Please help-Is this salary offer fair?

Why would you leave family, a clean country, and nice climate to live in the heat of this region for such little money? I wouldn't do it.

TOTALLY AGREE .

Crazy Frog

Crazy Frog

Unless you are desparate don't accept this offer. But before refusing negotiate with the idea that you don't need this job! My research shows bsaic pay of below 7000 QR is anything but exploitation.

Or should i say ask around !! alot of people are have been complaining while working for QA, based on this and the Package offered to you, you should really think long and hard, it all depends on how much you would value yourself, and whats the difference between what youre getting now and when u come here. I personally would think that singapore would be a better place to work, althought abit competetive at times but the overall place would probably keep you going for much longer. Dont take my word for it check it out yourself !!

Hi Taufik,

Currently I'm working at the QR, doing a services for a QR, however I'm did not employed directly under QR. Just try to negotiate again and try to get the salary about QR 7000, Accomodation at least QR 35000 and transport about QR 1000. However it is quite hard to have the single flat that cost around QR 3500 unless u are willing to share with other people. The best way is to let QR arrange the accomodation for u.

Food is ok here, just little bit expensive than Singapore. Roughly you will spent between 10 to 20 QAR for one meal. Utilities around 1K.

If you cook by yourself then i would be no problem here. Roughly if u spend abou 1000-1500 QAR a month is enough for your family.

However to do other activities is quite expensive here such as sport or gym since looks like everything need to be a member first than u can have your activities. However the sailing club at Doha is not that bad.

Qatar Airways in Airport Operations and Services on 19th Aug07 and given a 6 days timeline to make my decision on whether to accept the job.

U know what,I was previously employed in the airline industry for almost 17 yrs and considering this offer seriously.But after what I read

on your plight,I think my offer made by QR WAS AN ALLTIME SLAMMER.

A position offered as Duty Supervisor-basic QR5000/ACCO:QR1750/ALLWNCES:QR570....

U tink shud I.......

a)accept this offer,be modest n deadly hoping for an increment.

b)negotiate for more.....if yes how much????

c)flatly reject and never turn back.

P.S:Any responses greatly appreciated,positive or negative..thanx

Feelfree to email me at :[email protected]

I am shortlisted for Dolphin Energy, Ras Laffan to work as Engineer in Gas Processing Plant at Ras Laffan. I have 15 years experience and an Indian but working in another gulf country for 2 years.

Please help me with the following information.

What is the best salary that can be expected from the company. Basic + HRA + Transport, etc.,

Does Dolphin Energy pay bonus, if yes, how much it paid during the last year for the employees with 15 years work experience.

I understand that AL KHOR many employees stay. What is the rent at AL KHOR for a decent 2 bed room flat.

Does DolPhin give housing for the employees of Indian origin engineers instead of house rent allowance

Give me also an idea what is the rent at DOHA for a 2 bed room flat.

Any Indian school in Al-Khor for 2nd standard daughter.

Is there Over time for general shift engineer employees of Indian Origin

Request you to give pointwise replies to help to take a decision.

do note that there will be 15% co. contribution to your salary. This is always forgotten. Qatar doesn't have this...

Angel6975, I think you should try to negotiate for a lot more considering that you have 10 years of experience in the field.

The reason is with that length of relevant experience (10 years), I think your market value here in Qatar is more than 8500 QR (5400 + 2500 + 600). Like others have mentioned, try to get housing and transportation provided in the package but on top of at least a 10,000 QR salary.

To put it in perspective, here is my situation; I only have one year of professional experience in audit/accounting and graduated Dec 2005 with a Finance Degree and the lowest total package I got offered here is 10000 QR/month inclusive of everything.

On a high note, I was also offered 16K + villa + car by a reputable Fortune 300 U.S. defense firm in Doha.

About the nationality issue, the sad reality is that most of the time, one's passport seems to dictate compensation here in the Middle East (not because some expatriate nationalities are less competent than others but because of the labor market and supply and demand in wages). Holding a Filipino passport, I myself have seen this type of wage discrimination happen to various nationalities here in Qatar but I have never succumbed to it.

