Job Discussion Forums

[hamsh]

I had been interviewed with PMU committee at the Department of Information Technology, it seems they are asking questions related to the material of the course that I will be teaching than ethics and teaching philosophy. Also, I do see bad comments about PMU. Any advice.

[Warning Bells]

These people who run this 'university' are idiots! Don't waste your time!
First year they opened, they offered me a position without an interview or any type of background check. I asked for a slightly higher salary and an interview. They refused! Then the next year they 'granted' me an interview. They offered me the job with a higher salary than I had asked the year before. The trouble is, they couldn't send me my contract and visa for over six months after the interview. They couldn't even return my emails with questions. Next year rolls around and they apologized because they couldn't get their act together and asked me if I was still interested. They wanted to know if I would fly back to my home country and wait around for them to send me my documents to process my visa there. Yes, I'll give you a third try, quit my current job, pay for my flight back to my home country and wait for months on end for you to finally send the contract and what I need to process my visa.

Morons!

[isabel]

We should all be careful to not let this thread get locked.

PMU? Where to begin? Firstly, as the above poster said, they cannot even organize getting employees to the Kingdom in the first place. I knew one woman who waited a year from when they offered the job. She still came, and lost the job within 6 months. There are plenty such stories.

Try to find a job in another part of the region. The wages are good and there is a lot more freedom in The Emirates, and Oman, while not paying quite as much, is actually a lovely country with spectectular beaches and mountains.

Khobar is hot, dry and ugly. Right now it is +40 and there are sand storms. The compounds PMU uses are really really god-awful. One has been deliberated razed of any trees, and the other has the feel of housing project after a bombing raid. It is a 30-45 minute deadly monotonous drive to the University (housing on campus was slated for completion a year or two ago, but I doubt they have broken sand on the project). The drive is occasionally livened up by extended rants and complaints, and the occasional outbreak of song by someone who has been there way too long.

The administration is nothing short of Fascistic. It is largely management by edict. Your work, holidays, and living conditions will be dictated to you, largely by email. Don't think about trying to negotiate a thing.

Read the posts about PMU and try, really try, to imagine yourself there, Imagine your response when holiday time comes, and your passport and visa have not been sorted out, 6 months after arriving, and you have to spend 2 weeks at the compound in the stifling heat while your colleagues are off at a nice beach somewhere enjoying pina coladas. Imagine your feelings when you are ready to leave your job, have given notice, etc., and you get to the border and discover the university has cancelled your exit visa. (http://saudilife.net/qa/91-law/14702-employer-is-not-giving-exit) Imagine unpaid overtime.

Now imagine not being able to voice your frustration about your job there here on Dave's, because access was banned after the last round of kvetching by others at PMU.

Not a pretty place, in any way. If you do take the job, remember you were warned.

[Linguist]

[isabel]

[hamsh]

I agree with you "isabel" the philosophy and ethic should be common for all not on a specific departments. I am not going to enjoy my work there if the attitude bad as I hear it here. I do see English department behavior and attitude is the same like other departments. In addition, I believe here in this forum, people has gathered more culture experience than any other sites.

[isabel]

There are better places in the ME. I took the job in the Kingdom because I didn't know better- my mistake. PMU was a brand new school then, and there was no online track record. I have liked every country I have worked in, and have found reasons to appreciate all of my jobs. Save Saudi Arabia and PMU. There is just too much at stake to take the risk.

[MKR]

Hi everyone....I've taken notice of your comments of PMU in Al Khobar. This is December 2011 now and I was wondering if things are any better there for the female faculty? I was considering applying there. Their web site seems sophisticated and legitimate.....but you people make the actuality sound quite the contrary......

I also have a question concerning the use of technology as they say: "PMU emphasizes learning competencies and applications of information technology in all programs".
How much is technology used in ESL learning programs there and in general in SA???

Do have suggestions of other universities that would be better?

[veiledsentiments]

Leopards never change their spots quickly... even the worst of the employers tend to have fancy websites.

If you have a related MA and experience, expand your search beyond Saudi Arabia.

VS

[scarlie]

Are there any updates on the situation at PMU?

[Saudi4Ever]

Well...

[EFL Educator]

Well a friend of mine who is teaching there says salaries are pretty low for EFL Saudi newbies...around SR 11,000/Month for those with an MA Degree + CELTA/DELTA etc. or even less...and that the students determine if a teacher stays or goes..