Arab-American with US engineering Degree
Hi,
I am an American citizen and I was born in the US, but my parents are Syrians and I also lived in arab countries for 16 during my childhood. I am about to get my BS in Electrical Engineering for a school in the US. I have been thinking about working in the Middle East. I have a lot of questions in mind, and I was hoping you can help me by answering some of them.
Would it be easy for me to find a job, considering I have an degree from the US and I am an American, or I shouldn't expect to be treated as an American, since my parents are originally from Syria? And what would an American expect for a salary? Does salary really differ according to nationality, and If so which salary should I expect, the salary of an American (my passport) or a Syrian (my origins)?
Thank you very much for you help.
Wunae: You missed mentioning the Filipino mafia which is open and evident. Just go through the jobs section at QL and you will soon realize this fact.
Honestly I don't think it will be easy for you as a fresh graduate to find work in Qatar, regardless of your education or nationality. The big Q companies are now forced to take graduates of Qatar University, Texas A&M etc for their fresh graduates. And the smaller companies will be run by local mafias of Indian, Pakistani, Arabic etc.
My advice to you is don't waste your money trying to come here to look for a job in the present economic circumstances. You will have better luck, and a better salary, in the US.
It is just not the education and the experience that counts in getting a job here. Nationality and Religion also play an important role and in some cases such as those of Keralites from India, even provincialism carries a lot of weight.
I agree with what b expat said, theirs actually a few Europeans/Americans with experience that came here looking for a job and returned back empty handed, its all about luck and the so called connections one has here, also whats sad is that employers are "hooking up" there friends/relatives who have zero experience.
Yes, you get a higher slary if you have an American nationality and qualifications from a recognised institution in the USA.
However, since you are a fresh graduate , you will find it hard to get a good job. Companies are looking for experience.
So, I suggest , you get a job in the USA. Get a couple of years experience in your field and then look abroad.