What’s the deal? Is this even possible these days given localization?
I’be been told 5 years in same role then it might get considered!
11 replies (most recent on top)
Spot on. Work smart, do the minimum to survive. Focus on other things that you enjoy. Some study, others learn languages or master a hobby (brewing perhaps)….Learn to deploy the art of passive aggressiveness, never volunteer anything and always reply to your bosses ASAP. Don’t try to be clever or change a thing, it will at best land you with a load of work you will never be able to take credit for. At worst you will get deported. Kiss up, kick down. And SMILE, it’s all a farce. Everything else is just noise.
Most people that get here these days are at end of career and/or were previously out of work. They don’t have a career to go back to.
3rad+1saw0sQt
Sounds accurate.
A real expat with real O&G experience? Forget about promotions. Get the best offer up front, which is probably not worth it if you are worth it. If you do get an offer that covers up the third world odor pouring out of every drain and men’s perfume bottle then don’t bother working for a promotion when you get here. RIP on day 1. Anything else is futile and you’ll regret spending any more time than necessary at your tiny cardboard boxed desk. If you want to work at least for self satisfaction I suggest forgetting that too unless you enjoy playing with propaganda. Nothing you do will actually matter. Leave all passion in the beautiful country you left then go back to it. It will only float off in the wind here like the 100s of plastic bags.
They RIPed while waiting for the Ripper.
RIP...Ha!...funny, though nothing new for Aramco. I like the name and the ranks of RIP'ers has probably swelled considerably these days.
The lack of promotion led to another unique condition at Aramco we called "Retirement in Place"
No expats in my area get promoted unless they hit 5 years, in which case they either get surplussed or a GC bump. That’s the policy apparently! Couldn’t make it up.
Yeah I saw that also. It was all about discrediting your colleagues' ideas/ work and elevating your own. Gain management approval by cracking a difficult problem so your division would look good...presentations and PowerPoint in addition to a silver tongue were your tools to success.
Those days are long gone. Now, you are essentially hired to perform a job function at a GV they think is suitable. If you are very good at it, then you probably will not get laid off.
The only ones that seemed to have gotten a GC promotion in the past few years, were those with special skills, that would result in presentations that would make their division heads and managers look good.
To add to ahv’s valid comments, I would add that a lot depends on where in the job ladder you are hired into. Some job ladders top out at Salary code 13 or even lower depending on the job. If there is progression in the job ladder then I agree 5 years assuming good performance is possible but not guaranteed.
What job were you offered? At what Salary code?
Yes, I think that you are right on this. When I started promotion of expats was common at maybe 2-3 year intervals, if you did your job and produced. By the time I had left we saw promotions on maybe a 5 year frequency and in some business units not at all. I was good friends with a guy, hard worker, never got promoted his entire tenure, 17 years. Plus, if you are within 5 years of retirement then forget it. And finally, if you are retiring on the last day of the year you won't get any of the upcoming SAIP bonus. So, you have produced all year but left before working any days in the new year...then zero for you. Therefore, if you are retiring, I hope that you were born sometime between Jan and whenever the SAIP is paid...March.