Thread regarding Saudi Aramco layoffs

I wouldn’t step foot in that kingdom with the way things are now if they offered a tanker full of gold. Not a chance.

So, did you accept it?, are you happy? Would be great to know the end of this story.

20 years here isn’t possible anymore. It’s a short term gig at best, for those with limited options. No career options or chance of progression as an expat.

Mud Whistles from the US work there.

@4ezy+1i26dhLE

The financial incentives USED TO BE competitive.

There. Fixed it for ya.

I agree with everything else you said. At Aramco, the people I saw were not there to do real work. That is done by contractors. Those employees were there to put lipstick on whatever pig the Family Don that their boss was allied with dreamed up. That and possibly spy for him if multiple departments were involved. All that had zero to do with what was good for the company. It was always like that to some extent but it got worse over time. Now, I hear that it is so bad that the company doesn't really seem to try to get qualified people for most things. No point. The analysis is going to be twisted to fit the agenda of the whatever Family controls that business function, so any warm body who knows some buzz words and can use power point will do. Each ruling Family has its own agenda. Aramco is a company the same way 13th Century France was a Country.

What’s the KSA views on Hispanics?

Hiring Priority: White is alright, Brown can hang around, but Black get back.

I believe most of the negative comments are from recent expats who were laid off or left and are seeking some sort of retribution for the BS they had to endure as employees or SMP's. The financial incentives are competitive, but make no mistake you will earn every penny not so much for applying your technical skills, but in watching them decay through non-use as your political skills strengthen and you too become devoid of hope as you mouth empty slogans and rhetoric to survive the relentless onslaught of meaningless work that has little value to the company, but only valued by your superiors who use it for self-promotion. The company has been hijacked by the interests of individuals over company interests. RT Management Training Center shares some responsibility for unleashing so much management tosh and empty platitudes upon the "talent", who use and misuse it in furtherance of their individual, family or tribal goals under the cloak of company goals...

Just curious, the guys posting all of the negative comments. Are guys stuck there without an exit or this is from your recent experience?

Fancy working for mo--nic bosses who genuinely are stupid and arrogant?

Would you like to become a well paid bagman and slave?

Want a fast divorce?

Want to risk picking up cancer from the toxic air?

Want to live in a compound under missile threat?

And 6 months of the year the weather makes this place uninhabitable.

Then go for it!

A long-term career at Aramco is a thing of the past. The glory days are gone. Dont let the US recruits paint a pretty picture here most have never worked foe Aramco in KSA or even visited Dhahran. Very few US expats hete. The camp is filled with Saudis and thi4d world nationals. Saudi supervisors and managers, your bosses, didn't get promoted because they have leadership skills and experience. If you are an engineer in the upstream side of the business stay is the US. Don't get sick here, the Aramco hospital is not up to US standards any more.

Remember, as a newhire, your odds of making it to 5 years are pretty low, and to 10 years, probably non existent.

Make sure to save as much as you can from the start, because it will be tough when they decide to send you home.

If you are white, you will be in the minority when you go to the malls to shop or eat. Don't count on your wife getting a job here it won't happen because they are hiring very few expats if at all anymore. If you want kids here, it is okay when they are babies but after that, they will lack socialization with other westerners. You could try it and may like it but if you don't will you be able to get a job back in the US? You decide.

Really wise advise, prepare for the experiences you don't have in Texas...

Go for it young man, is my advice. Aramco has lots going for it (despite the many negative comments you see here). Have an open mind, and be prepared to enjoy the many experiences you won’t have in Texas. Use the time to travel to so many great places, and also within Saudi. If you like activity be prepared to sail, cycle, run, golf, tennis, swim, triathlete, and so on. The savings potential is very good too. The company does a really great job in getting you settled in. If you don’t like it, then sounds to me you are in a situation you can leave. But it’s way better than many people here would leave you to believe. So my vote… go for it.

Very few Americans coming to Dhahran now, Aramco has a policy of hiring the cheapest labor, US engineers come at a premium. On camp you'll be mixing with Arabs, locals and a very few old-timers counting down the days to retirement.
You'll also be ki----g your career prospects.

Go for it. You've got nothing to lose except your marriage, your sanity, your self-esteem, and any long term career ambitions.
There's also hardly any new American expats arriving so you'll probably get a low ball offer in the end and wonder why they wasted your time with the interviews at all.

If you receive the offer, come and check, no kids is a plus, now is not a place to raise kids as before. It's a lottery and only you will know until try it on.

One older post mention how big is the divorced rate when you are here for long time, camp life and surroundings doesn't help.

Is your wife willing to give up her career for a life of boredom living in a dull gated community?
It will destroy the strongest of relationships.

Going for a few years to make $$$, travel the area and experience cultures might be ok if your wife is fully onboard….but you really don’t want to have small kids here.