Job Discussion Forums

rollerblader · Joined: 01 Jul 2014 Posts: 20

5000 clams 'which is the maximum paid now for senior teachers by subcontractors' plus sixty percent sounds like a lot of cash, but it makes me wonder knowing the high cost of living in Dhahran if a decent quality of life can be funded with that sixty percent? How much of the base pay is lost due to housing and travel? If you are fortunate to find a compound within your means, how much would the price go up for that compound yearly? Wouldn't inflation of living costs mean you would make less and less as the years go by?

Is the $5000 worth it in the long run? Esl salaries have dropped dramatically in the Gulf while the he cost of living has increased just as dramatically. It would be nice to hear from teachers who have been working for subcontractors for some time to comment on these words of mine rather than the typical talking heads who live on this site.

Roller

dragonpiwo · Joined: 04 Mar 2013 Posts: 1650 Location: Berlin

Yes, it is worth it but have a plan. Don't spend your life in the Middle East because it will deskill you and most likely put your personal life on hold. Get in, save, get out once you can buy a property. 5 years max unless you can get a rotation, which is pretty impossible these days. Pay and bens are getting worse and worse all the time out here, so these are the end of days.

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

Working in the Middle East can be a trap from which there is no escape. If you doubt me go and visit one of the bars in Manama, Bahrain at the weekend and look at the customers !

sicklyman · Joined: 02 Feb 2013 Posts: 930

Makkah · Joined: 08 Oct 2014 Posts: 113

Still worth the money for 6 or 7 years even though I always thought a Senior T had a higher salary than advanced ind trainer.

Even so, after 3, 4, 5 yrs or so in Aramco very few will roll out the red carpet in another country and offer you even one third the salary. And won't be the slightest bit interested that you can churn out 7 lesson plans a day or designed some inane boring workshop about learning techniques or that you received a certificate of recognition or that you have a performance evaluation well over 90.

Just do it for the money or do your time .....get out.....buy a nice new house in the real world and do your best to fit in with the neighbors with real paying jobs in that world.

BajaLaJaula · Joined: 25 Jan 2007 Posts: 267

3,000 USD a month
-500 for rent in decent apartment in Jeddah
-500 for other sundry items
-1,000 for food, transportation, internet, etc.
--------
1,000 USD a month saving

after 5 years of tight fisted saving only gets you 60,000 USD
(many find it necessary to take at least 2 vacations a year and end up blowing at least half of what they had saved)

Where can you buy a decent house in the US for 60,000 USD that is not falling apart?

No it is no longer worth it. Unless you can still get the 6 figure salary as it was back in the day...I would say don't do it. Five years of putting up with the sh*t that living in Saudi will throw at you day in and day out will take it's toll.

Makkah · Joined: 08 Oct 2014 Posts: 113

BajaLaJaula · Joined: 25 Jan 2007 Posts: 267

Makkah Dude....top salary in Sandbox is now 5,000 a month*.....most will get closer to 3,000 a month

* maybe a few exceptions...but the big money is masalama.

I always got at least 6 figure salary...but them days are over.

Makkah · Joined: 08 Oct 2014 Posts: 113

BajaLaJaula · Joined: 25 Jan 2007 Posts: 267

Even at 5,000 a month....that is much less than I was making.

60,000 a year don't make it worthwhile for me.

I guess that is as good as it gets now.

I would much rather live in the civilized world for that kind of money....AND I DO.

If it works for you...then 'good on ya.'

Makkah · Joined: 08 Oct 2014 Posts: 113

BajaLaJaula · Joined: 25 Jan 2007 Posts: 267

You are right. I forgot about the living allowance. Well for the few that are fortunate enough to get that gig....it may well be worth it.

How many spots do you think they will fill?

I guess Aramco "The flame that burns twice as bright burns half as long" is still an option for a select few.

Makkah · Joined: 08 Oct 2014 Posts: 113

sicklyman · Joined: 02 Feb 2013 Posts: 930

Makkah is spot on with all that... except that the last round of recruitment was July 2017.

sicklyman · Joined: 02 Feb 2013 Posts: 930

actually... not quite spot on. I assume he doesn't have experience at an ITC since the introduction in Nov 2016 of the iPad based in-house curriculum. This has cut down on lesson preparation enormously because the material is prepared for you and tailor-made for the Saudi Aramco context.