Another job offer at QP, advice required
I am in my early 50's and have worked in IT for 30 years. Various roles from IT Managers to my current position for the last 10 years of development manager. My current role is a hands on role managing 5 developers in a 2,000 people firm.
I am looking for a change and the chance to work overseas again, had 5 years in Hong Kong in the early 90's. I was looking at Qatar for a 5 year stint, to save some money, do some more travel etc. The children are now off our hands, so it will be just the two of us. I have been to Doha for the interview/medical etc and liked the people I met.
I just received a formal offer from QP (Grade 14) with the following:
- Salary 15,500
- WIA Aus$789
- Currency Uplift 772
- Housing 9,750
- Transport 1,000
- Furniture grant 45,000
- car loan 5 x salary
- Annual leave - 37 Working days
- Sick leave - 14 days
- Medical, dental, Life insurance
- yearly return trip
The salary and allowances equate roughly to what I currently earn in Aus, of course tax free.
However, my biggest concern is with accommodation. I would be happy with 2 br accommodation, but it would appear from trawling through the forum and looking at the classifieds in Gulf Times the housing allowance may not be sufficent.
I am tad confused whether we should look for a villa or an apartment. In Hong Kong we lived in an apartment, as that was the norm. I really wanted to find suitable accommodation within the housing allowance so we were not dipping into our salary.
Do you think that is achievable?
Any comments on the offer are also gratefully accepted.
Thanks in advance.
good job...
All your comments are appreciated. I am still considering the position.
Dear friend,
This is a pretty good salary. I think, you must accept this offer and move on.. I am sure you will be able to save more money here than back in australia. life is not, all the time, all about higher pay packet, bigger villas, bigger grades. if u had already enjoyed them, in your earlier jobs, then u can slide down and re-visit / start doing jobs which you might have done at the early part of ur career. by the way, you will have the prospect to work under bosses 10 years or more younger. You may start wondering that u know more subject and are more experienced but they had made this move much earlier in their life. QP is having a good work culture.
there are other things to the job. qatar is a good place. although you have many years that have slipped past you, yet, you may come to know of news systems here, another feather in your cap. again when u will be only two, you may throw the lavish style aside and start to live like many others, a two or thrtee bedroom flat, which will come within your allowance. the pay packet u are offerred is very good and after 50 u must be lucky to enter QP, they generally prefer younger ones in 30s and early 40s. u are offered better than many both in grade and salary. in negotiating higher grade or higher salary, they will go for another candidate, i am sure, there would be many waiting.. for jobs and they will come in lower salaries / grades, younger and more energetic. See u in Qatar.
I am coming from an orginisation that does not have fixed regulated position/ grades. Job titles etc are no indication of seniority or pay scale. Ah well seemed like an interesting job, I'll just wait and see what transpires.
Only Love & Respect of Others Makes us Human.
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Kezza, you may have applied for the wrong position. Good Luck.
QP have a very well established grading system. It is only very rarely that they do not offer the correct grade for the job.
They will not offer a grade higher than that at which the job evaluates. That is the way to destroying the evaluation system.
There may be room for negotiation on the salary. Note I said "may".
With that kind of experience, you should command a much higher grade code and salary. Don't take the 1st offer these companies give, it is always way too low. Ask for grade code 15 and at least 20,000 per month. You worked as a manager for god's sake, you are not some young high school computer nerd. Also, your age is 50+ and you need to maximize your earnings before they force you to retire at 60. These companies rely on your ignorance about the country and salary options.
With that kind of experience, you should command a much higher grade code and salary. Don't take the 1st offer these companies give, it is always way too low. Ask for grade code 15 and at least 20,000 per month. You worked as a manager for god's sake, you are not some young high school computer nerd. Also, your age is 50+ and you need to maximize your earnings before they force you to retire at 60. These companies rely on your ignorance about the country and salary options.
i think it is low for yr expeiance
i think it is low for yr expeiance
Only Love & Respect of Others Makes us Human.
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Grafe 14 is too low for your experience. You might regret your acceptance.
If it's at ICS at Ras Abu Aboud then it will be a housing allowance
out at the IT buildings near the Marriott. My understanding was they do not provide housing for people on indefinite contracts.
treasures1234 is there any particular areas we should be looking at?
Thanks everyone for the helpful responses.
U can find appartment and Villa in some areas of Doha with your housing allwance(9,750QAR), QP is nice place to work as they have working and employement policies and rules, good luck and welcome to Qatar
if you work in mesaieed, around 2 year time there will a housing compound for senior staff. The downside the family will have to commuting to Doha for schooling and others.
i am not looking forward to it :-(
It probably depends on the work location
The salary is bit low, but attarctive. Housing is mostly provided by company but they are also mentioning in package. I think just bit more bargain (They are normaly increasing package on bargain)and accept the offer.
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Would of thought Qp would supply you with accomadation?
Im with RasGas(part of QP) and they housed me in a nice villa.
I believe you can get a nice house for QR9,750. The only thing I am thinking about, you said you have 30 years of experience, that should make you earn more then 15, at least 20. ---------------------------------------
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we are exactly in the same deal with yours, everybody in the same grade with yours all struggling to get decent property to live.