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riyadh1974
Joined: 24 Apr 2005
Posts: 17
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 Posted: Wed Feb 29, 2012 7:40 pm Post subject: ARAMCO - I give up! |
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After wasting my time applying directly to Aramco, dreaming that I might get a shot at that elusive golden goose - the direct hire contract - I finally awakened from my state of stupid suspended reality and realised that they will never take on direct hire EFL teachers. Let's face it, all the Aramco adverts are for employment with contractors, even though most ads are misleading in this regard!
EFL teachers are two a penny in the Gulf so let's face it, no company in its right mind would offer such dream salaries/terms and conditions for 50 TEFLers!!
It's nice to dream! Is it me or has working on KSA for so long made me this cynical!? |
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It's Scary!
Joined: 17 Apr 2011
Posts: 823
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| Posted: Wed Feb 29, 2012 10:48 pm Post subject: |
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Sorry, mate, Aramco do hire direct...just, apparently, not you!
Hold for it...
...
...
...
...or me. 
It's the sad reality! |
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ultraman111
Joined: 17 Sep 2011
Posts: 148
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| Posted: Thu Mar 01, 2012 1:11 am Post subject: |
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Im a direct hire......sourced from overseas(Australia)
Maybe thats what they want....ie...fresh meat with no GCC experience..?
Had visa medical this week. |
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bulgogiboy
Joined: 23 Feb 2005
Posts: 803
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| Posted: Thu Mar 01, 2012 1:48 am Post subject: |
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I've heard that these big state oil companies within the GCC actually spend LESS on direct hires than they do on contracted staff. Quite why they even bother with the hassle of contractors is a mystery. Is it due to a lack of HR staff??? Who knows, but they do do direct hires, for sure.
And in my experience they definitely DO want instructors with gulf experience, for obvious reasons. Teaching in the gulf is a whole new ball game... |
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PattyFlipper
Joined: 14 Nov 2007
Posts: 572
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| Posted: Thu Mar 01, 2012 11:16 am Post subject: |
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| bulgogiboy wrote: |
I've heard that these big state oil companies within the GCC actually spend LESS on direct hires than they do on contracted staff. Quite why they even bother with the hassle of contractors is a mystery. Is it due to a lack of HR staff??? Who knows, but they do do direct hires, for sure.
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I am not sure if it is still the case, but it used to be partly related to the government's Saudization policy. Private sector companies and institutions were assessed a higher rate of corporation tax if they had over a certain number of non-Saudi employees. Of course foreign contractors didn't count.  There was/is a similar dynamic at play in the government sector, too - employment quotas etc. It is also much easier from an HR point-of-view, particularly given the transient nature of employment in the Gulf and the high turnover of expatriate employees. Fire or non-renew as the whimsy takes you, and the recruiter or contracting company simply brings in another batch of fresh meat. Doubtless corruption plays its part too, as pockets can be filled more easily using this system.
Retention rates and quality rarely enter into the equation. Hire to fire has always been the unstated policy of many employers in the GCC. |
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veiledsentiments
Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA
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| Posted: Thu Mar 01, 2012 4:11 pm Post subject: |
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| PattyFlipper wrote: |
| Private sector companies and institutions were assessed a higher rate of corporation tax if they had over a certain number of non-Saudi employees. Of course foreign contractors didn't count. |
This detail has never been mentioned before, but it really explains why we are suddenly awash with applicants being taken over on "business/visit" visas with no iqama on the horizon.
I figured it was mainly because of how quickly and easily it allowed them to get people in, but this makes more sense from a business point of view. Taken together, it makes the illegal system a win/win for the businesses.
VS |
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Imdramayu
Joined: 09 Feb 2007
Posts: 394
Location: South Korea
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| Posted: Thu Mar 01, 2012 6:23 pm Post subject: Putting the pedal to the metal..... |
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Riyadh1974 (and others), I know how you feel about Aramco. If you want something big (e.g., Aramco direct hire), then you have to do something about it. Not to sound too punitive but what have you done about getting hired as a Aramco direct hire? I read posters lamenting here about how great life is as a Aramco direct hire. I often wonder what they have done about it. I don't know for sure but sticking one's application in the online Aramco application isn't enough.
I don't say this to criticize but as a call to action.
Im |
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It's Scary!
Joined: 17 Apr 2011
Posts: 823
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| Posted: Thu Mar 01, 2012 6:54 pm Post subject: Re: Putting the pedal to the metal..... |
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| Imdramayu wrote: |
Riyadh1974 (and others), I know how you feel about Aramco. If you want something big (e.g., Aramco direct hire), then you have to do something about it. Not to sound too punitive but what have you done about getting hired as a Aramco direct hire? I read posters lamenting here about how great life is as a Aramco direct hire. I often wonder what they have done about it. I don't know for sure but sticking one's application in the online Aramco application isn't enough.
