Jobs in Iraq, great link.

[lance]

This should help you land a job in the land of sand.
Before you wade in though consider this, 40% of first time contractors(expats) did not return to Iraq after their first r and r. Ninety percent did not finish their first year in 2004. Stay safe and good luck, Lance

Here is your ticket. http://www.budgettravel.com/iraq-jobs.htm

[ksdunlap]

With A 50% Unemployment Rate Why Would They Import Labor When It Makes More Since To Me To Hire In State Bring Unemployment Down. Crime Rate Would Come Down With The Employment Rate. And Help Stablize The Country Put Money In The Iraqies Pocketand Make The Dinar Worth More. At Least Thats The Way I See It.it Would Be A Chain Reaction

[Lux]

With A 50% Unemployment Rate Why Would They Import Labor When It Makes More Since To Me To Hire In State Bring Unemployment Down. Crime Rate Would Come Down With The Employment Rate. And Help Stablize The Country Put Money In The Iraqies Pocketand Make The Dinar Worth More. At Least Thats The Way I See It.it Would Be A Chain Reaction

iTERESTING pOINT! :D

I guess there are certain jobs that require training or a certain amount of security clearance. If the Iraqi police are having enough difficulty sniffing out the bad guys, then I'm sure some positions can't be handed to any Joe off the street.

[aviddigi]

I didnt see ITT on there, does anyone know of a hiring frezze going on with them ? Also that turnover rate is incredible but really makes me mad since i'd stay to the bitter end. Knowing one bad year would make the rest alittle better is incentive enough for me to stay.

[apostle]

With A 50% Unemployment Rate Why Would They Import Labor When It Makes More Since To Me To Hire In State Bring Unemployment Down. Crime Rate Would Come Down With The Employment Rate. And Help Stablize The Country Put Money In The Iraqies Pocketand Make The Dinar Worth More. At Least Thats The Way I See It.it Would Be A Chain Reaction

To answer that question you have to see this place firsthand, work and talk to the locals that come onto the bases to work for peanuts and learn what kind of life they have led for decades.

The younger generation is a mixed lot. I am talking about 17 - 35. There are about 50% of that group that are just lazy. The other half of that group will some day govern the country, unless the former half turn into local thugs because they are too lazy to work. They have had to sneak and steal for a long time to get what they need to survive. I am not kidding. They are very nice people and by far they all are glad we are here, but there is no way they can rebuild thier country, they have no skills. They need the supervision. That is the younger group.

The older generation. I have had far less interaction with this group. They are business oriented, smart, and less likely to turn to thuggery to get what they don't have. I worked with one construction group that had an engineer, welders, etc. There was not one of them under 35. The oldest was 72 and they ALL worked to build 5 metal buildings in the middle of the summer where temps reach into the upper 130's and low 140's. Note I said METAL buildings. Hard workers, desire to please and so on. This is before we had paid quality control people on the ground. You would not believe.... it would take too long to describe the workmanship.

IN TIME, what you say is true, but we are certainly not there yet. I could add so much more in this post but it is too lengthy already.

[apostle]

This should help you land a job in the land of sand.
Before you wade in though consider this, 40% of first time contractors(expats) did not return to Iraq after their first r and r. Ninety percent did not finish their first year in 2004. Stay safe and good luck, Lance

Here is your ticket. http://www.budgettravel.com/iraq-jobs.htm

Amazing that they would disguise the information under budget travel, but I digress. Great link tho.

My question to you is this. Where do those stats originate? Next month I will have been here for 2 years in the same place. Maybe we are the exception, I doubt it tho. I won't tell you where I am however, I will say that there are probably over 1000 civilian contractors here. That statistical data is absolutely not the case here, not even close. I respect your posts and information, but the realist in me begged to get out.

Love ya man.

[inquisitive]

To answer that question you have to see this place firsthand, work and talk to the locals that come onto the bases to work for peanuts and learn what kind of life they have led for decades.

The younger generation is a mixed lot. I am talking about 17 - 35. There are about 50% of that group that are just lazy. The other half of that group will some day govern the country, unless the former half turn into local thugs because they are too lazy to work. They have had to sneak and steal for a long time to get what they need to survive. I am not kidding. They are very nice people and by far they all are glad we are here, but there is no way they can rebuild thier country, they have no skills. They need the supervision. That is the younger group.

The older generation. I have had far less interaction with this group. They are business oriented, smart, and less likely to turn to thuggery to get what they don't have. I worked with one construction group that had an engineer, welders, etc. There was not one of them under 35. The oldest was 72 and they ALL worked to build 5 metal buildings in the middle of the summer where temps reach into the upper 130's and low 140's. Note I said METAL buildings. Hard workers, desire to please and so on. This is before we had paid quality control people on the ground. You would not believe.... it would take too long to describe the workmanship.

IN TIME, what you say is true, but we are certainly not there yet. I could add so much more in this post but it is too lengthy already.

God, love you and all of them Apostel, ...sounds like the same make up America would expect of it's teenagers, not over 75's. The good news is that clearly their are groups, 'smart" oriented...etc..working towards a common goal. That's our goal too..??? RIGHT??

