Saudi Airline Interview Gouge
11-11-2012, 02:39 PM
#13
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Joined APC: Jan 2008
Position: erb
Posts: 646
11-11-2012, 06:12 PM
#14
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Joined APC: Mar 2008
Position: FAA 'Flight Check'
Posts: 13,839
11-15-2012, 10:36 PM
#16
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Joined APC: Oct 2006
Position: 777, sofa
Posts: 1,183
There may be worse places in the world then the Kingdom, (much of west Africa, a couple of 'stans, maybe Bangladesh and Myanmar) but they at least have come by their misery honestly. The Kingdom's unpleasantness is largely self-induced. It may not have much in the way of natural beauty, but neither does Las Vegas, and nobody complains about a layover in Vegas, baby.
It may be the completely alien culture. It may be that you are treated as a barely tolerated infidel. While many individual Saudis were quite pleasant and personable, anyone in uniform was actively unfriendly and appeared to have a job description that included 'harass Yanqui dogs'.
I didn't enjoy any of my time there. Keeping to one's self in the appropriate compound reduced the opportunities for friction, but who wants to be in jail? Even a plush one.
Sorry I can't give any details on the actual interview. All I can say is you may want to seriously reconsider even applying.
It may be the completely alien culture. It may be that you are treated as a barely tolerated infidel. While many individual Saudis were quite pleasant and personable, anyone in uniform was actively unfriendly and appeared to have a job description that included 'harass Yanqui dogs'.
I didn't enjoy any of my time there. Keeping to one's self in the appropriate compound reduced the opportunities for friction, but who wants to be in jail? Even a plush one.
Sorry I can't give any details on the actual interview. All I can say is you may want to seriously reconsider even applying.
11-16-2012, 09:32 AM
#17
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Joined APC: Mar 2008
Posts: 70
The good: Diving in the Red Sea is incredible. I also enjoy the food, best juice on the planet - Mango.
That's about it.
Mostly I feel like I'm living in a minimum security prison. Immigraton officials will ask you for an exit letter before they let you board an airline leaving the country.
The prayer 5 times a day - plan ahead or you will be stuck in the grocery store for 20 minutes while they take a break and lock the doors.
Businesses seem to have no regular hours. That plus the prayer, plus thursday and friday are their weekend means it's hard to do busiess in Jeddah. I haven't even mentioned Ramadan.
No alcohol.
Not pedestrian friendly. Crossng the street to go to the cafe reminds me of the video game Frogger. If there is a gap in traffic for you to cross in - the cars coming at you will floor it to try to close the gap. Dangerous.
At this point for the reasons above - I would not take a full time job based in Jeddah.
I might take a commuting contract.
Good luck
Last edited by Coopspeed; 11-16-2012 at 09:46 AM.
11-16-2012, 11:07 AM
#18
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Oct 2009
Position: B756 FO
Posts: 1,288
There may be worse places in the world then the Kingdom, (much of west Africa, a couple of 'stans, maybe Bangladesh and Myanmar) but they at least have come by their misery honestly. The Kingdom's unpleasantness is largely self-induced. It may not have much in the way of natural beauty, but neither does Las Vegas, and nobody complains about a layover in Vegas, baby.
It may be the completely alien culture. It may be that you are treated as a barely tolerated infidel. While many individual Saudis were quite pleasant and personable, anyone in uniform was actively unfriendly and appeared to have a job description that included 'harass Yanqui dogs'.
I didn't enjoy any of my time there. Keeping to one's self in the appropriate compound reduced the opportunities for friction, but who wants to be in jail? Even a plush one.
Sorry I can't give any details on the actual interview. All I can say is you may want to seriously reconsider even applying.
It may be the completely alien culture. It may be that you are treated as a barely tolerated infidel. While many individual Saudis were quite pleasant and personable, anyone in uniform was actively unfriendly and appeared to have a job description that included 'harass Yanqui dogs'.
I didn't enjoy any of my time there. Keeping to one's self in the appropriate compound reduced the opportunities for friction, but who wants to be in jail? Even a plush one.
