Job Discussion Forums

nwtefl · Joined: 20 May 2015 Posts: 148 Location: England

Hi

I am 45 - what is the oldest the places in the ME take people ? I'm talking Saudi/UAE/Bahrain/Kuwait really.

Although I'm teaching in the UK, I know that the work can disappear quickly, yet I'm also aware of my age in terms of applying for ME jobs.

Any ideas ?

Thanks

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

Of course, it varies a bit by country, employer, and your CV (extensive Gulf experience?), but once you reach 55, it starts to get tough.

VS

nwtefl · Joined: 20 May 2015 Posts: 148 Location: England

So is there a cut off point? Realistically, would any employer (And I'm talking college, university not language school) hire someone new at 60? Example: extensive HE experience in the UK but no ME experience.

Btw, I haven't posted in here for over a year and I'm pretty sure you were active on these forums then too!

nomad soul · Joined: 31 Jan 2010 Posts: 11454 Location: The real world

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

1st Sgt Welsh · Posted: Fri Dec 23, 2016 5:12 am Post subject:

I can only really speak from my own experiences, but, many of the teachers I worked with in Oman, who were over 55, said that their options in the Gulf had become limited. This is at a time of life when, of course, a lot of people need to think seriously about their retirement and, if they had a job, they tended to just stay put.

The situation for those about to turn 60, or were already over it, was even worse and I personally couldn't help but feel sorry for a lot of them. Many of my older colleagues took on extra duties that nobody else wanted, for the same pay, because, I guess, they hoped that they would become too valuable to retrench. It didn't work. In the year I left, all the CAS teachers who were 60, or over, were not renewed. This affected a handful of people at my college, but, across Oman, I'd imagine it would have worked out to be a fairly large number. I thought it was sad, especially considering that many of those let go were contributing more than a lot of the younger staff, they'd been there for years, they wanted to stay and they were still perfectly capable of doing the job Sad

.

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

Were these direct hire teachers or under contractors? Thus far, direct hire teachers have been allowed to stay as long as they could handle their job and were healthy. (I know a few who are at SQU and some private universities who are well over 60) It doesn't surprise me that the contractors would dump older teachers who are probably on higher pay...

VS

1st Sgt Welsh · Posted: Sat Dec 24, 2016 4:53 am Post subject:

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

Late-50s is when you have to forget about new jobs. Get in to a position before then and some places may let you stay. Saudi Arabian Airlines were ruthless in terminating people at age 60 Hegira (58 and a bit Gregorian) At KFUPM we were often kept on when we passed 60 - provided we still had our marbles and could actually do the job.

But things change. The rule is that the rules are fuzzy.

Lord T · Joined: 07 Jul 2015 Posts: 285

The PYP at KFUPM has teachers who are, shall we say, well into their 60's.
I know one guy there who is 66 this year.

When you think about it, why not? After all, would you refuse to read a scholarly article because its author was over 60?

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

Tendency at KFUPM is increasingly to "discourage" those over 60 from staying. There was a time when the place was stowed out with real oldtimers. Not now. Any medical "issues" and you are out. Any complaints from students about a teacher's competence will be listened to and may be acted on.

It is still one of the better place to work - if you are reduced to that in your dotage.