The US Army Corp of Engineers and numerous private companies are still looking for people to help rebuild Iraq's infrastructure. In fact, one Web site reports that there are currently 60,000 jobs available in Iraq for US citizens. And the pay can be very good. Some civilian contractor jobs start at $80,000. Others pay even more. A truck driver earning $30,000 in the US may be able to get a job in Iraq paying $70,000, $80,000 or even $90,000 a year.
Just as important, housing and meals are usually provided, and if you work overseas for a year, $80,000 of your income is excluded from US income taxes. (Note: For complete details on this tax exclusion, see Section 13.3 of the IRS Tax Code, "Aliens and U.S. Citizens Living Abroad: Foreign Income & Foreign Income Exclusion").
Iraq job postings are usually available online and, in many cases, you can apply for these jobs online. Sites you might want to check out include dangerzonejobs.com, jobline.net, and jobsearch.about.com.
As of this writing (early May, 2005), there were jobs available in the areas of intelligence, linguists, engineering, construction, mechanical, transportation, as well as in non-technical areas.
In the oil industry alone, there were 26 major oil projects hiring. Companies with jobs in Iraq include Halliburton, KBR (a Halliburton subsidiary) Dyncorp, Parsons Project Iraq, CIS (Critical Intervention Services), Titan Corp., Bechtel, Fluor, Koll, Wackenhut, General Dynamics, EG&G Technical Services, and many others.
The US Foreign Service is also looking for employees. Its Iraq Reconstruction Management Office (IRMO) wants to hire highly skilled and motivated United States citizens to serve our nation at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad. IRMO's mission is to support the sovereign, democratic rights of the Iraqi people to govern themselves, defend their country, and rebuild their economy. These jobs fall under Civil Service and, as such, offer excellent benefits, including generous health plans, thrift savings plans, life insurance, annual leave, sick leave, and a student loan repayment plan.
There are a number of positions posted as of this writing that require duty in Iraq. A partial list of these jobs include: Advisor ($62,000 to $97,000), Logistics Program Coordinator ($62,886 TO $97,213), Contract Specialist ($62,886 to $97,213), and Field Services Officer ($62,886 to $97,213).
Another branch of the US Government, the US Agency for International Development (USAID), is currently spending $3.3 billion on contracts with consulting firms that help promote entrepreneurism, improve agriculture and manufacturing efficiency, stimulate investment and develop information technology skills.
That's the good news. Here's the worse news. In an article on the Web site www.dangerzonejobs.com dated Feb. 14, 2005, one recruiter says "you'll be working eight- to 12-hour days in a 120-degree desert populated by scorpions, camel spiders and people looking to kill you. You'll be dusty and dirty most of the time. You're shown slides of what your residence -- a prefab metal container -- looks like when it's blown apart by mortar fire. You learn that about 60 other company employees or subcontractors have been killed -- and one is missing.
Still, 1 in 10 applicants for jobs with the Halliburton subsidiary Kellogg Brown & Root, based in Houston, remain willing to take those well-paying truck driver, food service, laundry and maintenance positions in Iraq. This despite extensive media coverage of the kidnappings, beheadings and suicide attacks on civilian workers there. And there's no doubt that civilians are prime targets. Besides the roughly 1,500 U.S. military casualties so far, there have been 232 casualties among civilians working for U.S. contractors, according to the U.S. Department of Labor."
Two of the largest contractors staffing for jobs in Iraq, Halliburton and KBR, claim to have thousands of resumes in their database ... and are still holding job fares around the country. Why is this? It's because they're still looking for qualified, experienced applicants.
So, is a job in Iraq right for you? If you have a sense of adventure, are not afraid to take a risk and would like to double or even triple your wages for a year, the answer just might be yes.
Article by Douglas Hanna. Douglas is a retired advertising and marketing executive and long-time Denver resident. He is the webmaster of http://www.all-in-one-info.com, a free resource for information on a variety of subjects. Please visit his site to subscribe to his free newsletter, "Tips & Tricks to Save Money & Live Better."
