Offered a job in Afghanistan! Do I go?!
Discussion
Position yourself in 5, 10, 15+ years time, will you be asking yourself "what would have happened if......."
If you think you will be asking this question then go, do not think twice, just go. life is too short for regret!
In your shoes I would be leaping at the chance (in fact, if I got the chance today aged 57 I would still go!!)
If you think you will be asking this question then go, do not think twice, just go. life is too short for regret!
In your shoes I would be leaping at the chance (in fact, if I got the chance today aged 57 I would still go!!)
DoubleTime said:
You need to find out if they will be transporting you to/from the airport to site (where you are based) and any other movements in armored vehicles (B6 Landcruisers etc) or if they are soft skin? If the latter, not a chance in hell I'd be going there. It is still very sketchy from what I hear and this is coming from guys who are used to working in those types of countries.
From personal experience of IT in some of the dicier bits of Nigeria a few years ago, some things are non-negotiable; - Personal security at all times. Two armed guys with you wherever you are, unless you are in a known-secure compound.
- All transport in armoured vehicles at all times. With those two armed guys.
- Very substantial medical plan should the worst happen.
- Clear, written, memorised evacuation plan should it be necessary. That means you need to be sure you will be sitting in a helicopter heading for somewhere safe within 15 minutes of anything kicking off.
- Uplift of around 5x usual rate.
I don't know how bad Afghanistan is these days but I'd be worrying about the above before even thinking about the number of days on/holiday etc.
The above will depend upon how many of you there are in the group and the end client. Mine was Oil and Gas, and they were very used to providing such levels of cover with their own infrastructure.
It's NATO stuff on a military base. They've never had any issues with security of staff or anything apparently. I'll be contacted by a guy who has been working out there for years shortly and will be able to ask him about living conditions etc.
I still don't know what the actual working hours are!
I still don't know what the actual working hours are!
Much like the smoking of weed in a public place in front of a police car this would be a risky move for you but worth it if you’re up for it.
Regarding the other woman, I wouldn’t get too held up on that. There’s no saying that their wouldn’t be the opportunity to date her again even if she has a husband or boyfriend later on.
Do what you think is right. As David Jason once said “he who dares.... wins”.
Regarding the other woman, I wouldn’t get too held up on that. There’s no saying that their wouldn’t be the opportunity to date her again even if she has a husband or boyfriend later on.
Do what you think is right. As David Jason once said “he who dares.... wins”.
Can't you accept and fly out, knowing that if it's seriously dire you can quit and come back to live the dream life in Leeds, wasting what, a month of your life? (it wouldn't even be wasted - still the experience of going out there, spending some time on base, seeing some of Afghanistan etc)
On the other hand, if it's actually a pretty good role, then you won't be sat back in a rainy Leeds wondering whether you should've taken it or not.
On the other hand, if it's actually a pretty good role, then you won't be sat back in a rainy Leeds wondering whether you should've taken it or not.
When in my 20s I was asked to go do a 2 year stint in the falklands and had 3 days to decide yes/ no ( civil engineering project )
I decided ‘yes’ for several reasons
1/ superb career experience
2/ double UK pay - food and Accom provided. No tax
3/ rotation was work 6 months for 60 hour week (6 days) then 1 month off .... this got tough on 2nd stint when we were doing 7 days ... got burned out.
4/ I reckoned if I had really hated it I could have resigned after the 1st 6 months.
It turned out to be a fantastic experience / glad I went.
Afghanistan is probably tougher as you are not getting a day off- and there is very little to do in ‘down time’
I would suggest you negotiate on the rate .... should be aiming for double (at least) UK rate ... which is what you would be getting somewhere like Saudi Kuwait or Qatar.
I have met some people in both Bahrain and Singapore who have worked for a spell in Afghanistan .... said it was OK. ( on compound ).
I decided ‘yes’ for several reasons
1/ superb career experience
2/ double UK pay - food and Accom provided. No tax
3/ rotation was work 6 months for 60 hour week (6 days) then 1 month off .... this got tough on 2nd stint when we were doing 7 days ... got burned out.
4/ I reckoned if I had really hated it I could have resigned after the 1st 6 months.
It turned out to be a fantastic experience / glad I went.
Afghanistan is probably tougher as you are not getting a day off- and there is very little to do in ‘down time’
I would suggest you negotiate on the rate .... should be aiming for double (at least) UK rate ... which is what you would be getting somewhere like Saudi Kuwait or Qatar.
I have met some people in both Bahrain and Singapore who have worked for a spell in Afghanistan .... said it was OK. ( on compound ).
Our office has a permanent desk there with 3 or 4 guys rotating though for 2-3 months at a time. No security issues but there's not a lot else to do there besides work or go to the gym, so they tend to put in a lot of hours. Well worth having a chat with the guy who's been. There are restaurants and things on base, but a lot less there now than there used to be apparently.
HustleRussell said:
Failing to see the attraction, would expect an uplift and favourable rotation.
Worth it for a decent uplift depending on the job.. Eg I wouldn't want a job in convoy security or driving folk around Kabul but I would be happy "on base". I know about 15 people working there, most are on a 90/30 rotation, majority on £100k+. Have thought about going myself but binned it for missing too much family time. Money can buy a lot but you can't buy time as the old cliche says.
Edited by DuraAce on Thursday 4th October 15:10
I just know one day I will regret not going if I don't go. I've got a telephone interview tomorrow to make it official so if that goes OK and they make the official offer, I am very tempted to go back and tell them I have reservations about the rate once I have it confirmed that the end client wants me.
TroubledSoul said:
I just know one day I will regret not going if I don't go. I've got a telephone interview tomorrow to make it official so if that goes OK and they make the official offer, I am very tempted to go back and tell them I have reservations about the rate once I have it confirmed that the end client wants me.
I'd get the money thing out in the open as soon as possible as you've already been informed of it. Would be a bit pointless if they get a signed off salary offer over to you and then you start quibbling. Same goes for any other T&Cs as mentioned above.LimaDelta said:
LemonParty said:
In your shoes, I'd do it - you'll always regret not doing it otherwise.
This. Life is about experiences. It's good to get out of your comfort zone. I went from Dev (simple code monkey) to Lead Tech BA of APAC for my company and have come back to Senior Tech BA/PM for America/Europe/Middle East.
Would I have been able to do this without my willingness to do APAC? Not a chance...
Would I have liked to do this 10 years ago... f
k Yes.I got out of my comfort zone and had a blast (I took the OH too) and it has made my career leapfrog upwards in a massive jump, plus I have some amazing memories to take away from it all.
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