Kbr afghanistan interview tomorrow

[tommy.dale]

Hi guys I have a telephone interview arranged at half 12 tomorrow from project managers in kandahar air base, has anyone had any experiences of the type of questions they will ask?

Does anybody know of the living quarters they provide etc any info will be much appreciated,

Don't really want to do it but this will give me a stepping stone in life house deposit, business start up fund when home
etc

thanks!

tom

 

[Silly Sausage]

Is this a military job?
We're supposed to be pulling out completely next year.

 

[tommy.dale]

April 14th is the pull out date next year although they said it is highly highly likely that December is when the contract will finish

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Just a sparks role working on the kandahar airfield

 

[Silly Sausage]

April 14th is the pull out date next year although they said it is highly highly likely that December is when the contract will finish

- - - Updated - - -

Just a sparks role working on the kandahar airfield

Just 'wing' it, you'll be fine!


Good luck!

 

[tommy.dale]

Thanks bud but I clam up in interviews even if there 10,000 miles away lol, they've said a few competency questions but even with all my quals ill stutter like a 40yr old virgin!

 

[Silly Sausage]

Hahaha...know what you mean.
Everything is clear in my mind, but trying to talk about it, and I'm a gibbering wreck!
Pause before each answer with an 'OK' or something, gives you a few seconds to think.

 

[tommy.dale]

Thanks mate ill let you guys know how I get on, bit of a change from doing installs on petrol stations lol

 

[Silly Sausage]

Send me a postcard from Afghan!

 

[tommy.dale]

Nah sod that ill post a couple of goats!

 

[Silly Sausage]

As long they're stuffed full of product!

Get a new Mr Nice business going here!

 

[Hants-Spark]

Good luck with the interview, I'd love to be able to give you advice but I'm not so good at them myself, a little pause is a good one and I suppose try not to babble lol that's my down fall.

 

[Richard Burns]

Interviews are interviews no matter where.
Think about the sort of work you will be doing and the sort of competency they will expect from that and then think of a few questions that would prove this competency. Then practice the answers you would give.

Remember to sound competent even if you cannot manage confident (but if you can, do so).
Have a ready and practiced answer available for why you want to go out there; saying "you do not really want to do it" is not a good start!:wink5

If at some point things seem to be deteriorating on your conversational side, perhaps you could insert the phrase "I am much more competent at doing electrical work than I am talking about it"

Only having voice contact means you have limited chance to express yourself, some recommendations are: prepare as if for a physical interview, dress neatly, sit upright at a desk or stand up, the effect of smiling over a phone can be sensed, so smile at appropriate places.

Good luck and remember that you are capable of doing the job so this is what you need to be able to get across.

 

[timbobelfast]

Kandahar (KAF) has a population of cica 30000 last time I passed through and is mostly NEC. Hope you like the heat along with the indirect fire that is constant this time of year!! Also, you need to make sure that you get a tax year out of the UK, so you are already over 3 months late on that front. Unless you are completely nuts then I would pass this as most of the lads I know in the Ghan are on their notice or scared to take their R&R in case they get pumped! Oh, and how does a 100 man circus tent sound for quarters??!! Better hope you don't get a top bunk!

 

[iamelectric]

watch out mate i know a few guys who went out not just sparks , promised the big bux and a years work , quit their jobs flew out and were back in 3 weeks companys being undercut and and losing contracts , i would get it in writing that you will be getting at least a few months work

 

[sweed73]

Haha biggest one I was in was 300 man,did a year for KBR in Iraq and 2 years in Afghan with other companies. I would rate KBR as the worst. Like you say good opportunity to earn some cash, watch your tax year and time in country. KBR was 12hrs a day 7 days a week, 4 months on 14 days home, pay your own flights and get reimbursed after 30 days if u return. Not a great wage when you broke it down to hours worked. Living is tight and if they ship you about can get rough. Worst I had was 10 weeks with no shower, hot water. Minus 25C . That was up the side of a mountain in winter. Don't want to put you off as I loved the experience but just be aware it's a war zone at the start of fighting season. They don't publicize contractor deaths but believe me there's a lot.

 

[timbobelfast]

Aaaah, the memories. Those Alaskian tents were cool. Fighting season kicked off in March and I left in April lol

 

[sweed73]

Haha yeah they were cool alright ! Especially in winter next to the door. Nah had some top times out there and some really bad ones as well.

 

[tommy.dale]

Thought I'd give u fellas a update, got the job as electrical supervisor, been told I'm flying out to Dubai then onto kandahar by 20th sept, had my medical etc, accommodation is 2 to a room concrete structure etc as this is supervisor position I'm not cramped in tents and had all this in writing!
Apparently in charge of all the local nationals out there taking care of all reactive and planned maintenance and compliance work and only on tools 2 days a week, the rest in a office, my accountant has got round the tax issue and for a couple of hundred quid is way way worth it.
anyway wish me luck!!!

 

[trev]

Good luck Tommy, make sure you come back in one piece and still breathing.

 

[tommy.dale]

Cheers trev, it's the troop withdrawal contract so apparently lasts up till Xmas 2014 so plenty of work which is handy!