I would as long as I'm not used as a flesh shield ;) What kind of job would you have there?
Ask HN: Would you go to Iraq for a year and be paid $200k?
11–20 of 91 posts
Re: Ask HN: Would you go to Iraq for a year and be paid $200k?
#12Where can I find a job like that?
Re: Ask HN: Would you go to Iraq for a year and be paid $200k?
#13As long as it'd be safe, I'd go for it without hesitation. New place, fun work, big accomplishment, lots of money and free time? I'm not sure what down side you see, but it would need to be huge to turn this down.
my mind says yes, but my body says stay the fuck away, I dont wanna die. So the question still remains and I definitely am looking for advice.
Iraq is a lot safer than it was a few years ago. I don't think you would have much to worry about from a safety perspective.
Just curious, if you accepted, would you have to go through the State Department training and carry a weapon?
Re: Ask HN: Would you go to Iraq for a year and be paid $200k?
#14Allow me to be the dissenter.
If you're doing this for the military or the government, I would urge you to consider if your work is contributing to all of the wrong reasons why we (as a country) are there, or if it's going to contribute to helping correct the mistakes that got us there.
Is war really something you want to experience? Things are calm there now, relative to a few years ago, but - imho - still is a pretty bad place for American civilians.
Anyways, if it were me, it would more or less come down on the morality of what I'm contributing to directly through my work. Yes, 200K is a lot of money, but there isn't any reason, if you're good, that you won't eventually be making that every 1.5-2 years in a metropolitan area like NYC.
This is all under the assumptions you'd be working for the US government.
Re: Ask HN: Would you go to Iraq for a year and be paid $200k?
#15It's fairly easy to say that I would do it, especially without being in this position.
Really, I think you would have to evaluate your current situation. Do you have other job offers, or a current job? How do those jobs weigh in comparison? The fact that you are asking us leads me to suggest that perhaps you want to go and people are trying to convince you otherwise? If that be the case, then I suggest you do what you want to do, screw what other people think - unless you have significant others, or kids depending on you.
However, if you are solely interested in the money, but scared of going to Iraq I really would advise against taking the offer. Going to a place like Iraq for that much money seems like you would be getting yourself into a situation you couldn't easily back out of. It would suck to live an entire year in regret - especially in that part of the world.
Regardless, I wish you the best of luck. Take our suggestions as a grain of salt. You will have to live with your decision for an entire year..not us.
Re: Ask HN: Would you go to Iraq for a year and be paid $200k?
#16Pretend the salary is the same in both places, and judge the decision just on the experience factor. (I say this because for a variety of reasons, you could make that much money in the States as a reasonably curious, skilled person. You read Hacker News after all :D You know all about salary ranges, entrepreneurship, affiliate programs, Parrot Books, and Adsense. I'm not saying we all make 200K, we just all know about opportunities... :D ).
So... unless it's desperate, debt or any kind of financial incentive is probably a bad reason to pick any job under such unique conditions. That said, if the experience is compelling, then listen to that part of your heart.
Good luck. Let us know what you choose.
Re: Ask HN: Would you go to Iraq for a year and be paid $200k?
#17Hell yeah.
I say so now, but i wonder if I'd get over there and have to confront Hurt Locker-esque situations. I'm 22, so my risk tolerance may be above average.
Re: Ask HN: Would you go to Iraq for a year and be paid $200k?
#18Shan't tell you what to do mate, but after seeing a family member go out there and get his leg blown off, I highly suggest you to avoid this kind of environment. Keep your mind focussed on what you are doing, and not avoiding bullets, incoming shells, kidnapping, etc.
Re: Ask HN: Would you go to Iraq for a year and be paid $200k?
#19You're not giving us the alternatives. From how you've described it, the opportunity sounds great. But we don't know much about your current working situation. From what you have written, I assume that the other alternative you have pay (considerably?) So without knowing much about your best alternatives, I'll leave you with this piece of advice. When considering a new job, consider 1. the people, 2. the position, 3.…
I'm not sure, there are jobs (at least in SV) that while not at that pay level, are probably between your current pay and $200k, that would allow you to be around very bright potential co-founders, and do not involve a non-zero risk of being killed. But, as metra said, without knowing your current salary, it's hard to give firm advice one way or the other. I also put considerable emphasis on the caliber of the other developers I work with.
Re: Ask HN: Would you go to Iraq for a year and be paid $200k?
#20I have to echo the sentiments of everyone else: as long as you'll be (reasonably) safe, do it.
Having lived abroad myself (China), I can tell you that the experience will broaden your mind. Keep an open outlook and heed albertsun's advice to learn some Arabic and you'll have an amazing time.