An effective way to leverage your way to a great remuneration package (regardless of nationality) is to know your intrinsic value (based on your knowledge, experience, and skills) and demand that compensation.

My leverage is that I have a U.S. Bachelor's Degree and have professional experience in the States with a leading Fortune 500 company.

Your leverage is definitely your experience and you'll be able to use that to get a higher salary package.

given your nationality, accomodation is the only problem here. You will spend half salary and save half if you live average good life. You might get better offer though.

I am an Indian. I have been offer a job of project manager.

the I am 35 yr. and will shifting there with my wife and 2 kids one 5 yr and another 6 months old.

They offered me initial package of 8000 + 2BHK fernished + company maintained car + [1000 Allowance (after complation of six months)]

please tell me how do you see this offer. I have to take the decision with in 10 days.

Anything less than 12,000 QAR is not worth staying for.

They can divide that 12K any way they want to between basic salary and allowances, but the final total sum should add up to 12K regardless of how the break it down.

If they offer you 8,000 QAR in basic and 4,000 QAR in housing allowance, that would be a very fair deal. Again, this isn't the sort of offer you should be salivating over, but it's just fair.. it sounds like your experience is worth about that much, and even if it's not, it really isn't worth taking a job in Qatar with the big inflation taking place for anything less than that kind of money.

Dingdong,

If only I could type as fast as I think...Thank you for the sharing- I believe you're in a much better place and position now and definitely will not stand for any kind of abuse ever!!!

Yes, Singapore is sooooo very clean! (there is the occassional exception but you'll have to really look for it tho haha!) I swear you can lie on the streets and bathroom floors!

My ten year experience is not directly in the field but pretty related...but you're right, when I saw the offer I thought they missed a few digits or there was a currency error! Actually, I still can't get over it...(sigh!)

Anyway, I'm definitely going to get clarification from them over the next few days and if this remains status-quo...then it's 'bye-bye baby'.

Its just not worth it. The basic salary won't even cover my current financial obligations!!

And even if I was just starting out in the working environment...I wouldn't be jumping at this offer!

In your opinion, what do you think would be a fair counter-offer?

Peace:)

You know angel, your story with the interviews, the impression given to you during them, and the offer and the disbelief that accompanied all remind me of my first job-hunt experience in Qatar.

I remember it like it was yesterday… I dropped my resume with the tea-boy of that company and didn't really think it would get anywhere, but I thought what the heck I'll give it a try.

By the time I got home, before I even got out of the taxi cab, my cell phone was ringing and the C.E.O. of that company personally was on the phone conversing with me with such great excitement and enthusiasm. He was so happy to talk to me and so cheerful like you won't believe. He wanted me for interview right there and then. He told me to ask the cab to turn around and drop me back at the company.

When I arrived, he greeted me like I was his long-lost brother. He addressed me with such great respect and regard like I was a foreign dignitary from some super-power country. He was UNBELIEVABLY happy to meet me and honored to be in my presence… these are the words he actually used.. I am truly honored to be in your presence with your great and long work experience in the U.S. I never really had such respect paid to me in my entire life like that respect I was treated with during the interview… and he kept repeating, "I normally don't interview potential employees because it's not my job as a CEO to do that, and I normally don't write job offers or deliver them myself, but for you, I will do all of that."

Just imagine… the man during the first minute of this on-the-fly interview was already telling me I'm accepted for the job and that he'll have the job offer ready for me within a few hours. I really couldn't be happier with that treatment… it was REALLY unbelievable and truly promising.

I walked out of his office feeling like a million dollars… I was just happy to receive such great treatment and could only anticipate that the offer would be either equally respectful of my experience or at least pretty close to that level of respect. I mean, I have NEVER in my entire life in the U.S. been in a situation where I dropped my resume, got interviewed, got the written job offer all in the same day… this all happened within the span of no more than 2 hours.

So, about an hour and a half after the interview I went back to pick up the job offer like the C.E.O. asked me to… and he was all cheerful again and reminded me that he's never delivered a job offer to anyone before and that he made an exception in my case because he liked me so much.

Do you really wanna know what the job offer was?

