Cold Feet

Hi,

I too decided this year to take my chances with a recruiting company, not yours. I’ve also read terrible stuff about my recruiters, but then I’ve read terrible stuff about every single recruiter for Saudi.I’ve come to the conclusion that:

1: people tend to vent their anger more online than they would sing a companies praise. I mean you expect to be paid on time and treated with respect so you’re not going to rave about it online.

2: I refer friends and acquaintances to dave’s ESL cafe, however I have noticed a pattern of a few members ruling the roost, they don’t say anything positive about Saudi, they try as much as they can to discourage people from coming, and anytime another member tries to correct/contradict them – they gang up on that person and accuse them of being a troll or a recruiter. I know there are truths to what they write, I appreciate the site and use it a lot, but I take things said with a pinch of salt.
3- I think it’s easy for some people to say don’t go through recruiters- go direct hire, but ive tried it and I don’t possess enough years of experience nor do I have contacts in the kingdom.

My point is I’ve weighed up my options and I’ve decided it’s a risk im willing to take, you need to weigh up your options, how much can you handle, if it did turn out bad, what get out clause have you got. If they take you on business visa you can do a runner after 3months, if they make your iqaamah and don’t give you exist/re-entry visa then your stuck, would you be able to handle it if you was stuck with a corrupt and rude boss?

Well, that's a good question.  One of the things i hear a lot of complaining about is being on the work-visit Visas, however, it seems pretty advantageous to know you can dip out of the country if need be on that particular Visa. 

So, you're going for it?

yes im going for it, but im going for the full work visa to get an iqamah and im prepared to stick it out.. lol call me suicidal but im praying it goes well

Man... I really get the feeling we're all just a little crazy.

just ask yourself if you was in the worst of those stories could you handle it?

personally many complaints come from culture shock, having lived in other arab countries and having experienced segregation already im ready, so theres a little sanity to my insanity, lol.

Well, i cant speak for others, but I get the feeling i belong to a large group of people who are doing this primarily for the money, so as long as we are getting paid in full, im quite willing to put up with what a lot of people have posted.

Still, one really just wants to hear from someone there, have em tell you "Please, it ait so bad."

I mean everyone seems to live it up in other countries IE: Vietnam, but save a 3rd of the money...  Gee, money... what a silly conundrum.

If you come expecting the worst and are prepared for that, you'll be okay   Always keep your eye on the prize:  you can pay off your student loans or whatever after a year.

And who knows?  Despite problems at work, you'll make friends, learn about a new culture and experience things (hiking in the Arabian desert, for example) you'd never have at home.

So, if you're going to do it, be positive and know that you can survive anything for a year (well, or less if you pull a runner lol). 

Good luck!

Well, you really nailed it with the student loans (Is it that obvious!!), but a runner... daaaaamn.

Answer me this, and I know this varies, but one of the things that really is turning me off is the internet being so bad you can video skype!  I don't mind living halfway across the globe alone, but last time i did it i was introduced to "video skype" and now don't really want to imagine a year or two year voyage without it.

Ilexkink wrote:

Well, you really nailed it with the student loans (Is it that obvious!!), but a runner... daaaaamn.

Answer me this, and I know this varies, but one of the things that really is turning me off is the internet being so bad you can video skype!  I don't mind living halfway across the globe alone, but last time i did it i was introduced to "video skype" and now don't really want to imagine a year or two year voyage without it.

You can get high speed internet here and use skype.  Use the 'google custom search' box in the upper right hand corner to search out the various discussions on this forum regarding ISP's.