Offered a job in Afghanistan! Do I go?!
Discussion
TroubledSoul said:
HustleRussell said:
Hoof
kingray, 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. kingray, only took 10 pages of people telling you you'd be mad. HustleRussell said:
Note a load of people who are telling you to go for it then go on to tell you how they took a similar role only with a massive multiplier and never regretted it / had a great time.
Saleen836 said:
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!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.
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!
He may have also promised his missus a holiday - and now you've been educated on your worth to do that role, he is already getting arsey
TroubledSoul said:
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.
Reminds me of the last car I bought. I pushed the guy as low as I could get him until he said he couldn't go further. I told him it was fine, there was another car 100 miles away at the price I wanted that was virtually the same but with lower mileage, no hard feelings but I'd just go and get that one.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.
He gave me the price I wanted but having been as nice as pie he became miserable as sin, started talking like he was a teenager with depression. When I went to pick the car up he was chirpy as anything and starting to throw in tanks of fuel and carpets. Left me thinking I should have pushed more.
Don't swallow any of it, figure out the level you'd be comfortable with and stick to it.
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.
He is trying to push you.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.
He's a salesman
Speaking from 10 years working in IT in the middle east, 2 of those years in a similar high security/high risk environment...I see zero reason to accept that contract.
If its SC renewal you want, surely theres an easier way than spending 70 odd days in afghanistan at a time.
If its a change, money and career progression you want, just go somewhere like dubai.
If its SC renewal you want, surely theres an easier way than spending 70 odd days in afghanistan at a time.
If its a change, money and career progression you want, just go somewhere like dubai.
Edited by Jaybee1981 on Wednesday 17th October 13:54
The Selfish Gene said:
the reason he is pushing you TroubledSoul is because he has already picked out which car you are buying him with the multiplier you've agreed not to take.
+1, The agent has earmarked a new M2 Competition for himself, partially funded by the markup the OP isn't taking.On a more serious note OP - tell the agent you want a 50% rate increase. Walk away if they can't get close to this.
Edited by Olivera on Wednesday 17th October 14:37
Jaybee1981 said:
Speaking from 10 years working in IT in the middle east, 2 of those years in a similar high security/high risk environment...I see zero reason to accept that contract.
If its SC renewal you want, surely theres an easier way than spending 70 odd days in afghanistan at a time.
If its a change, money and career progression you want, just go somewhere like dubai.
You make it sound so easy...... just go to Dubai.... lolIf its SC renewal you want, surely theres an easier way than spending 70 odd days in afghanistan at a time.
If its a change, money and career progression you want, just go somewhere like dubai.
Edited by Jaybee1981 on Wednesday 17th October 13:54
Despite spending 5 years living there as Head of IT for an oil and gas company I've been completely unable to secure a sensibly paid role back there since the company was closed down in 2015, almost all IT roles are now done by TCNs and salaried accordingly.
Believe me, if it was even close to that easy I'd have been back there years ago!
I don't want to give away the rate as I have no doubt nothing I say will be good enough for some people 
They have increased their offer a bit though and I am going to go. Screw it. If I don't like it I just won't return after the first rotation. It's not specifically the SC I am after, it's the opportunity to experience a way of life way outside of my comfort zone and a possibility of opening up doors to work in many other parts of the world.
I'm aware most will still think that I'm mad even with the increase offered etc. and don't really need reminding of that
They have increased their offer a bit though and I am going to go. Screw it. If I don't like it I just won't return after the first rotation. It's not specifically the SC I am after, it's the opportunity to experience a way of life way outside of my comfort zone and a possibility of opening up doors to work in many other parts of the world.
I'm aware most will still think that I'm mad even with the increase offered etc. and don't really need reminding of that
TroubledSoul said:
I don't want to give away the rate as I have no doubt nothing I say will be good enough for some people
They have increased their offer a bit though and I am going to go. Screw it. If I don't like it I just won't return after the first rotation. It's not specifically the SC I am after, it's the opportunity to experience a way of life way outside of my comfort zone and a possibility of opening up doors to work in many other parts of the world.
I'm aware most will still think that I'm mad even with the increase offered etc. and don't really need reminding of that
Good on you.... when I accepted a role in Luanda in 2007 my family and friends thought I was mad and even ran a little bet on how long I'd last....They have increased their offer a bit though and I am going to go. Screw it. If I don't like it I just won't return after the first rotation. It's not specifically the SC I am after, it's the opportunity to experience a way of life way outside of my comfort zone and a possibility of opening up doors to work in many other parts of the world.
I'm aware most will still think that I'm mad even with the increase offered etc. and don't really need reminding of that
3.5yrs later I moved with that company to Dubai, having loved my time in a part of the World that most would describe as a hell-hole, living in conditions that could charitably be described as "interesting"
TLDR: Well done, I doubt you'll regret it.
TroubledSoul said:
I don't want to give away the rate as I have no doubt nothing I say will be good enough for some people
They have increased their offer a bit though and I am going to go. Screw it. If I don't like it I just won't return after the first rotation. It's not specifically the SC I am after, it's the opportunity to experience a way of life way outside of my comfort zone and a possibility of opening up doors to work in many other parts of the world.
