Job Discussion Forums

[lcanupp1964]

During my time spent reading the many posts on this forum, I have noticed a possible pattern and was wondering if you feel the same as I do.

When some people post a question about a teaching position for the first time (teachers with zero experience in KSA), their intentions are not to heed the advice if people responding to the OP states that the particular teaching position should not be taken. Rather, they are only seeking positive affirmations to reinforce their “gut” decision on taking the position. In other words, they are just seeking approval and are not interested in listening to the advice of the other posters.

Maybe it’s human nature to ignore advice if it goes against your “gut” . Maybe this instinct becomes stronger when soliciting the advice of strangers.

[scot47]

Experience will teach them. Personally I do not CARE if people listen to my sensible advice or not !

[spiral78]

This attitude also abounds on the Europe forums, where many North Americans and others without EU member state passports pontificate about 'if I try hard enough' or 'I'm not giving up 'cause I'm special' in the face of laws that simply don't allow for their 'obvious' exceptional status to be recognized

[veiledsentiments]

It's human nature I suppose. How often do we ask questions - of friends, family, work acquaintances - only to confirm what we have already decided? I think that this is a major problem with newbies to the Saudi board who have probably for years heard about all the wealth to be found there for any old expat who shows up still breathing. Or they have bought into the Lawrence of Arabia romantic Middle East idea. If they are young, they also think that their terrible offer sounds pretty good.

Too many of them don't want to know that they have received a low ball, crappy offer from a horrible abusive employer in a dusty outpost where the Saudis don't even want to go.

VS

[nomad soul]

Ah, yes... Human nature...

1. "Only tell me what I want to hear."

2. "You're not playing nice because you don't have anything positive to say about my job prospects."

3. "If you don't have anything good to post, then don't post at all."

4. "I want a lot of something for nothing and I want it now!"

5. "I feel I deserve the level of pay/bennies that many of you have, but (yawn) I simply don't have the time to gain experience elsewhere nor money to upgrade my degree."

6. "Gee, out of the 20 negative, discouraging posts, one (and only one) person PM'd me with positive, encouraging comments about how I can get hired quick-n-easy even with zero experience. So my dream of working in Saudi Arabia can be a reality."

7. "I may be 24 years old, but I have plenty of work experience, so I know what I'm doing."

8. "You're one of those over-the-hill, self-anointed experts. You haven't worked in Saudi Arabia for years, so your opinion doesn't count."

9. "I know my qualifications are minimal, but I should still be able to negotiate a salary of $4500 per month. Plus, I only want to live on a compound that has a large pool. Oh, and I only want well-behaved students too."

10. "Yeah, but a business visit visa will still get me over to Saudi Arabia and quickly making those big bucks. That's all I care about."

11. "I have three, non-TEFL related bachelors degrees. Added together, they should equal an MA, right?"

12. "But an MA in Non-Religious Studies shouldn't be a problem, right?"

13. "I put a lot of blood, sweat and tears into completing my online degree. I don't understand why the SACM refuses to authenticate it."

14. "I'm a warm, breathing native speaker; that should be enough to qualify me to teach in KSA."

15. "I have 6 month's experience as a volunteer teaching children in a village in Mubungu, Africa, so it should count as experience for a unversity job in Saudi Arabia."

16. "its you that has a problems with my English. i wuz typo fast that is all i wud make a gud techer."

17. "What will my (lack of) qualifications get me?"

18. "I met a guy who works at Ali Baba's Falafel Joint in Toledo, Ohio, who said he knows a guy who has an uncle in Saudi Arabia who knows a guy that can get me a teaching job."

19. "I've received unsolicited offers from EdEx and some guy named Al Shabaka, so my lowly qualifications aren't as skimpy as some of you say."

20. "No problem. I can handle working for crappy, abusive Saudi contractors---I used to be a Walmart employee."

Happy New Year!

[auhruh]

[veiledsentiments]

x2

Thanks Nomad!! Made my day...

VS

[trapezius]

15, 16, 18, and 20 had me ing.

Great post, and these were just icing on the cake:

Mubungu
Ali Baba's Falafel Joint
Guy named Al Shabaka

[johnslat]

OK, all together now: STI -CKY / STI - CKY / STI -CKY

Regards,
John

[scot47]

"I gave the Scot47 Philanthropic Foundation US$5000 and they told me I could start next week !"

Scot47 was not available for comment at this time. His telephonic answering device indicated he was spending the vacation in the Last Chance Saloon in Truth or Consequences.

[sicklyman]

how about adding...

"There are no good jobs in Saudi Arabia with contractors. The one you've got is an illusion."

[myohmy]

Had I heeded the "sensible advice" given here in the echo chamber, I would not be living in a posh apartment making 45 grand a year.

[nomad soul]

[grayskies]

Perhaps it's not what you say, rather, in the manner you are advising. My New Years resolution is to be kind and patient.

[nomad soul]