sapiopath

I want to hear from expats who have returned to the UK workforce as employees after several years in the ME. Did you find that it was harder to get a job at the same seniority level or better WITHOUT leveraging your social network? Did you find that your career took a hit?

I am considering a senior job in Qatar for the next few years in Supply Chain Management. It will be a step up for me in terms of title. But I am concerned that it will be hard to get back to the UK as my career aspirations are for the UK/EU/US markets. Any advice and experience will be helpful.

Thanks!

clownshow

I worked in KSA for a number of years then returned to the UK without issue. The salaries however are lower in the UK and of course you are paying tax. I don't mind paying tax (I'd rather not but don't begrudge it) but I do think what is on offer money-wise in the UK is paltry, often offensive and when compared to elsewhere, including Saudi, grossly unfair. The old excuses for UK salaries being lower than those in the US no longer wash to my mind. It is just greedy companies paying peanuts in the main, especially in London.

One issue some folks here have faced, if you work in defence or plan to, a significant break in your home country residency (the UK as an example) will effectively mean you cannot obtain a security clearance. If you have moved around Saudi and then decide to go back to the UK, you will struggle to obtain a role in defence unless you have held a UK security clearance here.

sapiopath

Thank you for the insight. I do not work in the defense sector so that’s one worry less.

i agree with you on salaries in the UK. Ideally I’d like to go back to the US but in a very senior role. Otherwise it doesn’t make a lot of sense in terms of work life balance.