Is it worth trying to get promoted here at all? I worked as hard as I could, trying to add some value... all in order to get promoted, but the effort was in vain. It seems to me increasingly that promotion really has nothing to do with hard work.
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@cyf+1cwP8r5X ==> very useful,
Can you elaborate on how the system works and how the GC system works? the recruiter i am working with is not clear on what they all mean...thanks
You don’t!
Serve up a good split roast to your boss each day at lunch time. I think they call it a “No---r.”
One important thing is your payroll group, before was several but now most common for expats are US and global. The place in your salary band will depends as well from your nationality. Saying this if you belong to US payroll, you have top benefits but if you are by example Egyptian, your compensation will be less. For that reason some supervisor are very jealous once they realises how much money are you earning.
What do you need a promotion for? You could get promoted in the U.S. every year until you retire and still not come close to your initial compensation from the company. Start looking for jobs in the U.S. and see what they pay, that will quickly give you some perspective.
Great Career Move: Buy a horse saddle, place it on the boss’ desk; and then bend over.
You typically don't get promoted and are told that in orientation. That's why you are paid (net) what a manager in the US makes. When I was with Aramco, the savings rate was 5:1 with the domestic US counterparts. C'mon! It's all about economics and not so much about salary. You save more and pay less.
The Company has always been considered a “Diamond in the Rough.” It is clear now. All one needs to do is start the polishing process. It is also clear that horse-face will be required to get that promotion.
Agreed. It's all about making Saudi Aramco look good to the world.
Kind of a cousin to 'saving face'
'What happens at Aramco, stays at Aramco.'
Patents and technical papers do work, but even though you will be the one initiating and compiling either in their entirety , you must be prepared to list a Saudi as Lead Inventor or Author in order that he/she gets the credit and you are listed as a co-author or given credit for your contribution... you then might get on the promotion list, but it can go wrong and you end up on the surplus list to remove any evidence, or any bleating from you on the level of your contribution...
Patents and papers.
Having seen it work first hand, I can tell you that decisions are made ENTIRELY at VP and above. That's right, a guy that you might not have even met will decide if you get an E, E+, promotion, etc. If you haven't been in meetings with your VP, you don't really have much chance. Of course, good luck getting that exposure because your boss probably just takes what you give him and passes it upward. He tells you he will "recommend" you, but it's totally meaningless. At Aramco, face time with the big boss is everything and hard work is nothing. Expats who figure this out can prosper, those that do not get played for suckers. If your boss isn't doing this for you, you are being played. End of story.
Pfff, not an easy question and for sure no a right way answer. Will depends of your direct supervisor, GS and even manager. Be careful of your colleagues, some one are very jealous, watch your back.
That will be difficult for most. A few chosen individuals will climb quickly but most will languish. You should try to get your fair GC value coming in. They will float you a low ball offer when you know very little of how the system works. Then you arrive and work harder and smarter than others with higher GC's. Not much that you can do. Consider yourself lucky if you get a GC bump every 5 years...seriously. And if you are within 5 years of retirement ...forget about it. Good luck friend.