Job Discussion Forums

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

There's a job advertised on Dave's just now for Saudi that specifies (among other, more obviously relevant qualifications) that applicants should be 'well built.'

????? What constitutes Smile

well-built in Saudi terms?

johnslat

Dear spiral 78,
I think that question should be directed to Dr. Frankenstein.
Regards,
John

007 · Posted: Wed Feb 27, 2008 11:33 am Post subject: Re: 'well-built?'

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

hmmm, so this could be a way of specifying a male as versus female candidate? Or eye color = light-skinned.

biffinbridge · Joined: 05 May 2003 Posts: 701 Location: Frank's Wild Years

The pink mafia strikes again.......

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

That is an odd detail in a job ad... I wonder if they are concerned here with weight... or more directly... overweight.

As to your comment biff... it also says that it prefers couples. It is not clear if they want both to be teachers.

VS

Cleopatra · Posted: Wed Feb 27, 2008 5:32 pm Post subject:

Yes, it is indeed odd - unless they want teachers to double as rugby players. I suppose this is the K of SA and (just about) anything is possible.

My guess is that by 'well built' they mean 'in good health'. But that of course is only a guess.

lterrys · Joined: 11 Feb 2008 Posts: 22 Location: San Antonio, Texas

I think what they mean is "Buff"....
Couples? Does that mean life partners like in some places in America and should they both be teachers? Ok...buff, life partners and teachers...WOW the ME is really changing!

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

Are you smoking that locoweed down in Texas? Laughing

VS

cmp45 · Joined: 17 Aug 2004 Posts: 1475 Location: KSA

The power of a word to invoke different meanings for different people...interesting to read people's responses; how each interpreted the meaning of 'well-built'...says alot about the what the person reading the word is thinking about... Wink

My interpretation would be in good health, not over weight...but is an odd thing to put in an ad.

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

'Well-built' seems to me equivalent to 'husky,' which actually means 'fat' in North American English....

I guess I personally picture 'well-built' as something like 'porky.'

But I doubt that was the meaning of the ad-writer in this case Shocked

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

I wouldn't think husky, but hunky... Laughing

muscular... spends much time at the gym working out...

VS

Stephen Jones · Joined: 21 Feb 2003 Posts: 4124

I do wonder what they were thinking of, and what prior experiences led to the mysterious phrase appearing in the ad.

007 · Posted: Thu Feb 28, 2008 11:42 am Post subject:

johnslat · Posted: Thu Feb 28, 2008 2:36 pm Post subject: Well, well

Dear 007,

well-ˈbuilt adjective
muscular; having a strong, handsome figure

Arabic: مَتين البُنْيَه

I'd always go with well-built, but I believe some sources will also approve well built.

However, your last one, well build, has no meaning in any context I can think of - unless you put some commas in there and use the "well" as an interjection, rather than as an adverb modifying the past participle adjective "built":

We have to, well, build it.

Regards,
John