Job Discussion Forums

vabeckele · Joined: 19 Nov 2010 Posts: 439

Dear All,

I had an interview, over Skype, that ended well with ELI. A job offer was given and I was told to wait for confirmation of this through email. A couple of weeks later I get a reply stating...'unfortunately you were not successful this time.'

I got the feeling this university was, at least, reputable enough not to do these kind of things.

Is this common in Saudi Arabia? I was pretty gutted after such a positive interview.

plumpy nut · Joined: 12 Mar 2011 Posts: 1652

In the ESL industry it's usually the day after. I think what happened is the interview was successful but they might have been waiting to see who else applied.

cmp45 · Joined: 17 Aug 2004 Posts: 1475 Location: KSA

vabeckele · Joined: 19 Nov 2010 Posts: 439

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

Is there an employer known as ELI? Or were you just not mentioning which university it was?

This is sadly common actually. They may have interviewed a half dozen teachers and the ones after you more closely met their needs. We even hear of people who have gone through all the paperwork steps of employment, left their job, given up their homes, waiting to go to the airport, and then get a message from the employer that the job is withdrawn. Thankfully not common, but it does happen.

Things can be very unpredictable in the Gulf.

VS

nomad soul · Joined: 31 Jan 2010 Posts: 11454 Location: The real world

vabeckele · Joined: 19 Nov 2010 Posts: 439

Salalah Man · Joined: 17 Dec 2012 Posts: 12

I was interviewed by King Abdul Aziz University last October. I found the whole process to be quite strange. From what I recall, the interview was a good hour late and then when it did occur it was very rudimentary and I was told by the British interviewer that I would be offered a job. So far, so Gulf. I've got the quals and experience so I wasn't unduly surprised I'd get an offer. Well, I waited for a week or so and an offer was then put in my inbox. Unfortunately, it was addressed to a guy called Mohamed, who wasn't me. I e-mailed them about three times to inform them that they had messed up but I never received a reply. Anyway, I gave up on them only to receive another offer mid Jan addressed to someone else who wasn't me! I do wish these people would get their act together.

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

You may have had a lucky excape. If their interview procedures are so messed up, what are they like to work for ?

Salalah Man · Joined: 17 Dec 2012 Posts: 12

Scot,
I don't think the financial package would have been that tempting. Certainly, the accommodation and transport allowances that most teachers get were poor. I think you would need to have a PhD in order to make big bucks.

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

KAAU never had a good reputation.