QP Salalry Grades-Am I making the right decision?

Moudir! you are absolutely correct! as 4 me,i am an asian and i left my job in my home country for a same job which is 3x my basic salary there! I reasoned out when I handed my resignation paper that I am leaving for my carrer development. But alas!, I joined a company which is five years behind my pevious company in terms of people management, technology and safety! the only consolation is that i am earning thrice and it's tax free!

For a western expat, taking into account your fiscal status, if you are not going to generate from 1.5 to 2 times your current net income, it is not worth relocating to Doha, unless you’re unemployed. I hope QP people are reading this forum, to get the message.

If you are a western expat in your early career, there is not much on the job newly acquired working experience you could decorate your CV with. Work is tangled with heavy bureaucracy, ethnic protectionism and so on. Asian expats have different goals, they’re in it for the money, and have been groomed thru past colonial years to applying the most stupid of procedures to the letter, without deviation. Even if they often complain for not receiving equal pay equal to western expats, there’re still getting close to double of what they would have earned in their home base ( housing allowances being the same for all ). QP for them is heaven on earth.

Moudir

I think CanadianforQatar made a good decision by not accepting the offer.

My first year in Qatar was quite interesting as everything was new, but after that Qatar is very boring compared to home (and anywhere else in the world for that matter). Most Western expats I speak with that have been here more than a year count the days until their next vacation out of the Country. Therefore, it becomes the money as the only incentive to stay.

The other poster was also correct that QP is not a good choice for a career move. It is quite disfunctional and very bureaucratic compared to a Western company. QP currenlty has around 1800 vacncies and some departments are sitting with as much as 40% vacancy because of low offers so you can imagine how ineffective and frustrating it would be to work in that department.

If you want work in Qatar in O&G, I would choose all the Western Oil Companies first, then the JV's such as QatarGas and RasGas, then lastly QP.

Thanks milou. I can understand your views. However, I had already given one mail to QP in this regard, so lets wait and hope for the good.

My suggestionS for the guy from Canada were based on the fact he is Canadian. He also provided enough information about his current situation.

I suggest that you do your calculation based on your current salary and other benefits VS what you are being offered. Your allowances look similar to mine even though I am at grade 16. Although you will be leaving a job with 17 years of experience, you case is a bit different from that Canadian guy. I guess as an Indian you will not have a problem with the climate in Qatar. Also you are only 4 hours far from home plus there is a very big Indian community in Qatar.

GOOD LUCK

Well, its looks that you all are giviing good suggestions and I would like to take your help. I am impressed by the you all help Canadianforqatar to take a decision.

I am from India and need your help with respect to QP's offer of employment.

I have been given offer by QP in Engineering Business Group at grade 14 senior staff indefinite contract with 13000 QR basic, 9750 QR Housing allowance & 1000 QR Transportation allowance.

Presently, I am working with ONGC-India and having 17 years of experience in oil and gas as a mechanical engineer.

As per my thinking, I feel that that the offer is not up to the mark in grade as well as in basic pay. Many of my colleagues having similar experience have been given offer in grade 16 by QP. May be in different work areas. Also, I found from the above referred web site that living in Qatar is bit costly and I have to live in Qatar with my family consisting of my wife and two daughters.

In view of the above, I am trying to negitiate for higher grade and basic with QP.

Will you please throw some light whether they entertain / consider such negotiations. Do they give response and what are your personal views and suggestions about the offer. What is it that I will loose if I am not accepting this offer.

I shall be thankful for the same.

I was talking to hubby about your post ... he said if he can afford to save the same amount of money like you, he wouldn't mind at all to stay back home.

I think it is a good decision for you not to come here, better than you regret it later after up-rooting the whole family.

All the best.

Hi Folks,

I have declined the offer. I wanted to thank everyone for their inputs. It seems like that QP will not make a counter offer, so I guess I will not be able to work in Qatar (for the moment)!!.

Regards,

I will be moving with my wife and kids(3 years, 18 months and 3 months) very soon and would like some advices regarding the following concerns:I appreciate feedback from those who have been in same situation

1-When does QP starts paying its new employees?

2- How much money can someone envisage before receiving his first wage?

3- Does QP assist with opening a bank account and which bank do you think is good for funds transfer ?

4- What does a new employee receive for his first pay check( ie: basic salary, transport allowance, inducement…), I know I will not receive housing allowance because I will be provided a temporary accommodation.

5- When is a new employee required to join his work place after his arrival.

6- I am thinking of bringing some tapes for kids, do you think I should bring my VCR too. FYI all our tapes are NTSC.

Based on your own experience what other items should a new comer with a family like mine bring with him.

Thank you very much for your time.

Cheers

Hi there!

I’m a structural engineering student planning to work in the region of Middle East. And recently, my girlfriend, who is also a ‘fresh’ graduated civil engineer (Dipl. Ing. in hydraulic and environmental engineering – which is equivalent to M.Sc.), got a job offer which both of us consider as a good proposal for a beginner. That offer includes basic salary of QR9000, transport allowance QR1500, single bed furnished accommodation, 1 annual air ticket, probation period of 3 months and 22 working days annual leave.

I’d appreciate if someone, who is familiar with above mentioned field of work, could give us some advice. We’re interested in living and other expenses, and would this be enough for both of us, because it would be the only income in the beginning. Please consider that my girlfriend has got only 4 months of experience in practice.

Thanks to all in advance!

I do agree with Milou. If it's about "experience", then better not to move here if you think you'll earn better or equal to your Canadian salary.

I'm not sure about the telephone bill being payed by QP. Unless you stay in their housing compound. But if you stay in their housing compound that means you're on definite contract and you won't get housing allowance. With regards to transpo, you usually get 1000Qr for senior staff but you also get supplementary allowance which is like 2000QR++...

You can negotiate but you won't get much if at all...

goodluck!

regards,

Chris

Chris San Juan

http://www.lifeonthespot.com

Yes this is what they told me when I tried to negotiate my offer. Although salaries are rigid and there is no automatic increase, there will be some adjustments based on performance. This is what I was told by the guy who is heading the department I will work in. As for deciding to take the offer or not, I guess it has already been discussed and very much debated in this forum. Decision to relocate is not only based in salary even though big part of it has to do with it. The adventure itself is to be considered carefully. Changing your kids school, environment and habits could come with some very negative consequences. Furthermore, assume you have a house in Canada, what are going to do with? If you try to sell it you may not find a good deal, if you decided to rent it you may end up spending more money to fix it. I believe there are plenty reasons that one can consider before taking his decision to relocate. In my view most of people who are established in the Middle East had valid reasons beside the salary. If you are not doubling your net income and you are sure you have a comfortable position in Canada I do not see any reason why you move to a very hot and steamy country like Qatar(do not forget that you will be living 12 months a year with air condition, this was proven very harmful with the health , especially kids).

Based on the reasons you shared with us, my advice to you is to stay in Canada. Now if you have other reasons(such being close to your original community, land etc… that you think its worth more than what was stated above), it an other story…

One last thing about work experience since you mentioned about it, at QP most of people are growing vegetation, its not place where you learn. QP is looking for knowledge transfer, they want expatriates to teach their local employees and I am not sure if QP experience is more worth in a CV than experience from your actual company.

Good luck