Please review my offer
Hello,
I have been offered a position at an International School in Doha. I am currently living and working in Shanghai. The offer is:
-Salary of QR13,375 per month for me.
-Salary of QR6000 per month for my wife.
-Transportation allowance of QR450 per month.
-Yearly gratuity of 3 weeks salary (6 weeks after 2 years, 9 weeks after 3 years etc)
-Housing provided: usually this is in a compound with a pool and perhaps a gym. Either a furnished apartment or an unfurnished house depending on what is available.
-Main utilities paid for (water, electricity).
-Relocation allowance of QR5,500 at the beginning and the end of the contract.
-Medical insurance for myself and my wife (we have no children yet).
-Life insurance
-Return flights to my home country (New Zealand)
-All visas and permits taken care of
-15 weeks annual leave
I would appreciate your comments and suggestions!
Many thanks,
Jaz
The accommodation allowance in my offer is QR15,000-16,000. The area I will likely be living in is "al-Garrafa" or "west of North Road". For this sum, can I get a furnished, small villa? Or will it likely be unfurnished? What about an apartment or house? If unfurnished I guess the cost of furnishings would be quite high given Doha's reputation for being an expensive city?
Many thanks to all those above who took the time to reply - greatly appreciated!
well u can sponsor a live in maid and pay her 700 monthly, but sponsorship will cost you. i really dont know the charges for a cook cum housekeeper. qatar is expensive and your expenses will surely increase. take that into consideration.
We spend RMB 2000 per month which is about QR1050 per month and we live very, very well. We have a maid who cooks and cleans for us and she costs around QR500 a month for 5 hours per day, six days a week. How much would similar home help cost in Doha?
just out of curiosity, what is your grocery expenditure in shanghai? Is China expensive? fun place to live?
Good deal.
IF EVERYONE WAS TO TAKE AN EYE FOR AN EYE, THE WHOLE WORLD WOULD'VE BEEN BLIND TODAY - MAHATMA GANDHI
i agree with tallg
Well if you're coming for reasons other than just money (weather, different way of life etc), then earning lots more than normal may not be so important to you. And the extra 7000 from the rent will certainly help.
Dont get too excited about the sunshine:-) The winters here are nice, very nice, probably like a nice sunny warm summer day in NZ ........ except everyday, though we have been know to get the odd downpour!!
Summer, thats the catch, 50deg in the sun is quite uncomfortable.
Apart from that, as HiQatar said above, the 15weeks paid leave is the clincher here!!!
This is the place for a decent family life (and to maybe start a family:-) if you want time with your family.
For me, looking at your posts, I would definately go for it.
tallg: It is about the same as I earn in Shanghai, but I can rent my apartment here for the equivalent of QR7000 a month...and the sunshine is fairly appealling...
That bonus is part of the Qatar Labour Law - so don't let the employer think they're being nice by offering it. They have to give it to you!!!
If the salary/package means you're earning significantly more than you could back home then it's a good offer for you.
My wife is also Asian, Chinese, so even in Shanghai we avoid the Western food places because they are extremely expensive. Besides, if I wanted to live like a westerner I would go back home :)
well i have three children and my bill is between 2500 and 3000, but i am asian. There are some very expensive supermarkets that cater westerners and their favourite food. If u shop from there then double the amount i suggested.
Thanks for the helpful feedback:
Novita77: Yes, we currently have no children. However, the offer includes free schooling for any children we might have in the future so the expense of education is eliminated. I will check into the furniture allowance. We would not ship anything from New Zealand as we live in China. But, I am unlikely to ship anything major anyway. I don't have any financial commitments in either New Zealand or China as I made sure I paid off my mortgages before becoming a teacher :)
HiQatar: Yes, the annual leave is fully paid. The bonus is the 3 weeks pay at the end of year one, 6 weeks at the end of year two, 9 weks at the end of year three etc.
Lamea:Would QR1500 be enough in groceries for a month for two people?
Reagrds,
Jaz
good offer! grocery wont be more than 1000 or a max 1500 for two people. if it is more than ur present income take it.
Thats very good for me :-):-):-) ... but may not be good enough for someone from new zealand ... the 15 weeks leave is the icing on the cake, but make sure its a paid leave ...
and when you are getting the housing, its 3/4th problem solved ... thats the major concern here ...
so its only the monthly expenses you need to bear ... check if you get any bonus ... thats an effective saving incentive ...
you may refer to the www.iloveqatar.net for expenses list, like prices of groceries etc and calculate your monthly expense and then calculate your savings accordingly ...
All the Best ...
Nobody dies a virgin ... Life Screws you anyway !!!
As far as you dont have kid or dont plan to have any kid/s ... your offer is good.
How about furniture allowance? If you getting unfurnished house, to fill it up will cost you quite a bit. And if you ship your furniture from NZ your relocation allowance will not be enough.
Do calculate how much money you need to send home for mortgage and your other expenses.