I'm aware most will still think that I'm mad even with the increase offered etc. and don't really need reminding of that
it's not the actual rate that people should ask - it's how many multiples it is of your UK rate.They have increased their offer a bit though and I am going to go. Screw it. If I don't like it I just won't return after the first rotation. It's not specifically the SC I am after, it's the opportunity to experience a way of life way outside of my comfort zone and a possibility of opening up doors to work in many other parts of the world.
I'm aware most will still think that I'm mad even with the increase offered etc. and don't really need reminding of that
for my role, I'd want x2 absolute minimum plus all expenses for a role in Dubai (guaranteed number of flights home a year, a flat etc)
as you're going to a Afghanistan, and aren't getting flights back, or even a benefit in the tax from what I understand, and it's arduous environment.
I'd be asking for x4 my UK rate.
If I really really wanted it for some other reason (Walt, CV, because I like helicopters, avoiding some miserable woman) I may, may accept x3.........but probably wouldn't.
The Selfish Gene said:
it's not the actual rate that people should ask - it's how many multiples it is of your UK rate.
for my role, I'd want x2 absolute minimum plus all expenses for a role in Dubai (guaranteed number of flights home a year, a flat etc)
as you're going to a Afghanistan, and aren't getting flights back, or even a benefit in the tax from what I understand, and it's arduous environment.
I'd be asking for x4 my UK rate.
If I really really wanted it for some other reason (Walt, CV, because I like helicopters, avoiding some miserable woman) I may, may accept x3.........but probably wouldn't.
... & those sort of multiples are for the most part just not out there.... so you would need to stay in the UK. for my role, I'd want x2 absolute minimum plus all expenses for a role in Dubai (guaranteed number of flights home a year, a flat etc)
as you're going to a Afghanistan, and aren't getting flights back, or even a benefit in the tax from what I understand, and it's arduous environment.
I'd be asking for x4 my UK rate.
If I really really wanted it for some other reason (Walt, CV, because I like helicopters, avoiding some miserable woman) I may, may accept x3.........but probably wouldn't.
that was my plan all along TroubledSoul said:
I don't want to give away the rate as I have no doubt nothing I say will be good enough for some people
They have increased their offer a bit though and I am going to go. Screw it. If I don't like it I just won't return after the first rotation. It's not specifically the SC I am after, it's the opportunity to experience a way of life way outside of my comfort zone and a possibility of opening up doors to work in many other parts of the world.
I'm aware most will still think that I'm mad even with the increase offered etc. and don't really need reminding of that
Go for it. AS you say nothing to lose. If you don't get on with it it's only 10 weeks. Nothing in the grand scheme of things. They have increased their offer a bit though and I am going to go. Screw it. If I don't like it I just won't return after the first rotation. It's not specifically the SC I am after, it's the opportunity to experience a way of life way outside of my comfort zone and a possibility of opening up doors to work in many other parts of the world.
I'm aware most will still think that I'm mad even with the increase offered etc. and don't really need reminding of that
TroubledSoul said:
I don't want to give away the rate as I have no doubt nothing I say will be good enough for some people
They have increased their offer a bit though and I am going to go. Screw it. If I don't like it I just won't return after the first rotation. It's not specifically the SC I am after, it's the opportunity to experience a way of life way outside of my comfort zone and a possibility of opening up doors to work in many other parts of the world.
I'm aware most will still think that I'm mad even with the increase offered etc. and don't really need reminding of that
If you can keep us up to date, if only so we can say in a months time, when you're a broken man who can't wait to go home and the money isn't worth it, 'we told you so'! LOLThey have increased their offer a bit though and I am going to go. Screw it. If I don't like it I just won't return after the first rotation. It's not specifically the SC I am after, it's the opportunity to experience a way of life way outside of my comfort zone and a possibility of opening up doors to work in many other parts of the world.
I'm aware most will still think that I'm mad even with the increase offered etc. and don't really need reminding of that
GT03ROB said:
TroubledSoul said:
I don't want to give away the rate as I have no doubt nothing I say will be good enough for some people
They have increased their offer a bit though and I am going to go. Screw it. If I don't like it I just won't return after the first rotation. It's not specifically the SC I am after, it's the opportunity to experience a way of life way outside of my comfort zone and a possibility of opening up doors to work in many other parts of the world.
I'm aware most will still think that I'm mad even with the increase offered etc. and don't really need reminding of that
Go for it. AS you say nothing to lose. If you don't get on with it it's only 10 weeks. Nothing in the grand scheme of things. They have increased their offer a bit though and I am going to go. Screw it. If I don't like it I just won't return after the first rotation. It's not specifically the SC I am after, it's the opportunity to experience a way of life way outside of my comfort zone and a possibility of opening up doors to work in many other parts of the world.
I'm aware most will still think that I'm mad even with the increase offered etc. and don't really need reminding of that
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