Sorry I can't give any details on the actual interview. All I can say is you may want to seriously reconsider even applying.
11-21-2012, 02:43 PM
#20
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Joined APC: Oct 2012
Position: Director of Operations
Posts: 39
It has been a LONG time (decade plus) since I worked and lived in The Kingdom but I did it for 6 years (B-737 Captain/Trainer). Reading the thread was interesting...my information is old, the last time I was there was Desert Storm on the US plan...but...before
the trick to living and working in TK is to recognize that unlike Most other places (i've worked and lived in Nigeria and India) you are living really in two cultures. One is the culture where you "live" aka the compound. If you work for Saudia you will live in the Jeddah compound with all Saudia employees. That part of it worked pretty well. You need to make friends cautiously and "unwind" with them even more cautiously...but after a bit you will find people who share you're interest and goals and you can relax well with, including talking about work.
Life outside the compound is "different" and you have to adapt to that. Patience is important, getting to know people is very important, when I was there the Pakistanis did all the clerical work and having one of them "go with you" or introduce you helped a lot. People had a "go by" list ie how to register the car, get this or that...and that file was important. I dont know how well or if the internet works there, it was just coming on line world wide when I was there...but the times I have been there since (with a US companY) its worked fine (but we stay in top flight hotels)
BUT someone probably (or could) read everything you write.
Work? Saudia is a place where when I was there "gravitas" counted. IE if you knew the Boeing, then they listened to you. Be respectful in how you correct people and think about how you are doing things...you will be fine
As for a "life". I went all around TK (and that is what they called the training center when I was there but we had just moved from downtown at the old airport that shows you how long ago it was)...except Mecca of course and had a great time...but its not like you are going to make a lot of friends in the local community. I made some, they exist to this day but its a divided world. I actually traveled in a lot of countries in the Mideast including Iraq!
The skin diving is (or was) great, the red sea lovely, I went to Yanbu a lot and that was fun. flew model airplanes...
the local (expat) friends you make are important...if you are not married and dont have your family...well dating is hard to next to impossible, the flight attendants live in a sep place and well its just not going to work in TK...
I could tell you stories about the special flight attendants...but ...if you go have a good time. but be flexible.
the trick to living and working in TK is to recognize that unlike Most other places (i've worked and lived in Nigeria and India) you are living really in two cultures. One is the culture where you "live" aka the compound. If you work for Saudia you will live in the Jeddah compound with all Saudia employees. That part of it worked pretty well. You need to make friends cautiously and "unwind" with them even more cautiously...but after a bit you will find people who share you're interest and goals and you can relax well with, including talking about work.
Life outside the compound is "different" and you have to adapt to that. Patience is important, getting to know people is very important, when I was there the Pakistanis did all the clerical work and having one of them "go with you" or introduce you helped a lot. People had a "go by" list ie how to register the car, get this or that...and that file was important. I dont know how well or if the internet works there, it was just coming on line world wide when I was there...but the times I have been there since (with a US companY) its worked fine (but we stay in top flight hotels)
BUT someone probably (or could) read everything you write.
Work? Saudia is a place where when I was there "gravitas" counted. IE if you knew the Boeing, then they listened to you. Be respectful in how you correct people and think about how you are doing things...you will be fine
As for a "life". I went all around TK (and that is what they called the training center when I was there but we had just moved from downtown at the old airport that shows you how long ago it was)...except Mecca of course and had a great time...but its not like you are going to make a lot of friends in the local community. I made some, they exist to this day but its a divided world. I actually traveled in a lot of countries in the Mideast including Iraq!
The skin diving is (or was) great, the red sea lovely, I went to Yanbu a lot and that was fun. flew model airplanes...
the local (expat) friends you make are important...if you are not married and dont have your family...well dating is hard to next to impossible, the flight attendants live in a sep place and well its just not going to work in TK...
I could tell you stories about the special flight attendants...but ...if you go have a good time. but be flexible.
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