Job Discussion Forums

[Pliny the Elder]

http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?t=94165&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=15

I am considering taking employment in Jazan province, S Arabia via Pinz, a NZ outfit, who are running the interview/selection process (for teachers) re setting up a new Polytechnic there. I realize the above thread concerns another Polytechnic, Jazan Economic City Polytechnic, already up and running - but the description of the place itself (Jazan), has quite put me off my lunch, not to mention the proximity (60 km) to the Yemeni border. And can one Polytechnic in a 1-horse town really be any different to a new Polytechnic starting up in the same 1-horse town ? Any thoughts, advice from Saudi veterans would be welcome
The following lines (from different posters in February, 2012) in the above thread - re the already existing JEC-PT in Jazan stood out :

Living environment: Bleak, depressing and intolerably hot and humid for most of the year. Both 'compounds' are not real compounds. They are more like apartments with a big wall around them. Facilities are minimal, and, as another poster already highlighted, there are constant problems with things like internet, electricity, laundry facilities, etc. The new compound looks and feels like a prison block. It's one of the most horrible places I've ever lived.
Security: A complete and utter JOKE, both at the compounds and on campus. If any angry radical gets it in his mind to slaughter whiteys with his AK-47 (easily acquired from the Yemeni border, no doubt), then the teachers will be SITTING DUCKS
Living in Jazan is not 'living' as I understand it, and JEC-PT is not a 'college' as I understand the definition
The real reason why so many find themselves in insupportable situations is because they don't believe what they read here - too many people believe that "I can cope" or "It's can't be true"

There also seems to be an almost inexhaustible supply of (mostly) young people either desperate enough or indebted enough to take the risk.
They didn't keep it a secret among the admin staff that they make a profit from the high turnover of teachers.

You can join the many and take a job then bail out once you realized what you've done.

So, how are things with the new crop of teachers and the new administration?

From what I've been hearing, it's more of the same.

The US has upped the fighting in Yemen. It's no longer just drones and missiles, but fighter planes and soldiers on the ground. Luckily for JEC, it's 40 miles/60k outside of Yemen, so a reminder that it's the low fruit on the tree. I'll feel horrible if the staff gets killed, but I won't be surprised. If poorly-guided missiles don't get them then a poorly-driven land cruiser might! Either that or one of the falafel sandwiches from the canteen..

There, I'm not sure if I havent answered my own question

[bulgogiboy]

Hi Pliny. PM me if you want more info on Jazan city, and the province in general. I think the new poly is opening up in Sabya? I visited there last year.

[johnslat]

Dear Pliny the Elder,

You'll need 4 more posts to send/receive PMs.

Regards,
John

[Pliny the Elder]

thank you Bulgogiboy and Johnslat.

The housing will be in Sabya, the Poly itself is 30 kms away in Baish.

the ad says 'At this stage the client has requested 35 guided learning hours per week but this is subject to review following the Task Needs Analysis.' When i asked the interviewer (its like a 'relay' interview - you never get to speak to the same person twice), he said it would be more like 25 hours. Which I spose could be upped to 30 on arrival given that its a start-up outfit and the left hand rarley knows what the right hand wants. Class sizes could number 20 odd.

Most of the students will be 18-19 years old and have never been exposed to education 'western-style'. Does it, for example, seem like a very tall order ?

Many Thanks again

[posh]

[bulgogiboy]

[Pliny the Elder]

Wow, thanks for the input, folks.

These PINZ lads and lassies from New Zealand sound not much better than human traffickers then .. misleading the poor efl man. Thriving off another�s misery. Wild Pity they cannot be prosecuted. All interviewers (in the 'relay interview race' to offload responsibility to the many') shrugged their collective PINZ shoulders at questions re concerns about the proximity to the Yemeni border. And general vagueness re concerns anybody going to the 'middle of nowhere' might have. How do these .. ''people�' .. live with themselves ?!!
I guess a Fat paycheque for being more than economical with the truth will help .. Rogues, all. May their offspring meet similar fates, Amen.

[spillthebeans]

I was wondering if anyone actually working with PINZ at Baish could give us an update on how it's going there.

The package on offer was/is attractive. A friend of mine who applied was kept waiting for a visa, and eventually sidetracked onto another job frustrated by the delays. He said PINZ could have handled the visa process better, but overall he had a favorable impression of the company and doesn't hold any grudges against them. Remarks on this thread about PINZ being "traffickers" are as silly as they are ill-informed; when insiders are not talking, it's generally a good sign isn't it?

[scot47]

I have been in some of the wilder parts of KSA. I would not recommend Jaizan to anyone. Ever.

[spillthebeans]

Can anyone working at Baish give us an update? Just some basic info, like are you getting paid? Are there any students? Plus any other relevant comments. Thanks.

[spillthebeans]

We never got the update re PINZ in Jazan...but, I'm starting to wonder about PINZ. Certainly, they have a number of irons in the fire, re KSA. However, the way they go about recruiting people leaves a lot to be desired. Their approach seems to be to line up a bunch of people for a maybe, maybe not, project and maybe you will go, maybe you won't. This drag-net approach guarantees a poor staff profile since quality staff need a definite in advance, while useless tossers who don't have much going for them don't. The pay looks good, but I'd be wary of PINZ if I were you.

[rollingk]

Back when PINZ first started running those ads I applied, passed the screening and interview and ostensibly was hired. I was requested to "meet the client representative" as he would be coming thru Riyadh within the next couple days and "he liked to meet new hires personally". Despite an overuse of hair products and perhaps too much attention to coordination, both of clothes and wit, I thought it went well enough though. Actually, in parting I was told he looked forward to my joining. However, although PINZ had made the offer the official contract was not forthcoming. When I contacted PINZ about this, they told me the client rep I'd met had told them under no conditions to hire me . . . and they couldn't tell me why, had no idea, and would I please accept apologies, that they had thought I knew this and the why of it.

As if Baish wouldn't have been bad enough!!!!!! Saved! Saved! Thankfully somehow saved!!

[spillthebeans]

@rollingk, that's interesting. I know another guy who flew into London from Italy, expecting a work visa from PINZ, only to be kept waiting in an expensive (at his own expense) hotel for yonks. Never knew if he made it to Baish for that wonderful tech college gig.

People need to know that PINZ are operating in a very dodgy way re hiring. To be fair, they are simply being messed about by their Saudi counterparts, but all the evidence suggests PINZ cannot deal with Saudis, and have no idea how to arrange things; they are tantamount misleading people, and I know that for a fact.

[rollingk]

[DLIguy]

The latest word is that PINZ has just signed a MOU with the Najran Educational Enterprise Development-Learning Entertainment Department and that all new employees will be brought in on proper visas sponsored by them.


That's right.


From now on, everybody hired by them will be on PINZ and NEEDLES!