 24 Feb 2011 10:29
asakamokadto

either its very hard to satisfy her ownself or this whole thing is just a joke c:

By bibo• 24 Feb 2011 10:29
bibo

Excellent package... tell your friend to go ahead

By hms• 24 Feb 2011 10:26
hms

and other benefits are also very good, i am very much impressed with initial signing bonus of 50000, Gosh, when can i get such a tempting offer ??

By baldrick2dogs• 24 Feb 2011 10:26
baldrick2dogs

Excellent package. Send him over ASAP!

By Uranus1• 24 Feb 2011 10:25
Uranus1

The benefits and terms look fairly standard for a decent Western expat job in finance. The base salary is a little low, as the normal rule of thumb is about 1.5x UK salary for the same job. My base is higher than this, however, even though I am in a job I really don't know much about (all a bit of a jolly really) If this guy really knows what he is doing, then he should negotiate for more. They'll pay it and probably have it budgeted as being higher.

Nothing worse than finding out some dude in the same job is making lots more money than you.

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