If you were offered a job in a dangerous country?

[onascale]

How crazy would this be?

I'm middle aged, stupidly took voluntary redundancy 7 years ago, thinking that with my experience and qualifications I would find another job.
Hah.

I've had some temp contracts, but I'm not paying into a pension. Covid hit the job market hard and it hasn't really recovered, I'm barely making enough to cover living expenses. This is probably going to get worse, not better.

I have been offered a job in a very dangerous country. I would be living in a compound, but there is always the possibility of being in very real danger.

However, the money is amazing. I could do 3 months there and earn a year's salary.

DH wouldn't be happy, we have been married for years and he is giving me a hard time every day about money.

DCs have finished Uni, are in their early twenties, we've seen them once in the past year.

I've always been independent, I'm not scared and really, what have I got to lose? I'm living a slow, suburban death.
This was never what I wanted for myself. DH has got stuck in his ways as we've got older.

All thoughts appreciated.

Go for it. If you don’t like it you can leave, but at least you’ll have had an adventure and earned some cash in the interim.

As pp have said it would depend on the country, what the specific risks & dangers are and whether there is support if things go wrong eg hospitals, a British consulate etc if things go wrong.

What does the FCO guidance say about the country?

As your contract would allow you to leave after 12 weeks I'd be tempted to try it tbh! Even that would give you equivalent of a year's salary!

It’s hard to know exactly without the country detail

But leaning towards yes

I would struggle if I felt it was a country that fundamentally didn't match my values or I felt I was contributing to inequality. If I felt I had as improving things or doing something that genuinely couldn't be done without someone from the UK then they might change my mind.

A huge consideration for me would be whether I felt the plans to bring me home, should the situation escalate, were robust and be held to. And whether the type of escalation was likely to be rapid. (I know it's hard to tell sometimes but that does tend to be situation specific)

Overall it feels as if you'd like to do it, and that's absolutely a good reason to do it!

what Is the journey to/from the compound like?

And what is the access to health care like?

Compounds are usually pretty safe but in most places you can still leave the compound without issue (i.e. Saudi Arabia, South Africa). I am not sure I would go somewhere that was currently at war or where there were travel advisories saying no travel to the country (i.e. Iran). I would do a lot of research and talk to others who had been there to get a better feel for it compared to what you can read online

In a heartbeat, yes. I regret not training in a career that would have meant more travel. I lived in a “dangerous” country as a child (gunshots heard every night, fellow school mates held at gunpoint, armed guard at the school gate) and traveled to even more dangerous countries, Afghanistan not far off tbh, as an adult (bomb proof vehicles travelling with machine gun armed convoy, kidnap training). Life is for living. Go for it.

Depends what the country/risk is.

@onascale are foreign workers targeted & if so what would they do with you?

What is the role are you sure there is no demand for you in the UK? I would in defence and we have huge staffing gaps.

It depends. If the role cleared the mortgage and debts then I would do it for a set period with that as the goal. Making sure that I was trained by someone like Edison Tiger and I had a security team. Good insurance if I did get injuries/die.

If it was just to have a well paid job and just to keep on top of bill I would not do it.

Personally, I wouldn't. In my view, you can't put a price on safety. However, that's me. I'm risk averse. You on the other hand, sound excited about the prospect. If you're not overly concerned and it's an opportunity you want to take then go for it. Don't let anyone else hold you back from doing what you want to do.

Totally depends on what the risks are. If it's very politically unstable and certain factions suddenly taking charge could prevent foreigners from leaving and hold them hostage them that would be a big no!

I did aid work for 15+ years and have lived in many countries and living situations which match your description OP. My considerations would be as follows:

1. Will the work be interesting? If you’re in a compound for 8 weeks at a time you have to enjoy what you’re doing otherwise the time will pass slowly and it will be hell (FWIW, 8 weeks on 4 weeks off is a spectacular rotation that No aid agency would offer - rightly!)

2. Do you trust your employer? Pay no attention to the FCDO website. They are for independent travellers not for people employed by organisations with large security infrastructures and legal duty of care. Ask to see security policies/speak to the security manager about evacuation and hibernation plans. Ask about right to withdraw.

3. Ask about leisure facilities in the compound. Even quite basic set ups (unlikely to be the case for you given your r&r cycle) tend to have good gyms. I often found I got into routines of really good self care on these missions.

4. Ask about accommodation and catering. You will probably have your own accommodation, but worth checking. Many places provide catering to reduce the hassle of people leaving the compound to get their own shopping. This may or may not matter you.

feel free to send a DM if you want more info. If there’s a conflict there’s a decent chance I’ve lived there!

100% would go!! Where did you see the job advertised! I'd love a job like that!

If it was me, I would go. And cracking advice from RooRoo.

Yes, go for it. You’ll be safe inside a compound and they’ll have loads of facilities. Don’t die a slow suburban death.

This is very unusual. I lived in Johannesburg for a few years for work and had plenty of friends in the same situation and absolutely nobody lived like this. We went out and about as normal, but didn’t use public transport (in as much as it exists).

OP, I’m guessing something oil related. Potentially somewhere relatively remote in North or West Africa from how you describe being unable to leave the compound. Does everyone work on the same compound that they live on? From my own circle, I’ve only encountered people living in those circumstances in the Libyan desert and in Equatorial Guinea. People I know who have lived in Nigeria, Cameroon, Saudi, Papua New Guinea etc all moved on and off compound for work and socialising.

Do it.
Otherwise you will only regret not taking the chance and wondering "what if"

Doesn't the phrase go: We never regret in life what we have done, only what we haven't done

If I’m reading between the lines, you’re more concerned about the impact on your marriage than any impact on your safety - is that fair? It sounds like you really want to go. You’re only halfway through your life and I don’t believe in settling into the suburban death spiral. Life is meant to be about ups and downs and chances and no regrets.
on the other hand, you would have to weigh up what that might mean for your relationship.
Try think about it as what are you most prepared to lose? rather then gain

Wait, just forget it all and listen to what @RooRooCooChoo said

I would definitely do 8 weeks and see how you get on. The opportunity to earn quite a bit and take the pressure off your financial situation is too good to miss, plus it sounds like your life needs a bit of a shake up.
Why would DH be unhappy? Just the risk?

Hmm don’t know that I would because I need freedom. However, you’ve clearly said you really need the money and you sound excited. Op I think you want to go! Do you have any hobbies? I’ve got through long periods of boredom this way and stayed motivated and happy. Lots of hobbies aren’t expensive or bulky. Also, maybe take up running. Make friends with people on your compound so you aren’t lonely.

Find out what the get out procedure is, if you want, or need, to leave before the end of your contract. DDad worked in the oil industry, in some very unstable and dangerous places, for months/years at a time. (1970s/80s). Usually OK, but he had trouble leaving a post in Saudi when he became very ill.

DBro also works in the oil industry, and has our dad's itchy feet. He been caught in coups/political unrest more than once. He's always got home safely, but has decided in his 50s - along with the distance from family and friends and disrupted social life - that it's a young man's game. But then he's been doing it all his life. Might be less hard as a one off.

Really depends on the country and what the risks really are. Personally I wouldn't go to Saudi as a woman but if you can put up with a compound and keep your head down, that feels safer than somewhere like Nigeria.