Offered a job in Afghanistan! Do I go?!

[Sa Calobra]

TroubledSoul said:

Hang on, I have three cats, one of which I had before I met her. Two of which are brothers that it would have been cruel to split so I kept them. I'm not looking after "her" cats at all. The house deposit money we used actually came from HER inheritance hence why when it sells I have only asked for enough to get myself a deposit on another place and not the half that I could take by law. We haven't had any kind of acrimony so why start now? Jesus, why do people want to stick the boot in so much on here to the point that you have to explain your entire life to a granular level?!

You were a single man with a cat before you met her?

Now you are a single man with three cats...

[The Mad Monk]

TroubledSoul said:

Hang on, I have three cats, one of which I had before I met her. Two of which are brothers that it would have been cruel to split so I kept them.

Why is it cruel to split up cat brothers, but not human brothers?

I am glad you told us about the cats, it tells us a lot about you......

[selym]

The Mad Monk said:

TroubledSoul said:

Hang on, I have three cats, one of which I had before I met her. Two of which are brothers that it would have been cruel to split so I kept them.

Why is it cruel to split up cat brothers, but not human brothers?

I am glad you told us about the cats, it tells us a lot about you......

What does it tell you about him?

[Saleen836]

TroubledSoul said:

Completed the SC application...

Then emailed the agent to say I'm not sure I can go to a warzone for the money offered

We'll see what gets said on Monday.

I will go with....
Agent replies with 'have had a talk with *prospective employer* and they are prepared to offer an increase of £XX on top of the previous figure'

They will have fingers crossed you accept as they will get their nice bonus and a hefty amount every month from what the employer has set aside to pay!

Have had it myself years ago where an agency (no idea how they got my number) rang me offering me 'a good rate' for approx 6 months work for a drylining company on a site 20 mins from home, I laughed at their offer and they increased it by 10p, told them they were extracting the urine as the company had already phoned me asking if I was busy offering me 60p a square meter more than their orignal offer! (600-800sqm a week is normal)

[MC Bodge]

TroubledSoul said:

sc0tt said:

What's the story then OP?

Completed the SC application...

Then emailed the agent to say I'm not sure I can go to a warzone for the money offered

We'll see what gets said on Monday.

I can't imagine that they will be flooded with applicants.

[Flooble]

MC Bodge said:

I can't imagine that they will be flooded with applicants.

Check out the "trials of finding a new job" thread and you may revise your opinion

[Lazermilk]

selym said:

The Mad Monk said:

TroubledSoul said:

Hang on, I have three cats, one of which I had before I met her. Two of which are brothers that it would have been cruel to split so I kept them.

Why is it cruel to split up cat brothers, but not human brothers?

I am glad you told us about the cats, it tells us a lot about you......

What does it tell you about him?

Was thinking the same, what’s the big deal with having cats?

Come on then, what does it tell you? Genuinely interested to know...

[Ruskie]

Flooble said:

MC Bodge said:

I can't imagine that they will be flooded with applicants.

Check out the "trials of finding a new job" thread and you may revise your opinion

I keep applying for jobs in war zones, st holes, and 3rd world countries and not getting a sniff.

[petop]

Ruskie said:

Flooble said:

MC Bodge said:

I can't imagine that they will be flooded with applicants.

Check out the "trials of finding a new job" thread and you may revise your opinion

I keep applying for jobs in war zones, st holes, and 3rd world countries and not getting a sniff.

As mentioned before if its a American contract or Company then you will find it impossible if you are not a US citizen with them supporting US mil contract.
Another thing is 5-10 years ago the jobs that ex-pat Brits and the like were doing were paying good money and readily available. Now that contracts are tighter on the purse strings the Chef, Operator, Driver etc is now a Third Country National who can get paid $1500 a month and be happy with it. They will also stay out and only go home every 6+ months which most ex-pats dont like.

[GT03ROB]

Ruskie said:

Flooble said:

MC Bodge said:

I can't imagine that they will be flooded with applicants.

Check out the "trials of finding a new job" thread and you may revise your opinion

I keep applying for jobs in war zones, st holes, and 3rd world countries and not getting a sniff.

What line of work? Why do you want to do it?

You will find if you have not done it before employers are very reluctant to hire you. Turnover is expensive & a lot of people can't hack it. Also as Petop says there is a tendency these days to use lower cost individuals (IE: non-westerners) in the lower positions. Many countries also these days put restrictions on who can come & work. No degree no visa is often the case.

[Ruskie]

GT03ROB said:

Ruskie said:

Flooble said:

MC Bodge said:

I can't imagine that they will be flooded with applicants.

Check out the "trials of finding a new job" thread and you may revise your opinion

I keep applying for jobs in war zones, st holes, and 3rd world countries and not getting a sniff.

What line of work? Why do you want to do it?

You will find if you have not done it before employers are very reluctant to hire you. Turnover is expensive & a lot of people can't hack it. Also as Petop says there is a tendency these days to use lower cost individuals (IE: non-westerners) in the lower positions. Many countries also these days put restrictions on who can come & work. No degree no visa is often the case.

I’m a Paramedic, looking at related jobs. Have some experience working in austere conditions/war zone.

[dvs_dave]

petop said:

Ruskie said:

Flooble said:

MC Bodge said:

I can't imagine that they will be flooded with applicants.

Check out the "trials of finding a new job" thread and you may revise your opinion

I keep applying for jobs in war zones, st holes, and 3rd world countries and not getting a sniff.

As mentioned before if its a American contract or Company then you will find it impossible if you are not a US citizen with them supporting US mil contract.
Another thing is 5-10 years ago the jobs that ex-pat Brits and the like were doing were paying good money and readily available. Now that contracts are tighter on the purse strings the Chef, Operator, Driver etc is now a Third Country National who can get paid $1500 a month and be happy with it. They will also stay out and only go home every 6+ months which most ex-pats dont like.

