Job Discussion Forums

[Jagariko]

Hi.

I've been casually looking at jobs in KSA this year (currently in Asia).

I've observed three types of jobs: 1) Male only 2) Both sexes can apply 3) Female only. It seems that the female applicant only jobs are the ones that pay the lowest salaries (under $60,000) and some of the highest ones (I saw one package of $99,000) are for the places where only men can teach.

I was a little surprised as I'd assumed higher salaries would be needed to entice foreign women into such a restricted environment.

I know there are fewer positions for foreign women in general but would a female with almost 15 years teaching experience (high school and uni but without a home country teaching licence) and an MSc in Applied Linguistics struggle to secure a postion paying more than $60,000?

As I said, I'm only thinking of work in the Middle East in casual terms at the moment but I'd appreciate any comments.

[veiledsentiments]

The reality is that the vast majority of the EFL teaching jobs in Saudi are for men. And all of the highest pay jobs are for men.

If I were you, I wouldn't even bother looking in Saudi Arabia. I would look at the UAE. It is a significantly more pleasant place to live and the pay for women is equal to or better than KSA.

VS

[JustinC]

If money, not working conditions or quality of life, is all you want for the next 12 months then you will probably find Saudi to be the most profitable. You might find a higher paying job elsewhere (in the ME) but also more activities to spend money on when not at work.

[nomad soul]

Yes, in addition to being shut out of certain high-paying job opportunities, female EFL teachers are paid less than their male counterparts. It's because women's education in the Kingdom isn't at the level of importance as men's.

Ditto VS' comments---consider the UAE for well-paid teaching jobs. Recruiting and hiring for university openings starting Aug/Sept 2014 will occur in early to late spring, so keep an eye on TESOL Arabia's site, TESOL.org's career page, higheredjobs.com, and unijobs.ae.

[Jagariko]

Thanks for your input everyone.

Yes, I was purely thinking in terms of salary! Are the Aramco ones just for male teachers? It doesn't say so in the adverts.

I'm not surprised that women's education is considered less important than men's, in fact, I would have thought that was obvious! But, to encourage foreign women into the few jobs that need them, for examples, to teach at women's universities etc, you would have thought they'd have to offer something worthwhile.

I'll have a look at UAE opportunities. Aug/Sep 2014 sounds about the right time...

[veiledsentiments]

Companies that advertise in the US can not say that it is "men only" as it is against the law. In fact, if you apply, they may even be forced to interview you if you threaten to sue because they don't. (a number of companies have been caught in this silliness that the US law doesn't take into consideration companies that are hiring for a foreign country with different laws.) The employers have to assume that most readers are aware of KSA laws and know that only men need apply.

Since there aren't that many positions for women, they don't have much problem getting female teachers... there are plenty of converts to Islam, Arabs from North Africa/Levant, and Sub-continentals to fill any spaces that couldn't be filled by Native Speakers from Anglophone countries.

You might consider attending TESOLArabia (or TESOL in Portland, OR) job fair in March.

VS

[Paul in Saudi]

Aramco does hire a few female teachers, but these openings are rare.

The regular hiring notices from Aramco contractors are only for men.