First 3 months on the job: Total salary with all allowances possible is 1,500 QAR.

After 3 months and after I transfer my residency/sponsorship to the company: Total salary with all allowances possible is 3,500 QAR.

If I get married, I get a marriage allowance of 250 QAR. So, the maximum possible total is 3,750 QAR.

I swear I hard a hard time keeping a tear from dropping from my left eye. I felt so insulted like you won't believe. I really felt pain down my throat because of how insulting the offer was. I wished I never did apply, never did see his face, and never did get such an offer that insulted and degraded my professional experience. He didn't even respect my experience enough to get the offer up to 4,000…. 4,000 is still a joke, but at least it's a nice round number… well.. he thought even that joke of a nice round number is too big an offer for my experience.

To this day I still feel insulted and humiliated every time I remember that amazingly respectful treatment during the interview and that amazingly disrespectful offer.

So.. I feel you :)

angel6975,

Now that you mention you have a ten-year experience in the field, then DEFINITELY refuse the offer. With that kind of experience, you're either ranked senior (which you really should be) or pretty close to senior. No serious company with respect towards its actual and potential employees would make such an offer in the current economic condition. The offer, I'm sad to say, is a slap in the face in comparison to your length of experience. Besides, I hear that Singapore is one of the cleanest countries in the world... I don't know how true that is, but it must be at least super clean to get such a reputation. Why would you leave family, a clean country, and nice climate to live in the heat of this region for such little money? I wouldn't do it.

000,

Sure, there are certainly exceptions to the generalized rule... there are always exceptions.

Dingdong, about the salary difference I have proves that what you are saying can be wrong ; )

Anyways mine was just a joke : )

000, change of environment and...as per previous post...the salary offered is definitely not what I expected!

Hence, this thread begun....

You can get decent small apartment 1 or 2 B/R or small seperate part of Villa 1 or 2 B/R for 5000 QR.

If you looking for single room you might find somthing for 2500 - 3000 QR shared.

000, sorry if I came across sounding a bit sexist when I told angel6975 to consider accepting the offer if he/she is a female. I'm not sexist, but there are realities in the job market you have to accept as just realities.

One of those realities is that females find work much much faster than men, but they don't get paid as much as men... that's just how it works here. On average, for a man and a woman of the same caliber and qualification, the man will ALWAYS make significantly more money than the woman. That's not just in the Middle East, it's even here in the U.S., for every $1 a male worker makes, his equivalent female worker makes only $0.63, and of course in Qatar it's a significantly BIGGER difference than the U.S., so if angel is going to evaluate the offer on bases of being a female, the offer is still not good, but it really isn't as bad as if it was offered to a man.

Another reality of the job market here is that allowances are granted on bases of social condition/status. Meaning, the housing allowance or transportation allowance is offered to you only if someone of your condition would need that allowance.. it's not part of the basic salary.. it's an allowance to accommodate your condition/status in society. A practical translation of this means that men get housing allowances more often than women and of higher amounts than women because traditionally in Qatari society men are the bread earners and the ones expected to support a family, make a living space available, etc. etc. So, their social condition/status requires them to provide a housing venue, and therefore they are offered housing allowances more often than women and in BIGGER amounts than women. The opposite is true, women are traditionally NOT the ones who constitute the main pillar of a home, the main economic burden is NOT on their backs, they live with their husbands or parents, and therefore, their social condition/status does NOT require them to provide a living place, and consequently they are offered housing allowances much less frequently then men and even when they ARE actually offered a housing allowance, it's normally much less than the allowance offered to the man in the same position/grade.

I hope that clarifies my point.

Dingdong,

Hahahaha...you're really funny and frank! Thank you...

Such is life.

Yup, I'll really have to make that decision ultimately.

I was originally expecting double or more in salary! (at least that was the impression I was given during the interviews!) Imagine my dismay or rather disbelief when I saw the offer!

A woman's gotta do what a woman's gotta do....

I’d say if you are really lucky you find a decent one bedroom apt with some furniture (or not) for about 6000QR. Shared accomodation I'm not sure. To have an idea about housing check the classified section here or go to the classified here: www.gulf-times.com

“In fact the offer now is equivalent to my very first job years ago” … but Angel if as you said here is true why are you even considering the offer!!!

