Job Discussion Forums

Makkah · Joined: 08 Oct 2014 Posts: 113

If the new hire expats (non Arabs) are low balled into $5k or $6k per month including benefits due to the oil price it will be interesting to see how they work along side the current expat contractors who are doing the same job and earning $9 - $10k per month.

Then a year or so down the line Aramco doesn't renew the more expensive contractors.

bigdurian · Posted: Tue Dec 20, 2016 4:35 am Post subject:

sicklyman · Joined: 02 Feb 2013 Posts: 930

the big one hasn't done any recruitment for 3 years and there is none currently happening.

However, you might be contracted to work at an outfit that is training their recruits although it isn't actually an Aramco training centre.

You can usually spot this bait and switch in the convoluted wording of the job ad.

Your salary as a contractor at a non-Aramco facility will be correspondingly compromised.

bigdurian · Posted: Tue Dec 20, 2016 9:59 am Post subject:

bigdurian · Posted: Tue Dec 20, 2016 10:09 am Post subject:

As I said, less than 25k a month and I'd probably be worse off.

Makkah · Joined: 08 Oct 2014 Posts: 113

There is no real cycle other than people decide to leave when they have achieved what they came for. Also if you don't meet their requirements your contract won't be renewed or worse still even when you arrive and they find something in your background check you will be terminated at once (meaning the same day).

Many of the contractors are currently accepting C.V.'s not just HAKA but the window of opportunity is rapidly closing or may have already closed.

As regards this, I think he needs to correct himself.

sicklyman · Joined: 02 Feb 2013 Posts: 930

heh... trust me, from where I'm sitting, I'd say I had an informed opinion. The only adjustment I'd make to what I said is to add that I was referring to recruitment for Industrial Training Center (ITC) teachers.

Neither of the positions that bigdurian listed have benefits that reflect a direct hire opportunity with Saudi Aramco so you can give up any hope of that. Look carefully at the wording e.g. "work with world largest [sic] oil & gas company" as opposed to "work for."

So, regarding working at an ITC...

The first one doesn't match Saudi Aramco's contracting company contracts so who the heck knows who you'll be working for. It looks better though so I'd choose the first if I had to make a choice.

The second one reflects the new Saudi Aramco SMP contract with contracting companies e.g. one interim leave. This contract came into effect last month (i.e., November 2016). In other words, any westerner contracted to SA will need to be able to cope with not getting any leave at all for six months at a time now and only two flights a year instead of three. You now also have to work 60 days' notice instead of 30.

The original posting said "ITC teacher." If that truly is your job title, you will be shafted for pay. UK teachers being recruited as "ITC teachers" is unheard of. All westerners typically start at Grade Code 11 with the title "Advanced ITC teacher." The "Advanced" is important. Teachers below that, usually not from the UK if you know what I mean, are maximum GC10 and are classed as "ITC teachers". GC10 attracts far less pay than GC11+.

The preference for "proficiency in using smartboard or active board" is strange if it's a position for a Saudi Aramco ITC. In October 2016, all ITCs moved to iPad based content delivery for a brand new in-house functional English curriculum. This effectively killed the need to use any boards whatsoever except to mirror iPad content via AppleTV. Certainly, the company has not pushed any ActivBoard or SmartBoard training in the last 3 years so it seems strange that it would prefer this in teachers it would require to work at an ITC.

In the last year, a move was made to incorporate more than 20 new training centres across the Kingdom that were already providing technical training. The Marine Academy in Ras Tanura is an example of one. These are not Saudi Aramco ITCs although they train Saudi Aramco apprentices but ITC teachers are being sent to work at them. NITI in Al Hasa operated by Kaplan is another example.

My informed opinion is that teachers who get these positions will find themselves at just such a training centre. Good luck to them.

If I'm wrong and these are positions at a Saudi Aramco training centre then I'll eat humble pie. But all the evidence I have where I'm sitting does not indicate that. If you have evidence that is more informed than me, please share it.

Makkah · Joined: 08 Oct 2014 Posts: 113

Nope, no detailed information, opinions or even extrapolations. Just what I know. Do continue as you wish, I'm sure SA has high regard for you spilling the beans. Great detail, well done.

sicklyman · Joined: 02 Feb 2013 Posts: 930

nothing that isn't already publicly available.

clarification: it's the Maritime Academy and it's located in Ras Al Khair north of Jubail, not Ras Tanura... for anyone considering commuting from Bahrain Wink

sicklyman · Joined: 02 Feb 2013 Posts: 930

Makkah · Joined: 08 Oct 2014 Posts: 113

Just friendly advice. That's all.

bigdurian · Posted: Sat Dec 24, 2016 7:22 am Post subject:

So it now turns out that the job is at NITI. Received this

As discussed with HR - Aramco would be giving the travel reimbursement maximum of $ 500.

If it is convenience with you to attend the interview in London please share your updated CV or let be in touch for future reference.

You may also recommend your friends or colleagues from past organizations.

Company Name - http://www.niti.edu.sa/ (Saudi Aramco)

Contractor - HAKA Group (for Visa Sponsorship & Payroll part)

Please feel free to get back to me for any further details on the same.

After doing some research on NITI, it sounds like a trouble place to work, and I'm having deep reservations about having anything to do with it. Have I dodged a bullet?

I'm with the military now, so I'm used to a lot of things, but some of the reports I read about NITI, sounded far worse.

Lord T · Joined: 07 Jul 2015 Posts: 285

bigdurian · Posted: Sat Dec 24, 2016 10:44 am Post subject:

Which confirms what I thought. I've noticed that you kind of go round in circles with these recruiters, and it's often hard to get a straight answer out of them, which in itself is worrying.

If they don't want you to know who you're going to be working for, or the location, then that does raise serious questions.

Anyways, I replied to the last message with a few more questions, just out of curiosity really to see what they come back with.

The job was appealing due to its location, close to Bahrain.

But where I am now is okay really, so no real problems.

bigdurian · Posted: Mon Dec 26, 2016 6:44 am Post subject:

Now the job has moved to Ras Tanura. The plot thickens. This was the latest message:

NITI is one of the Training & Development institution under Saudi Aramco which a non-government organization.
Your resume shortlisting, interview & offer letter taken care by Aramco but your payroll & visa sponsorship would be taken care by HAKA Group.

Salary Package overview:

• Min 1 year renewable contract
• Attractive Basic Salary in USD $
• 65% of basic salary as Allowances for Housing, Food and Transportation
• 1 interim field leave of 16 days with return tickets to London between 6th & 8th Month and 1 end of contract leave with 20 days after completing 12 months contract with return tickets to London
• Medical Insurance
• Other Benefits as per Saudi labor Law

Work Location : JUBAIL / RASTANURA (EASTERN PROVINCE OF SAUDI ARABIA)

Please feel free to get back to us for any further details on the same.

So I've asked how I would be able to work at NITI and in Ras Tanura when they're about two hours away from each other.

Just can't get a straight answer out of these people.