Job Discussion Forums

silverdolls · Joined: 27 Nov 2007 Posts: 13

My husband and I had been sending off his CV's (a lot!) everywhere including here in Saudi (our last option to find work for being desperate), but it seems like no one wants to hire him. We're not getting any responses from the employers- sigh! My husband got hired to work in Libya but he won't be able to bring his family(wife n baby) w/ him so he turned the job down. My husband has a BA (Eng Lit.), Celta, Tefla n atleast 5 yrs. experience, he's a UK citizen n Canadian but mostly Brit, worked in England, Russia n Canada. We know that most of the employers in the middle east hire people w/ MA/teaching qualification but some still hire people w/ just BA's qualification aswell. We're planning to stay in KSA/middle east for few yrs. so he can have an opportunity to take his MA n pay his debts. Well, how difficult is it to find work out there especially in KSA?
-Thanks

desert_traveller · Joined: 28 Nov 2006 Posts: 335

My impression was that employers only look at RELEVANT professional qualifications, ie your hubby's BA in Eng Lit will not count if he wants to get a teaching job, so in this respect he will be CELTA qualified (unless he wants to teach English Literature).

I might be totally wrong, though.

huntjuliehunt · Joined: 09 May 2007 Posts: 87

You would both be welcome in Korea, and could work at the same school.

Saudi seems to not be a very heterosexually friendly place; maybe it's that he's married.

cmp45 · Joined: 17 Aug 2004 Posts: 1475 Location: KSA

Cleopatra · Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2008 8:53 am Post subject:

I wouldn't give up hope just because of a lack of response. Gulf employers are famous for not responding to applications until the last minute, by which time you have probably set yourself up with another job. Don't be surprised if at some stage you hear from one or more of these people asking if you can submit your details for a visa application, and if you can be in Riyadh asap.

While it is true that in theory most good Saudi employers only take applicants with MAs, in practice some of them will settle for a BA, especially if the candidate has ME experience.

Stephen Jones · Joined: 21 Feb 2003 Posts: 4124

Your husband has excellent qualifications. I am surprised he hasn't got a reply yet. Probably just lack of time.

Tell him to apply to KFUPM. With a BA and only five years experience the salary won't be the best, but he'll be able to get the family over.

Zajko · Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2008 7:14 pm Post subject:

I'm likewise very surprised that your husband hasn't had a number of decent employment offers - from Saudi, Oman, Kuwait or one or two other places - given the qualifications and experience you've stated. I know for a fact that PSU in Riyadh (just to name one) were hiring teachers with a BA and 2-3 years experience for this academic year, and still having problems finding suitable candidates, offering a reasonable (not great, but reasonable) salary and all the usual benefits.

I have a few names and contact email addresses for employers in the area which I'd be happy to pass on, if it's any use - just PM me - but many of these will also fit the bill which others have described here of Saudi/Gulf employers who tend to take a month or three to reply and then suddenly email to ask if you're available to start work next week.

windstar · Joined: 22 Dec 2007 Posts: 235

I have tried to fill out PSU's online application form but it does not work or I could not figure out how it works. Anybody there with an idea?

Zajko · Posted: Sat Jan 12, 2008 5:33 pm Post subject:

...that might have something to do with the fact that they were short of teachers some time back, of course!

If you need a contact name and email address to reach the relevant person in the department directly, and this isn't listed on their website, PM me.

bourgoinpierre · Joined: 04 Jan 2008 Posts: 15

try looking at tefl.com and applying for Bell International in association with Obeikan.

jmarkowsky · Joined: 24 Oct 2007 Posts: 18

I'm also puzzled by huntjuliehunt's comment about KSA not being heterosexually friendly. What does that mean exactly? Schools prefer to hire homosexuals over heterosexuals??

Zajko · Posted: Sun Jan 13, 2008 9:53 pm Post subject:

Think that was just one of those weird off-the-wall comments from someone who either (a) knows very little about Saudi or (b) had a bad experience there. Perhaps both.

The truth is rather different: Saudi society revolves around marriage and the family in many ways, and it's a far easier and more comfortable location to live in as a married person than as someone who's single (whether you're male, female, straight, gay or into goats). Some employers at the lower end of the spectrum do like to take singles over married couples for financial reasons - lower costs in airfares, accommodation, schooling for kids etc - but many equally recognise that a married couple or family are perhaps less likely to up and leave in the night after a few weeks because it wasn't all as rosy as they'd expected it to be.

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

It was a flakey comment. Responsible employers in KSA - and there are some - are quite happy to offer married status. KSA is a family-oriented society.

I am quite happy to make suggestions on receipt of a pm.

jmarkowsky · Joined: 24 Oct 2007 Posts: 18

What I've heard is that single heterosexual males (like myself) pose a bit of a threat to some employers because the Saudi males are protective of their women. So they prefer to hire married men with families. That's why I was confused by the previous posters comment, because I've also heard it's essentially a crime to be a homosexual. Yet, being single means it's cheaper for them to hire you. Seems complicated. Anyway...

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

Society is run in such a way that you as a male will never meet a saudi female. So how are you a threat ? Dream on ! Gender apartheid rules !

Men never come into contact with females outside the family - unless the women are shameless foreigners.