Job Discussion Forums

[cedarstreetcowboy]

I am currently working in China and considering teaching in Saudi Arabia. I'm wondering what kind of compensation package I could reasonably expect with the following qualifications:

1) B.A. & M.A. in fields unrelated to education/TEFL
2) 120 hour TESOL certification
3) Over 5 years of ESL teaching experience, two of which were in the West.

I realize many of the job offers want someone with a PhD in linguistics, or an M.A. in TEFL, etc. I'm just wondering what kind of chance I stand with the profile of a typical East Asian TEFLer.

I'd also like to know if I could get higher compensation by living in a more remote location, which is what I'm currently doing.

[nomad soul]

The majority of job ads posted for KSA indicate a salary range, but you'd really have to apply to find out. It's highly doubtful your unrelated degrees and recent China experience would appeal to direct-hire, university employers, but the usual batch of suspects (i.e., contracting companies) would hire you. By the way, teaching in a remote location generally doesn't impact salary.

[lcanupp1964]

I agree with N.S.

I can also add an example:

Yesterday, I got a PM from a teacher working in Spain that has almost the same CV as yours. He has three years of teaching experience, you have five, but his masters is in education with a science concentration, but your masters is even more unrelated.

He applied to the ELI at KAU and he was given an offer of 11,000sr last week, which seems fair, but a little on the low side. If you had related degrees, you would be in the 15,000sr - 17,000sr per month range with your five years of experience. My point is this: Why not try and apply to all the gov't universities as a direct hire? Nomad Soul has more experience than me and she is more than likely stating the changes/odds – which are low, but you could get “lucky”.

The least that may happen is that you get turned down, but you might get a direct hire position, which will be at the lower end of the salary range. Oh, BTW, the person I am referring to is an American and I feel that he was given an offer due to that fact. If you are from an English speaking country (at least educated there with a passport from that country), the chance are better that you will get an offer. Happy hunting.

[nomad soul]

Yes, you might get "lucky" if a direct-hire employer decides to accept your unrelated degree, though more seem to require relevant credentials nowadays. That's your first obstacle.

But also be aware that direct-hire salaries are generally calculated based on verified past experience. In order to get "credit" for each year of experience, you'd need to provide an official, signed employment verification letter or employment certificate from each previous employer stating your employment begin and end dates as well as your job title. Getting that written documentation from past employers will likely be your second obstacle.

[cedarstreetcowboy]

Thanks for the helpful replies. I'm going to make more inquiries, but unless I can find something that pays substantially more, and by that I mean double of what I get now, I think I'll stay put.

[nomad soul]

How much do you expect to earn?