Job Discussion Forums

AbeCross · Joined: 21 Jun 2012 Posts: 191

A Mr. T at Tabuk University interviewed dozens and dozens of applicants for teaching jobs last summer. A number of us(four that I personally know of-including myself) were promised teaching positions. Contracts were sent out and signed.
I spent a considerable amount of time and money doing the medical tests and going through the arduous visa-application process. In the end, it was all for naught.
Notwithstanding the emails I sent, Mr. T. and the other folks at Tabuk University never did inform me that the contract was no longer being offered. This is the kind of otiose and unsavory practice that one would expect from a dubious recruiter-not from a Saudi university. Tabuk U. ought to recompense the applicants.
I was once an academic director and I always honored the contracts offered by my institution.
It is just these kind of practices that give the Saudi TEFL industry such a bad name.

"Facts are facts and will not disappear on account of your likes."
Jawaharlal Nehru

Roadthatimusttravel · Joined: 10 Jan 2012 Posts: 12

Exact same thing happened to me at another place. Interview, contract, all paperwork. Everything completed.

Then...no job. No contact at all. All emails ignored.

Seems it is common. They recruit more than they need in case people change their minds etc / that way they have people ready to go if they are short etc. I can understand why they do it.

Unethical, yes. However, there is basically nothing we can do. Nothing will change.

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

There are ethical employers who do the right thing. You found the other kind.

FarGone · Joined: 02 Nov 2011 Posts: 97

Scummy.

Bottom line is, that the tenets Saudis claim to adhere to do not apply to non-Muslims; even if Muslim, to their kinky version thereof.

Just no need.

AbeCross · Joined: 21 Jun 2012 Posts: 191

I really doubt if this debacle can be blamed just on Saudis. Mr. T. is a Briton, and he is the one who interviewed, hired, and subsequently ignored my messages, leaving me in the dark, and poorer from the experience.
The other person I had some contact with is from Pakistan.
A Saudi signed my contract, however.

"He who commits injustice is ever made more wretched than he who suffers it."
Plato

desert_traveller · Joined: 28 Nov 2006 Posts: 335

FarGone · Joined: 02 Nov 2011 Posts: 97

As a Saudi was signatory of your contract, and as your contract was not honored, said Saudi is the evil one.

(Yes, there is a chance that Brit recruiter is also a scumbag, but the "buck stops" at the Saudi who signed your contract and failed to honor his word-via-signature.)

shebab · Joined: 17 Sep 2003 Posts: 168

ALWAYS have a Plan B, or C, when accepting jobs. This scenario could happen anywhere in ESL, but most particularly in Saudi. I also accepted this position, but had two backups to turn to when Mr. T didn't come through. I am now happily in one of them!

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

Recruiters are the 21st century equivalent of the 18th century Press Gang. No morals. No sc ruples. No ethics.

FarGone · Joined: 02 Nov 2011 Posts: 97

AbeCross · Joined: 21 Jun 2012 Posts: 191

The Briton who hired me and others is employed at the university:No recruiters were involved. And this man abdicated his responsibility to earnest applicants who were hired for non-existent positions, and he is still recruiting. If I were him, I would resign. But he will not; he didn't even have the decency or professionalism to even bother notifying me or many of the others. And what about the Pakistani? The Pakistani notified me via email that they were taking care of the problem for me, and then ignored my subsequent emails. Were these two individuals told not to respond to emails? This cannot be blamed just on Saudis.

FarGone · Joined: 02 Nov 2011 Posts: 97

That said, if you have a signature on your contract of a Saudi-who-is-in-a-position-to-hire, then that's the final word. Said Saudi needs to answer for his signature on your contract (recruiters just bring in above-room-temperature bodies) and is the only legal authority to explain to you why you were not actually hired. (His signature states that you WERE hired.)

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

"Said Saudi needs to answer for his signature"

Answer to who ? What is your legal redress ? You have none and if our Saudi has to answer for this, then it will surely be to the Supreme Judge when the dealing is done.

FarGone · Joined: 02 Nov 2011 Posts: 97

Obviously, there is no legal redress; nor is there, were one to actually be in the KSA and were one performing "according to code" and simply dismissed. We ESL teachers have no real "rights" in a nation not our own.

I am simply pointing out that the person who has signed off on the contract document-which-was-not-honored is he who "made the decision," ultimately. Not the Briton; not the Pakistani.

Corrupt and not honorable, but such is the way it is with Saudis.

D. Merit · Joined: 02 May 2008 Posts: 203

Has anyone been hired and started at this university? Does anyone have any news?

Posts or pms gratefully received.