Hardline Rob
10-17-07, 06:07 AM
I have received a few angry emails as the writers felt they were promised jobs, now they are upset that the job did not start on time.
I would like to explain how the process works for Iraq and/or other Staffing arrangements. Please read and understand!
First and foremost, always take a guaranteed job over the maybe job. If a lower paying job is starting NOW and you have a written offer- TAKE IT. Yes they may be paying 5 times more somewhere else but it does not help you any if they are not hiring or it doesn’t start anytime soon, besides you may not get that cherry position or it may be delayed repeatedly… SO always stay on the job you are on or Take the money in hand with the guaranteed job, instead of gambling on a “maybe” position.
Why does this happen? First, in the case of Iraq, 30 days prior to the ANTICIPATED start of the job, we have to compile a list of potential candidates to give to the client; we need to show they are minimally prequalified. This means they have submitted a doctor’s letter and a dentist letter stating they are healthy enough to deploy, we have confirmed they have a clearance, a passport, a resume and are qualified in the skill set the client requests…. With the client’s approval, (he may reject some potential applicants) we submit the acceptable applicants for a country clearance, Two weeks or so later we receive the country clearance and the ok to process further. We then reconfirm the start date of the job from the client….
If delayed do not pass go, do not collect 200 dollars…. Start over with new date.
If date is still a go, we re confirm with the potential employee his availability and willingness to go… then we put all CURRENT terms discussed in an offer letter
(note: by now things may have changed a dozen times since we first talked so ensure all items discussed are in writing and understood…It is not intentional that you may not have gotten what was initially discussed… More information may now be known about the site or living conditions, job may have different needs and requirements, or maybe the terms of contract changed at the clients request or because of government regulations.)
Verify all assumptions you had, ask questions about everything you have doubts about. Don’t sign anything you don’t understand or agree with. Many times we negotiate with the supervisor in need or on the ground, we negotiate all kinds of agreements, and pass this information on to you… then once we sit down with a government contracts specialist, we find out we can not do this or that, use the existing contract vehicle etc. etc. and have to change half of the things we negotiated or change the contract terms completely. Depending on how long ago we talked to you determines how accurate your information is… Don’t assume this contract is just like the last time… It may be a different client and/or a completely different contract.
Once we receive a signed offer letter back then we submit the request for an appointment to get a CAC card, make flight arrangements to come to dc to in process for Hardline, and get your CAC card… then the new employee leaves from DC to go to Iraq.
It is a process, people; we are not trying to mislead anyone…. I am doing my best to get good qualified people a good gig. When it goes well it is a win/win/win situation in that our client is happy as he got qualified people, the new hire is happy he got a good paying gig, and we are happy because we make some money on the deal and have another happy employee… however when it goes bad and it doesn’t start on time… Client doesn’t care; he expects that we will perform when he is ready as that is our responsibility and what we must do if we expect to make any money or get paid. All applicants are aggravated as they were banking on this job starting on day such and such and now their last job just ended…They think we are all idiots and cannot manage or run things correctly… We are not happy as everyone thinks we screwed them….and when the job really does start, most likely we will have to completely start from scratch as all we processed have probably have already found jobs….as well as they tell everyone we screwed them or lied to them, so when we send out the next offer of the “new” or even the definite start date, no one replies back as we have “cried wolf” too many times.
You “old” hands should know better, New hands learn quick so you are not anticipating or expecting a job that may not be happening when you think it is. Most of the time a potential employer is just a middle man trying broker a deal…. Especially with the contracts I deal with, start dates are usually beyond my control. I pass the information and terms as I get it… I do my best to keep you informed so you can make the best possible decisions for yourself. I hope this clarifies the current situation, especially with Iraq.
To all who feel they got yanked around because this job did not start on time; Accept my apology. I assure you it is not intentional or even within my control. -rob
I would like to explain how the process works for Iraq and/or other Staffing arrangements. Please read and understand!
First and foremost, always take a guaranteed job over the maybe job. If a lower paying job is starting NOW and you have a written offer- TAKE IT. Yes they may be paying 5 times more somewhere else but it does not help you any if they are not hiring or it doesn’t start anytime soon, besides you may not get that cherry position or it may be delayed repeatedly… SO always stay on the job you are on or Take the money in hand with the guaranteed job, instead of gambling on a “maybe” position.
Why does this happen? First, in the case of Iraq, 30 days prior to the ANTICIPATED start of the job, we have to compile a list of potential candidates to give to the client; we need to show they are minimally prequalified. This means they have submitted a doctor’s letter and a dentist letter stating they are healthy enough to deploy, we have confirmed they have a clearance, a passport, a resume and are qualified in the skill set the client requests…. With the client’s approval, (he may reject some potential applicants) we submit the acceptable applicants for a country clearance, Two weeks or so later we receive the country clearance and the ok to process further. We then reconfirm the start date of the job from the client….
If delayed do not pass go, do not collect 200 dollars…. Start over with new date.
If date is still a go, we re confirm with the potential employee his availability and willingness to go… then we put all CURRENT terms discussed in an offer letter
(note: by now things may have changed a dozen times since we first talked so ensure all items discussed are in writing and understood…It is not intentional that you may not have gotten what was initially discussed… More information may now be known about the site or living conditions, job may have different needs and requirements, or maybe the terms of contract changed at the clients request or because of government regulations.)
Verify all assumptions you had, ask questions about everything you have doubts about. Don’t sign anything you don’t understand or agree with. Many times we negotiate with the supervisor in need or on the ground, we negotiate all kinds of agreements, and pass this information on to you… then once we sit down with a government contracts specialist, we find out we can not do this or that, use the existing contract vehicle etc. etc. and have to change half of the things we negotiated or change the contract terms completely. Depending on how long ago we talked to you determines how accurate your information is… Don’t assume this contract is just like the last time… It may be a different client and/or a completely different contract.
Once we receive a signed offer letter back then we submit the request for an appointment to get a CAC card, make flight arrangements to come to dc to in process for Hardline, and get your CAC card… then the new employee leaves from DC to go to Iraq.
It is a process, people; we are not trying to mislead anyone…. I am doing my best to get good qualified people a good gig. When it goes well it is a win/win/win situation in that our client is happy as he got qualified people, the new hire is happy he got a good paying gig, and we are happy because we make some money on the deal and have another happy employee… however when it goes bad and it doesn’t start on time… Client doesn’t care; he expects that we will perform when he is ready as that is our responsibility and what we must do if we expect to make any money or get paid. All applicants are aggravated as they were banking on this job starting on day such and such and now their last job just ended…They think we are all idiots and cannot manage or run things correctly… We are not happy as everyone thinks we screwed them….and when the job really does start, most likely we will have to completely start from scratch as all we processed have probably have already found jobs….as well as they tell everyone we screwed them or lied to them, so when we send out the next offer of the “new” or even the definite start date, no one replies back as we have “cried wolf” too many times.
You “old” hands should know better, New hands learn quick so you are not anticipating or expecting a job that may not be happening when you think it is. Most of the time a potential employer is just a middle man trying broker a deal…. Especially with the contracts I deal with, start dates are usually beyond my control. I pass the information and terms as I get it… I do my best to keep you informed so you can make the best possible decisions for yourself. I hope this clarifies the current situation, especially with Iraq.
To all who feel they got yanked around because this job did not start on time; Accept my apology. I assure you it is not intentional or even within my control. -rob