This 100%. Even 10-15 years ago the vast majority of these jobs were done by TCN’s, just via the numerous shadowy yet incredibly profitable prime contractor subbies and labor agencies. I’m guessing these days it’s matured to the point where the prime contractors are hiring TCN’s direct where they can get away with it.

Edited by dvs_dave on Monday 15th October 05:23

[petop]

dvs_dave said:

petop said:

Ruskie said:

Flooble said:

MC Bodge said:

I can't imagine that they will be flooded with applicants.

Check out the "trials of finding a new job" thread and you may revise your opinion

I keep applying for jobs in war zones, st holes, and 3rd world countries and not getting a sniff.

As mentioned before if its a American contract or Company then you will find it impossible if you are not a US citizen with them supporting US mil contract.
Another thing is 5-10 years ago the jobs that ex-pat Brits and the like were doing were paying good money and readily available. Now that contracts are tighter on the purse strings the Chef, Operator, Driver etc is now a Third Country National who can get paid $1500 a month and be happy with it. They will also stay out and only go home every 6+ months which most ex-pats dont like.

This 100%. Even 10-15 years ago the vast majority of these jobs were done by TCN’s, just via the numerous shadowy yet incredibly profitable prime contractor subbies and labor agencies. I’m guessing these days it’s matured to the point where the prime contractors are hiring TCN’s direct where they can get away with it.

Edited by dvs_dave on Monday 15th October 05:23

They do employ direct now but what has improved are the days where passports were held or indeed "lost" and money not paid to employees. Inspections now take place of accom to make sure there are not 4/5 to a room big enough just for 2, no cooking in rooms or mysterious employees that never appeared on the books. With the main players on the US contracts being Dyncorp, Fluor etc then they have too much oversight to allow the above to happen.
But anything at Supervisor/Middle Management levels is Expat-US where the big money is made still. As someone has said, they do get taxed but its still a pretty penny they end up with.

[TroubledSoul]

So, re: the rate:

The agent has said we've already discussed it and it corresponds to the fact that you have no expenses while on site and apparently they are now counting on me.

I don't like that. The way he's said that, like he's trying to push me. It's left a slightly sour taste. I'm starting to go off the idea now to be honest, but I'm still worried I might pass up on a good opportunity. Him telling me that I have no expenses on site doesn't take away the bills I have back here that will still need to be paid, however.

[citizensm1th]

I think the phrase get fked comes to mind

[HustleRussell]

TroubledSoul said:

I'm starting to go off the idea now to be honest

Hoofkingray, only took 10 pages of people telling you you'd be mad.

ETA: Serious question- you don't, per chance, have 'MUG' tattoo'd across your forehead do you?

Edited by HustleRussell on Tuesday 16th October 10:49

[TroubledSoul]

HustleRussell said:

Hoofkingray, only took 10 pages of people telling you you'd be mad.

That's not strictly true, there are plenty of people who have said the opposite. It's good to experience different ways of life and get into organisations like NATO, but I'm not being taken the piss out of.

[BRR]

TroubledSoul said:

So, re: the rate:

The agent has said we've already discussed it and it corresponds to the fact that you have no expenses while on site and apparently they are now counting on me.

I don't like that. The way he's said that, like he's trying to push me. It's left a slightly sour taste. I'm starting to go off the idea now to be honest, but I'm still worried I might pass up on a good opportunity. Him telling me that I have no expenses on site doesn't take away the bills I have back here that will still need to be paid, however.

I've read the whole thread and I still can't see what the 'good opportunity' would be that you'd be missing out on, you'd be working in a st hole of a place on a crap rotation and not even getting compensated handsomely for it. sounds like a good opportunity for the agency but absolute crap for you. Tell them to shove it, there are far better life experiences available than living on a camp in Afghan

[petop]

TroubledSoul said:

So, re: the rate:

The agent has said we've already discussed it and it corresponds to the fact that you have no expenses while on site and apparently they are now counting on me.

I don't like that. The way he's said that, like he's trying to push me. It's left a slightly sour taste. I'm starting to go off the idea now to be honest, but I'm still worried I might pass up on a good opportunity. Him telling me that I have no expenses on site doesn't take away the bills I have back here that will still need to be paid, however.

Here is my thoughts.....forget about expenses, that should come with the deal as its a pain in the ass to pay for food there, accom is provided anyway as NATO own 99% of the billeting there and its been paid for years ago and the Framework nations pay for the upkeep. You are being paid for 2 things....your skill and capability you provide (should be the same as UK etc) and secondly the fact you have bothered to go to Afghanistan with its "danger" (its not as bad as its reported within bases but its still a danger) and away from families etc. Whilst you earn, or should earn the money, you dont have much time to actually spend it. So hold firm otherwise stay where you are.

[Saleen836]

TroubledSoul said:

So, re: the rate:

The agent has said we've already discussed it and it corresponds to the fact that you have no expenses while on site and apparently they are now counting on me.

I don't like that. The way he's said that, like he's trying to push me. It's left a slightly sour taste. I'm starting to go off the idea now to be honest, but I'm still worried I might pass up on a good opportunity. Him telling me that I have no expenses on site doesn't take away the bills I have back here that will still need to be paid, however.

What does it matter that you may or may not have bils to pay....zero!

Agent is being a moron and feeding you crap to maximise their own pockets, again have had similar with my job, I get paid an mount per square meter and as I use machines i can get more work done than guys who use hand tools, I had one company I worked for tell me they were lowering the rate as I was earning too much money!