Job Discussion Forums

erma · Joined: 23 Mar 2005 Posts: 11 Location: Kuala Lumpur

Hi all,

I saw the Petroleum Institute has several vacancies. Does anyone have personal experience with the Institute? Is it a nice place to work at? How about Abu Dhabi, what kind of place is it?

How about working in the UAE in general now that living costs are constantly rising?

Thanks!

Bindair Dundat · Joined: 04 Feb 2003 Posts: 1123

Wigwam · Joined: 27 Dec 2004 Posts: 93 Location: Abu Dhabi

Is the Petroleum Institute still a good place to work for.

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

The 'search' button is your friend. Give it a try. There has been plenty of discussion on PI in the last year and there has not been enough time for anything to change. There has also been plenty of discussion on life in Abu Dhabi.

I'd say it is still one of the better places to work, and very competitive to get a job.

Costs are rising everywhere... salaries not so much... people cope with that in Abu Dhabi the same as they do everywhere else in the world.

VS

twarin · Joined: 16 Mar 2006 Posts: 14

To put it bluntly......NO.

helenl · Joined: 04 Jan 2006 Posts: 1202

my contacts tell me that PI is still a good place to be - at least for the short term (12-18 months). If twain can advise of better conditions elsewhere, please advise so that we can all be better informed.

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

My contacts agree with yours helen1. They say its good for a contract or two.

VS

twarin · Joined: 16 Mar 2006 Posts: 14

Good?
Better conditions?

Your post is ambiguous. Please clarify.

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

Wigwam · Joined: 27 Dec 2004 Posts: 93 Location: Abu Dhabi

Source quoted yesterday
I don't trust the Foundation Director and have lost faith in him. What has happened in Foundation then?
I know of many friends who failed to even get a reply to an application. Only one was called for an interview and she got rejected despite her experience and qualifications?!

helenl · Joined: 04 Jan 2006 Posts: 1202

and a lot of other countries. The PI is a primo job (lower contact hours, higher salaries and better benefits than HCT for example). Perhaps there were other more highly qualified people who applied for the same job and they were contacted and got the interviews?

Your colleagues' applications didn't get through the screening process - not being advised of their application status while (IMHO) unprofessional is certainly not uncommon everywhere in the world nowadays.

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

US university employers tend to NEVER contact you unless they want to interview you. They often won't even respond to an email asking if they received your emailed/faxed papers.

PI has always been the same (also typical in the ME, but perhaps an added effect of their American tie-in). Many many apply, few ever hear anything until the rare interview... and even fewer get hired.

VS

twarin · Joined: 16 Mar 2006 Posts: 14

The hiring process is somewhat stymied by one small problem....nepotism.

Wigwam · Joined: 27 Dec 2004 Posts: 93 Location: Abu Dhabi

Nepotism in what way?

SueH · Joined: 01 Feb 2003 Posts: 1022 Location: Northern Italy

Must admit I'd be interested to see how nepotism works in AD. I always thought it worked much the same way the world over! Currently I'm in Italy where the word comes from - basically 'nipote' = nephew.