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Coach
Hi guys,
What is the policy in your firm related to working hours during Ramadan?
As per the UAE government, private sector working hour must reduce by 2 hours. Does your firm/project comply with this and if not, isnât that a violation?
https://www.thenationalnews.com/uae/government/uae-announces-ramadan-working-hours-for-private-sector-1.1200607
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Community Builder
Did PwC increase their payscale in UAE?
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What are you optimizing for? Are you already in Dubai or moving to the ME? If the latter, consulting firms in the ME are ranked and regarded differently. For one, your experience in the ME isnât very exportable and you donât get access to the same exit options as your colleagues in more developed markets. So the global brand prestige doesnât necessarily translate to better experience or better exits. If you are already at OW in the ME, then I wouldnât consider relocating to Riyadh especially if you are a female expat. There are other equally good and better paying firms than McK to consider, including BCG, OW, Kearney, S& etc.
Thanks OW1. Sadly we havenât bought golden passport back yet post COVID, but will reach out to her. Also, how does a non self initiated transfer work? I.e. office needs people and you volunteer to go? And did you need a strong reason to want to transfer offices? Thanks for the help
Whatâs the logic? Youâll end up in a Riyadh anyway
In that case, McK or otherwise, steer clear of Riyadh
Negotiate it.
Mentor
1. Try to renegotiate, the market is as hot as it could be, everyone needs people urgently, so if you canât get it done now ⊠might be difficult later
2. McK transfer require host office acceptance, without home office endorsement. Once your in, its the easiest firm to transfer with (across regions) as long as you can create a pull abroad
3. Agree with BCG1 that, if you cant get DXB office but are already with OW in DXB, might just stay with them, if lifestyle is important. Otherwise, Internal and External career options at McK miles ahead of OW (dont let them tell you differently, its a different world)
4. Disagree with BCG1 and Kearney Fanboy on the regional aspect. Sure, if you are in Europe or the US right now, thinking about an exit in 2y, moving to ME will not directly contribute to that goal. However, if your time horizon is longer, and/or you transfer for different reasons, its a great move, and until PL+c, the region will not hinder you (as its as useful for your dream startup job to have designed the HR org structure for a metal company in Turino as designing the strategy for a new tourist city in KSA, the latter might actually teach you more, but anyways)
5. Regardless where you are right now with OW, be mindful that your working hours will increase by a lot. Even compared to OW Europe or ME office, MCK (as well as Bain, BCG and S&) in the Middle East run hours that will allow you to explore a hotels late night menu more often that youâd like
Coach
Good luck. Seems like a very circuitous path with no guarantees. Make sure you have the story of what public sector PMO projects did to enhance your skillset / value proposition. You donât want to end up as a seconded consultant in public sector for the next 10 years
Firms are heavily recruiting for Riyadh because of crazy demand, need to travel less to achieve sustainability goal (so better having people on the ground), and KSAâs announcement that firms need to have their centre of operation in KSA so it might be hard to negotiate. Why did you apply to Riyadh in the first place if you knew as a female expat it was not great? Or did you not get a chance to decide? If the latter, definitely negotiate :) But if itâs the former it might be harder to sellâŠ
OW Doha office is waay nicer đ