I don't say this to criticize but as a call to action.
Im |
First, do I have to define "lament"? People tend to lament because they're NOT Aramco direct hires!
Second, all I did to get invited to be flown down, chauffeured about, put up in a good hotel and paid per diem for the interview was simply apply on-line. What else do you suggest that people do?
It's about where does "envy" end and "lament" begin!! |
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Bebsi
Joined: 07 Feb 2005
Posts: 958
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| Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2012 12:14 am Post subject: |
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Direct Hire is actually much cheaper for operations such as Aramco.
The reasons they don't go for it very much are mostly political - and, one suspects, there are all sorts of hidden interests involved.
Gulf experience means that one usually knows what to expect.
This is precisely why many employers nowadays don't necessarily like to hire those with Gulf experience!
That being said, even those with a lot of Gulf experience can get fooled by some employers!
Be very careful out there ... |
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USAMATHMAN
Joined: 01 Oct 2009
Posts: 72
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| Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2012 3:18 am Post subject: ARAMCO |
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I was actually invited to interview with Aramco (through a contracting company). They paid for my flight and put me in a really nice hotel room for one night.
Interview was one of the most challenging that I have ever had. Started with an early morning Calculus test (35 mins), then a face to face interview with 3 members of the Aramco staff (one was the head of the ESL dept), and after the face to face I was unexpectedly asked to complete a teaching demonstration, where the representatives picked 3 different problems.
They definitely caught me by surprise. I ended up not getting hired.
I am sure there had to be AT LEAST 15 ESL guys interviewing on that specific day and many more interviewed throughout the week. Plenty of competition for the ESL positions.
I know of only two guys that actually received an offer. One was an engineer and the other was a welder.
---------------------------------
I am also 100% sure that the ARAMCO Public School does all of their hiring through a recruiting team called SEARCH ASSOCIATES. Search Associates has a bunch of job fairs throughout the year and Aramco was at a few of the ones that were held in Jan & Feb. Starting salary for a teacher with a bachelors and 4 years teaching experience was listed at $70,000+.
Salary was in addition to all the usual perks. 
Last edited by USAMATHMAN on Fri Mar 02, 2012 2:11 pm; edited 2 times in total |
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veiledsentiments
Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA
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| Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2012 3:25 am Post subject: Re: ARAMCO |
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| USAMATHMAN wrote: |
I am also 100% sure that the ARAMCO Public School does all of their hiring through a recruiting team called SEARCH ASSOCIATES. Search Associates has a bunch of job fairs throughout the year and Aramco was at a few of the ones that were held in Jan & Feb. Starting salary for a teacher with a bachelors and 4 years teaching experience was list as $70,000+.
Salary was in addition to all the usual perks. |
These jobs are the type where teachers only leave if they die!! (or retire  ) We have only heard about a couple openings on here over the years... and they were filled without advertisement... on the recommendation of teachers already there.
Western Wasta!! It's not who you are, but who you know.
VS |
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PattyFlipper
Joined: 14 Nov 2007
Posts: 572
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| Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2012 12:24 pm Post subject: Re: ARAMCO |
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| USAMATHMAN wrote: |
Interview was one of the most challenging that I have ever had. Started with an early morning Calculus test (35 mins) |
I think I would have thrown in the towel at this point. Calculus, for a TEFL position? |
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USAMATHMAN
Joined: 01 Oct 2009
Posts: 72
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| Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2012 2:10 pm Post subject: Re: ARAMCO |
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| PattyFlipper wrote: |
| USAMATHMAN wrote: |
Interview was one of the most challenging that I have ever had. Started with an early morning Calculus test (35 mins) |
I think I would have thrown in the towel at this point. Calculus, for a TEFL position? |
I interviewed for a math position. Aramco was interviewing for many different subjects and trades. |
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It's Scary!
Joined: 17 Apr 2011
Posts: 823
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| Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2012 7:56 pm Post subject: Re: ARAMCO |
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| USAMATHMAN wrote: |
| PattyFlipper wrote: |
| USAMATHMAN wrote: |
Interview was one of the most challenging that I have ever had. Started with an early morning Calculus test (35 mins) |
I think I would have thrown in the towel at this point. Calculus, for a TEFL position? |
I interviewed for a math position. Aramco was interviewing for many different subjects and trades. |
Yes. Unlike your alias, his is for real!
It's what you put into it! |
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ultraman111
Joined: 17 Sep 2011
Posts: 148
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| Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2012 10:54 pm Post subject: |
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The 3 technical questions I was asked at Aramco interview were;
Give an example of some modal verbs for advice.
Explain the structure/formation of the unreal conditional.
and I forget the third one atm..... |
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