Job offered in Doha. Some questions
Hello there!
I've been offered a job working as a receptionist at a 5 star hotel & spa opening soon in Doha and i wanted to get some advice from people already settled in Qatar about the day-to-day expenses of life here. My employer is offering 900 USD salary and also providing free housing and meals.
I'm a 22 y.o. male and my expenses would include an unlimited dl internet hook-up and a gym membership.
I've done some digging around the forum and found out that the qtel unlimited plan is around 100$ a month. Is there anything cheaper that that but with unlimited traffic?
My first question is can i expect to receive tips? And if so then maybe someone who worked in a similar position could tell me more.
My second question is whether or not i can live decently on this salary and can or should i ask for a larger salary or better position. I should also mention that i'm a bit overqualified for the job since back home i work as an assistant manager and that basically means me and the manager handle all the day-to-day operations of running a hotel, albeit a small one(25 rooms)
Cheers!
No sports in Qatar. Club memberships are restricted to Qataris only.
outings are no biggie for me.i'm kinda fed up with the whole club scene so i don't plan on going out much. It will be just work, gym and sports for me. I am however looking forward to some dune bashing and sightseeing :D
ex.ex.expat where do you pay $8 for a coffee?!?
2xlek If you're here to explore Qatar, it certainly doesn't hurt to come down.
Try to squeeze a bit out of them, and see if you can negotiate in your package to use the hotel's gym and internet...
That leaves you with $900 to go out and spend on explorations. But don't expect to have too many nights out in clubs and bars, because $900 evaporate quickly there!
And you can also get your sister to buy the car and you drive it for her :)
Let us know the verdict...
Well you can do it but it's going to be rough..Check whether the accommodation provided to you comes with internet connection?
Every accommodation our company provides has internet free so check if that's the case with you.
The hotel will surely have a gym, check if you can use that.
You will have to live a very simple life and avoid town during your off days..
Definitely, that salary is not enough. Doha is getting very expensive place, inflation is picking up.
(about $10 to go 2 km.)
An evening out is extremely expensive (a beer will run you about $10).
Telephone is extremely expensive (more expensive than any other place I have ever been and more than the rest of the Gulf).
Cable TV is expensive (it will run you about $60-$80 a month)
Everything you buy will be expensive (count on paying $8 for a coffee)
A gym membership is going to cost you a minimum of $130 per month.
You go through money like water here (which is also expensive lol).
ok, are we talking about 900USD per month or 900 QR per month ? In your post above it says 900USD.
If you will earn 900QR, forget it.
salary would buy you 2 nights out in Doha and maybe enough left over to buy a big mac.
i don't get it. how would i have a hard time surviving if i have free food and house?
own internet and gym membership! No way can you even get by on that salary.
And while the salary is low, you would have a hard time surviving and wouldn't be able to save any as far as I can see. Are you sure you want to take a job that would mean your sister would have to help support you?
Asst. Mgr to Receptionist doesn't sound right. It should be other way around. Cleaning / door staff / bellhop in US/EU/AUS TO front desk staff in Doha. Or front desk staff to Asst. Mgr in Doha. And you get to boss over overqualified Indian/Pakistan/Lankans and other Asians who probably have masters degrees in hotel management.
But on second thoughts, since you say your country is Romania, maybe you don't qualify for this automatic upgrade.
go for it, the living here is cheap compering with romania and u can take tips. 1 liter petrol is 0.18 euro and the arab paing beter tips than uther nationalities.
NO you can't afford living ...
@ edifis i appreciate the input but i'm not looking for career advice. my question was whether or not i can afford living there with that salary and should i press for a larger salary or better position. is 900 the average salary for receptionists there?
What about tips? Is it a sort of social norm like back home or are things different?
That will be good for your sister as she will gain experience as a manager it won't do any good for your career. But you can come down and look for another better job if someone is there to support you.
I forgot to mention that my sister will also be working as a spa manager alongside me with a bigger salary so she'll probably provide some backup if things get tough
Sorry that salary is no good. You will hardly be able to do anything here with that. I agree with edfis.
IMHO if u are having that intention please come down, as accommodation and meals are provided by them, you can have a reasonable life and experience of middle east as well, here unlimited use of broadband is approximately around 60USD from QTEL,
The salary is a bit more than i make here in Romania and i'd come to Qatar if only for the experience. I'm not looking to save up money by coming. I'd do it just to get the chance to experience the culture and see what it;s like to live there. I'd like to travel the world and work my way around it until i'm about 30. Hopefully by then i'll have amassed enough working experience and i'll come back some and set up my own buisness
Why do want to step down the ladder?
From an Assistant Manager to a Reception desk is not the right way to go....and that to for such a small salary!
IMHO stay where you are...atleast you can lead a respectable life.