Job Discussion Forums

[gelynch52ph]

I wonder how many of the Interlink guys who went on vacation ever got visas and came back?

How did I get the following link in my e-mail only to be told "The topic or post you requested does not exist?"

http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/job/viewtopic.php?p=1009727#1009727

[alsysgo]

Hence, the sole purpose of the visit visa. Never to visit again....

[veiledsentiments]

[gelynch52ph]

[gelynch52ph]

Two more guys did the midnight run from Khamis Mushait Interlink because of visa issues not being addressed. That company lied to me and to almost everyone. When will they learn? Of course that is a rhetorical question only.

[RobertinOman]

This just in from KSA.

The brutal tactics of Interlinks/ EGA English Gate Academy, Saudi Arabia
All teachers continue to be ripped off by this company. They are now back rent charging some 1,200 SAR monthly for the months pending the arrival of a spouse. The rental subsidy for married couples to acquire their own apartment for a following year are being drastically cut, including all are charged with an estimated monthly electrical charge which is back dated to the start of the contract, even if one was out of the country for up to six weeks for new visa requirement. Basic repairs to the apartments are being threatened to be charged against the teacher occupants. The renewal contracts for a second year are completely uncertai. Teachers were advised to apply for reimbursement for visa flight.Reimbursements are being denied. A document of certification of employment for the year�s work even though legally required is most doubtful and a LONO (letter of no objection) is speculated will be all but impossible.
The complete disrespect from this company in regard to teachers is outrageous.

[skeptic]

With a five-year experience with INTERLINK I can attest taht the president is a highly ethical man, and the company adheres to the highest standards of the industry. In fact, it was instrumental in establishing many of those standards. My experience is domestic, but I have to say I'd put very little credence on the negative that is being said about their operations in KSA. I no longer work for INTERLINK, but I have worked in the Middle East and would say that some aggravations (housing, bureaucracy, resources) come with the territory almost anywhere you work.

Is that, perhaps, the sound of an ax being ground?

[veiledsentiments]

These boards are mainly about axes being ground, are they not?

I have friends who worked with Interlink at the university in Riyadh and had significant 'management' issues with them. They also made quite appalling hiring decisions - bringing over totally incompetent people from the US to supposedly fix the problems which only made things worse. Then there was the replacing of experienced teachers with MA trainees from the East Coast. It was no wonder that their students left in droves.

And the reports of these new language school branches have generally been even worse.

Don't try to compare the US situation with the Saudi situation. The only real similarity is the name apparently. I suggest that you go and work with them there and perhaps you can convince them to become more like the US situation.

VS

[gelynch52ph]

I posted the following to my Facebook account.

I wonder if Interlink will:
A. Get the contract again for the next academic year and
B. Be able to find teachers after the shi**y way they treated everyone this year
C. Ever learn their lesson that teachers are human beings and not camels?

I hope Interlink gets the contract but cannot staff the schools. That will remove them from the misery they cause everyone associated with them.

[rdobbs98]

I believe everything said about them and here is a reply by a recruiter on Interlink when I questioned the history of them:


� let me comment on the link content in your note. This is a new one. Although it is disconcerting, the good news is that is not as bad as I have seen on other companies. The head of EGA, Dr Ahmed is the former president of Al Yamamah University where we have been operating several programs (approximately 60 teachers and administrators) for over eight years now (http://yu.edu.sa/sites/en/Pages/Default.aspx).



Dr Ahmed is a scholar, social commentator, author of several books, and a prominent member of the community. A PhD in curriculum and instruction from Penn State, he is one of the most honest, caring and fair persons I have ever known. We wouldn�t have gotten involved in this project had it not been for this gentleman, whom I have known for over a decade and have full confidence in his leadership abilities, superior personal attributes and impeccable reputation. The sad thing is that employees can run to the blogs, vent and badmouth employers, but who do the employers go to when two of the employees take off overnight with six months of rent in cash, or dance in class while the Quran is being recited, or when he uses foul language in front of the students, or offend the students by calling their Prophet names? It is the nature of this line of work and we have to stay focused and not be concerned about disgruntled employees� comments. I have tremendous respect for the people who run EGA. I am hopeful that the critical reader will decide otherwise and take such comments with a grain of salt. How could EGA possibly run 14 centers throughout the country if they were as bad as the blogs portray them?! �

MOD edit for names

[scot47]

Yamamarana ! Not something to boast about !

[tacomaboywa]

INTERLINK is a partner with English Gate Academy (EGA)

EGA is the Saudi Side of the Business. This means everything that occurs inside of Saudi Arabia for any INTERLINK/EGA employee will be decided in the end by the Saudi in control (Mr. Aleisa). This is a common last name and I will not provide the first name.

However, if you need to visit their main business office, it is located in Riyadh in Azizia Mall (F1) on the Olaya Road side.

I do not work for them. I interviewed once with them in Riyadh. I know a few people working for them. The offer given to me was very low for 14+ years of experience as a certified US teacher with a Master Degree. They thought SR13,000 a month was generous (including all benefits). In the end, I am happy that I never got mixed up with this group.

[gelynch52ph]