Saudi Aramco – “Few positives and many negatives, it could be much better.”

Pros

In general the salaries are above average when compared to the average income in Saudi Arabia, though the low ranking jobs usually referred to as (3 to 10) have very low entry salaries. The company has a good training programs, excellent technical infrastrcutre, and very comfortable community compound.

Cons

As many old and big enterprises Aramco suffers from alot of bureaucracy, nepotism, friendship favourism, and unfair treatment. To climb up the corporate ladder, one would need alot of high connection or the ability to kiss up his/her boss, rather than contributing with real accomplishments. Sons of the top rankings executives (even former executives) always recieve very special treatement and attention regardless of their real skills and contributions, on the other hand, hard working employees with real accomplishments are given average or below average merit increase. The company also has unfair salary ladder that is based on nationality, for instance US & UK employee recieve a much higher salary compared with other nationalities (even Saudis) performing exactly the same type of work and with the same level of skills.

Advice to Senior Management

Give credit where it is due