Originally Posted by Mullet

Pezz,

The merger this company has undergone has led to them having a very high amount of QS staff in the Middle East as the parent group now brings the various QS firms they have into one business line. I know people who are on notice and others who are getting pay rises / promotions, all depends on the status of the projects you are involved in. There is no such thing as a safe construction project here!

The salary is low, if it is workable for you will depend on your personal circumstances, if you are young free and single then it may suit, but if you're bringing dependants or need to fund a mortgage in the UK you'll need better a salary (either way you want be putting much money away each month once you have deducted for rent, car, flights and socialising).

You don't sound too far off from being an SQS in terms of experience and qualifications, maybe you should push to come out here at SQS level (AED35k min). If your good and don't get stuck out on some site in the middle of nowhere there are still good opportunities and the pay isn't bad at higher levels, but at the lower grades you compete with sub-continent and filipino staff who will work for a lot less.

By the way, are you employed in the UK? Be careful if you are thinking of giving up a position to move here.

Originally Posted by Mullet

Don't believe it, roles should be based on a mixture of ability and experience, I was an SQS at 27.
If you are changing a job it's generally only worthwhile if the move involves a promotion and a min 25% pay increase.

Originally Posted by Cynical Scot

I may have been living in a tin box in the desert too long , but could someone give me a bit more of a clue on the Companies being discussed here

Originally Posted by Mullet

Scamp,

Maybe ridiculous, depends on why you're moving. For me a move to another company is only worthwhile if it progresses career and salary, so if I'm a SQS earning 40k I would only move to another firm if I would be an associate earning 50K. Why move to be an SQS earning 42k if you have to start a fresh and rebuild relationships with new colleagues and clients and possible delay your career progression?

It's called having a career plan.

Originally Posted by Scamp

A 'career plan' doesn't neccessarily mean a pay increase of that much money.Agreed, but it sets out your targets and milestones and is a tool to use to assess the benefit of moving positions, the point to be made is that any move should be carefully planned and considered against the affect it has on your career

You get punted because jobs dry up do you still go round touting for an Associate position?It all depends on why you are moving and how desperate you are, I'm not suggesting that people out of work should go around looking for a 25% increase, I'm surprised you read my statement in that light.

If you're good enough to be an Associate and want 50k to move, why aren't you getting that where you are? Are you sat below dead men's desks?Totally valid point, if you are good enough I'd suggest sticking it out with the company you are with, so for the OP, if you think you are an SQS ask for a promotion and get it or find out what you need to do to get it, and then come out here. Alternatively ask your potential employers to clarify why they consider you qs rather than sqs. If you move as a qs you are going to have to convince your new employers that your deserving of a promotion and that will take time, probably longer than remaining where you are

(they aren't directed at you directly, just generally...I think being realistic is key, especially at the moment.)

Originally Posted by Mullet

Originally Posted by Cynical Scot

Thanks Mullet & WC

Was aware of the DLE cut & run by the Equity Partners - that happened a year ago, but the "recently" (from earlier post) threw me! Thought for a moment that I may have missed that Currie & Brown/ECH/Gleeds/Cyril Sweet had been swallowed as well

Originally Posted by Pezz361356

Thank you WakeUp,

I have to say from the impressions I was getting I did think that was more in line with what other people were telling me they were on etc..

I think based on my expenses and the costs I know I will incur over there, I need to be looking at 30-32k per month or higher really.

Originally Posted by weasel central

I think if you don't need to work over here, or are still in work now hold out for a better offer. If you need to move then obviously do what you have to.

The lowering of the salaries and packages is just as much driven by the recruiters as the companies involved, as they are going to try and place you cheaply.
Case in point is when sometimes I see the same CV from two different agencies with 2 very different expected salaries, so its quite clear to see. Of course then a HR guy is going to tell you well we can get the same people for less than you are asking. Vicious circle really.. This isn't a recruitment rant, just an explanation of the current circumstance.

But as a few have commented the best way is to use your own contacts as they won't be playing this game with an already proven candidate and try go from there.