Indonesian Expatriate working in Saudi Arabia

Many candidates love the idea of working overseas to develop their career in the world environment not only to get the working experience, but also the life experience of which international exposure can brings. What does one say about the challenge to survive? What are the issue that needs to be comprehended? Here, we take you behind the scene with Mr Wahyudi, a successful candidate hired under People Search to work at Binzagr Co. in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Can you share little bit about your current occupation? Also what company are you working for at this stage?

I am working in IT Department, especially as SAP FI/CO Analyst. My company is sole distributor of Unilever products across Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

What are the underlying motivations for you to work in overseas (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia)?

I have a little bit of adventurer instinct. I got bored with Jakarta environment and need to renew my life. I don’t want to be trapped in routine traffic-jam that waste my time.

How did you process your recruitment application to current company in KSA? Maybe you can share briefly the process such as recruitment -  selection, negotiation and finally visa processing?

I apply through website and the employer come to interviewed me in Jakarta facilitated by People Search. But since I will work in KSA, then I have to finalize my paperwork with a local agent company (one of PJTKI companies in Indonesia).

How did you and family decide to join a company in overseas (KSA)?

Since youth, I have a long dream to work overseas.  Therefore, I have already told to my wife from the beginning that someday we will live in another country.

What will be the major obstacles for you and family to live in KSA?

The major obstacles comes from Indonesian people (and also Indonesian officer in Indonesia) that always think TKI is only unskilled people, either driver or maid.

Did you face working cultural issues when you arrived at KSA?

Not really.

From your point of view, what are the major lessons learned during your employment period at KSA?

Indonesian can do the job more better than people from other countries. But since average Indonesian cannot speak English more fluently than Indian/Pakistani/Philipino, Indonesian employee still stay behind them.

Do you recommend Indonesian working in overseas in general, and in KSA in specific? And why?

Absolutely yes. Indonesian should open their mind and receive the challenge of the world. That’s the way to make other people open their eyes and respect to Indonesia. And also Indonesian Govt also has to more respect to Migrant Worker (TKI), since more and more skilled people working in Mid East.

Please share other things in relation with working in overseas

All over the world, if you have to live in places far away from your birthplace, you have to learn how to survive. Some Indonesian fail to survive because they cannot adapt to domestic culture, cannot live without servant / baby sitter, cannot live without rice, bakso, mpek-mpek, etc. They just complain and always compare to Indonesian situation. Basically, some Indonesian people don’t brave enough to live far away from their mother. They just dream to live overseas, but don’t brave enough to face the reality.