000, so what would be the going rate for a single bedroom shared apartment, possibly furnished? Do we also have to pay for utilities?

The more info you guys (who have already been so helpful:) give me...I'll be better equipped to negotiate with them....

angel6975,

Here are answers to some of your questions:

Q1: "Btw, how much would a person from the west expect?"

A: A WHOLE A LOT more than your offer, at LEAST double! I don't mean to sound racist, I'm only speaking of the reality of the workforce in the region, but don't waste your time comparing your offer to that of someone from the West. If you carry a Western country passport while you're originally from Singapore, then you should expect to be CLOSE (but not equal) to the offer someone from the west is going to get. Now, if you were carrying a Western country passport AND you are originally from the West (i.e. White or light-skinned) THEN you can expected to get the full advantageous treatment someone from the West gets. Again, I REALLY don't want to sound racist, but this is the reality of the market here.

Q2: "And what if it were a senior position?"

A: If it were a senior position AND they still offered you this sum and these allowances, then believe me, it's like a slap in the face. 5,400 QAR is no longer considered money in Qatar... and 2,500 QAR will not allow you to rent a TENT, much less an apartment. The most you'll get with the 2,500 QAR is a room, if you're lucky, to share with a bunch of other people in the same house... very little privacy or indepedence. This offer can't be made to a senior employee unless the company has no respect for that senior.

Finally, Zahid32 put it elequently for you in the 2 lines he wrote... it really sums up all that I've been trying to tell you.

Good luck.

Dingdong , you started sooo well why did you have to ruin everything at the end? :D

Angel, think twice before accepting this offer, specially if it’s not that much in comparison with what you’d be getting in Singapore. Keep in mind that the housing situation is really really bad here and for 2500QR per month I’m not sure what you could possibly get.

Ding Dong....

My sentiments exactly! It's really what I thought when I saw the salary offer...tho I really like the job and the experience it'll bring but I've to be practical as well I guess.

I've been in employment for 10 years...so definitely not a fresh grad. In fact the offer now is equivalent to my very first job years ago...Talk about set back!

May I ask in your opinion what would be a reasonably fair offer?

Really appreciate your insights...so helpful:)

if you are a single bachelor and starter then it is ok but if you r married and need family status then it id difficult due to the present condition of qatar decide its upto to you to take final decision

No don't reject the offer. Study it first. But if it's less than you're getting now after tax why uproot yourself?

You'll always find someone to live with.

Hello...thanks for the prompt response.

Btw, how much would a person from the west expect?

And what if it were a senior position?

I dont have much time so I need all the info I can get... I was left with the impression that I was going to be paid well but after receiving the offer...I'm not sure at all!

Please enlighten...Thanks again:)

In my humble opinion, you should refuse this job offer flatly and with no regrets... UNLESS:

1- You are 20-27 years old.

2- You are single and have no plans for marriage any time soon.

3- You are a fresh grad out of college and/or have no practical experience in the work field.

Basically, accept the job ONLY if it's your entry job into the field after having graduated college recently.

You know how to evaluate yourself more than anyone on the forum... this job offer does not sustain any kind of decent living and shouldn't be accepted by anyone unless they really have to.

That's just my opinion.

By the way, are you male of female? If you're female you might want to consider accepting the job.

Sincerely,

- DingDong

Hi...appreciate the fast response.

You said if I'm lucky, I might find a place...what happens if I'm unlucky?

For 2500...will the room be furnished? I still find the basic pay very low as compared to what I'm currently getting. Is this the average salary for this position in Qatar?

I will try negotiating anyway...so I just want to be sure that I'm not taken for a ride.

Thanks again:)

Go for it unless you are in senior position then not fair but I assume you are not manager then excellent offer since you are not from west

good luck

Housing is a big problem in Qatar. With your housing allowance you can only manage shared accommodation. If you're lucky you might find something on your own but it won't be very nice.

With Qatar Airways there's no room for negotiation; take it or leave it.