Human Resources personnel, professional recruiters and various other career experts... Read More
Do you leap out of bed in the morning looking... Read More
Résumé TipsSome basics about job hunting...First of all, nobody owes... Read More
Let's be realistic here - hands up all of you... Read More
You can benefit from sample cover letters as they can... Read More
Excerpt of Death By Workers' Compensation"The Bleeding Rose"In this Excerpt... Read More
A resume is normally the first contact point between an... Read More
Not everyone is cut out to be a mortgage processor.... Read More
If your current CV or resume is not generating the... Read More
Searching for jobs online is easier than ever, but also... Read More
Whether you've been right-sized, downsized, underutilized, or just plain fired,... Read More
Mystery shoppers are people who are hired to scrutinize employees,... Read More
How many times have you heard or read, "Our employees... Read More
Performance appraisal should be treated as an ongoing developmental process... Read More
Feel somehow your life is stuck in MS-OFFICE ? The... Read More
In a day of background checks, pre-employment drug screening and... Read More
Feeling that it never works is not a good excuse.... Read More
Every May we celebrate Mother's Day-a time to tell mothers... Read More
When preparing for your interview, you need to be ready... Read More
As an employer I receive many job applications each week.... Read More
Marketing shouldn't be limited to advertising companies. Finding a job... Read More
The champagne corks have been popping to celebrate your promotion.... Read More
I wanted to quit my job. So I decided to... Read More
Do you find yourself easily becoming bored or tired at... Read More
A legendary marketing genius once said that, if he had... Read More
As you take CDL practice test, you do become more... Read More
The temptation to lie on a resume is great! How... Read More
Ok, so you've determined that you have the right skills... Read More
A new resume can jump-start your career. Your network contacts... Read More
While you're revamping your resume or cover letter or constructing... Read More
Being a reflexologist is one of the top five career... Read More
The first thing you need to do before you write... Read More
This article relates to the Career Opportunities competency and explores... Read More
Taking a job out of fear and desperation will never... Read More
According to the National Gardening Association, suckers are rapidly growing... Read More
Have any of these situations happened to you? Forgetting your... Read More
Individuals not within their target career field may feel insecure,... Read More
Most jobs on farms in the UK involve picking strawberries... Read More
There is an end to the job search tunnel!It has... Read More
Whether you're self-employed or you work for someone else, you're... Read More
Enter into a state of relaxed concentration. This is the... Read More
Managing your career, just like managing your life, requires preparation... Read More
Career change is tough but rewardingThere are a number of... Read More
Is every job description you read the same? No.Is every... Read More
CIO Magazine ran an article entitled, "Ten Mistakes CIO's Too... Read More
For many years, you looked forward to that day when... Read More
You have worked hard at finding your next job. You... Read More
Q. I'm looking for a new job and plan to... Read More
Moving into a new job always involves some degree of... Read More
Telephone interviews don't just happen; they are the result of... Read More
There are millions of people working extremely hard every day... Read More
Bringing your emotional baggage into the work place is inappropriate... Read More
Throughout the past decade, workplace diversity issues have allowed organizations... Read More
Two weeks ago, I received a newsy email from a... Read More
As the business sections of today's papers and magazines read... Read More
When you're looking to get hired or get promoted, what... Read More
The whole job search effort is completely exhausting and at... Read More
When you're looking to get hired or get promoted, what... Read More
The traditional model of career choice suggests a linear pattern.... Read More
While traveling in northern California last October, I happened... Read More
The phrase "reinventing yourself" seems to be popping up all... Read More
Seeing your job as an honorable job, adds more meaning... Read More
Purpose: Learn about the new Polygraph for management hiresHis heart... Read More
The euphoria of getting a new job can sometimes be... Read More
Is your working life in the doldrums? Do you feel... Read More
I have something to say that's driving me batty. It's... Read More
Careers, Jobs & Employment |