[lance]

Amazing that they would disguise the information under budget travel, but I digress. Great link tho.

My question to you is this. Where do those stats originate? Next month I will have been here for 2 years in the same place. Maybe we are the exception, I doubt it tho. I won't tell you where I am however, I will say that there are probably over 1000 civilian contractors here. That statistical data is absolutely not the case here, not even close. I respect your posts and information, but the realist in me begged to get out.

Love ya man.

I helped in the orientation of new employees for a period of time at the Ali Al Salem resort in Kuwait City for a contractor. Job title was driver trainer / safety specialist depended on who you asked as to what we were. This was the information put out at the time. It may have been exaggerated to make people feel they were one of the few that made it, however our turn over was outrageous. We had 80 people once would not get off the plane in Kuwait. Fear is the mind killer, you get one whiney butt and they can influence alot of people. Lance

[lance]

I helped in the orientation of new employees for a period of time at the Ali Al Salem resort in Kuwait City for a contractor. Job title was driver trainer / safety specialist depended on who you asked as to what we were. This was the information put out at the time. It may have been exaggerated to make people feel they were one of the few that made it, however our turn over was outrageous. We had 80 people once would not get off the plane in Kuwait. Fear is the mind killer, you get one whiney butt and they can influence alot of people. Lance

Ali Al Salem is an airbase in Kuwait. I did the orientation at the Safir Al Dana Resort.

[MEALTICKET]

Ali Al Salem is an airbase in Kuwait. I did the orientation at the Safir Al Dana Resort.

I think I heard about the Safir. Matter of fact I been there. It was like a jail. I heard other empolyees want to come out but, HR told them to stay inside till they were read to be manifested! Plus isn't it close to the Airfjohn or Sale, is it!
I only visited! But how about the Bling Bling brothers. It reminds me!

[lance]

I think I heard about the Safir. Matter of fact I been there. It was like a jail. I heard other empolyees want to come out but, HR told them to stay inside till they were read to be manifested! Plus isn't it close to the Airfjohn or Sale, is it!
I only visited! But how about the Bling Bling brothers. It reminds me!

When I left it wasn't being used by contractors it was undergoing repairs. 350,000 dollars worth of damages done by contractors. "Jail" yeah I would say that about covers it. But you could always count on them having chicken to eat, ha ha. You had to be there to get that one. I don't care if I ever eat chisken again. Lance

[ksdunlap]

thanks for the insite. hopefully they will learn fast.

[Laurali]

To answer that question you have to see this place firsthand, work and talk to the locals that come onto the bases to work for peanuts and learn what kind of life they have led for decades.

The younger generation is a mixed lot. I am talking about 17 - 35. There are about 50% of that group that are just lazy. The other half of that group will some day govern the country, unless the former half turn into local thugs because they are too lazy to work. They have had to sneak and steal for a long time to get what they need to survive. I am not kidding. They are very nice people and by far they all are glad we are here, but there is no way they can rebuild thier country, they have no skills. They need the supervision. That is the younger group.

The older generation. I have had far less interaction with this group. They are business oriented, smart, and less likely to turn to thuggery to get what they don't have. I worked with one construction group that had an engineer, welders, etc. There was not one of them under 35. The oldest was 72 and they ALL worked to build 5 metal buildings in the middle of the summer where temps reach into the upper 130's and low 140's. Note I said METAL buildings. Hard workers, desire to please and so on. This is before we had paid quality control people on the ground. You would not believe.... it would take too long to describe the workmanship.

IN TIME, what you say is true, but we are certainly not there yet. I could add so much more in this post but it is too lengthy already.

I work with locals in Baghdad. Some are bright, and some are truly lazy. But, I keep reminding myself that this is really not much different than the US. Right? There are hard workers and lazy sponge-o-matic bums that suck their living from the hard working group. I do see also that the younger locals like to play too much at work. And, MOST of the locals I have worked with lack a lot of initiative and desire. I believe they were so used to being told which way to turn, when to blink, what to say, etc. that now, they can't think for themselves. They can learn however, and I TEACH them as we work. They have no education, so you truly need to guide them like elementary children sometimes. Their skill base has improved dramatically since 2003, but still has no comparison to the states or other more developed countries. What's unfortunate is that Iraq used to be so abundant in craftsmen. Some were Egyptian, Sudanese, Moraccan, etc. Not all were Iraqi. Nonetheless, all of the truly great craftsmen have left the country. If you would see just one stone building and the beautiful gypsum ceilings, you would know without a doubt that there were once some extrodinary craftsmen with excellent taste that roamed Iraq. Now, the country is left with illiteracy among the male population because they are forced to start working at age 12 or 13. Not exactly the best way to mold a businessman. It's the best way to mold a lying, unethical, immoral human being that will have little hope of developing into a viable, productive citizen. I would love to see some adult literacy programs started up, and basic human consideration courses taught. Any Civil Affairs units out there! This would be an excellent project for you to implement. Not to mention, a decent trade school! I like that the US is focusing on the elementary level children. However, the current teens to 30 age group are lost. They need to be brought into the cycle in order to continue to nurture the elementary children after we are gone.