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jammex88
Joined: 09 Feb 2014
Posts: 43
Location: United States
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 Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2014 6:33 pm Post subject: ICEAT positive experiences? |
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I have an offer from ICEAT at KSU for Aug 2014, but after reading these forums it makes me wonder.
Has ANYONE had a reasonable experience with ICEAT? I mean, they can't be scamming and lying to ALL their employees. |
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nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
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| Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2014 8:13 pm Post subject: Re: ICEAT positive experiences? |
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| jammex88 wrote: |
| Has ANYONE had a reasonable experience with ICEAT? I mean, they can't be scamming and lying to ALL their employees. |
You might rethink that question; it makes no sense to base such a major decision on just one person's positive experience. |
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jammex88
Joined: 09 Feb 2014
Posts: 43
Location: United States
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| Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2014 8:16 pm Post subject: Re: ICEAT positive experiences? |
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| nomad soul wrote: |
| jammex88 wrote: |
| Has ANYONE had a reasonable experience with ICEAT? I mean, they can't be scamming and lying to ALL their employees. |
You might rethink that question; it makes no sense to base such a major decision on just one person's positive experience. |
I don't intend to make the decision based on any one factor, let alone one post. I am trying to get more information and opinions. |
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nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
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| Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2014 8:47 pm Post subject: |
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| ICEAT has been consistently inconsistent; complaints currently being voiced within this forum are the same frustrations several of my friends had with the company several years ago. Anyway, if you decide to sign on with them, don't accept a business visit visa with their promise to eventually get you an employment visa. |
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Betrayer of Hope
Joined: 08 Aug 2011
Posts: 72
Location: in a dark place
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| Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2014 8:57 pm Post subject: |
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Majority of the folks have had bad experience with ICEAT. The only thing they are good at is paying their employees on time. Having said that, the only group of individuals who generally have benefited from being employed by ICEAT are teachers who were promoted to management positions at KSU. They are well looked after, and perhaps some of the senior teachers, the ones ICEAT first brought in many years ago.
Choose your master carefully! |
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jammex88
Joined: 09 Feb 2014
Posts: 43
Location: United States
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| Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2014 9:00 pm Post subject: |
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| nomad soul wrote: |
| ICEAT has been consistently inconsistent; complaints currently being voiced within this forum are the same frustrations several of my friends had with the company several years ago. Anyway, if you decide to sign on with them, don't accept a business visit visa with their promise to eventually get you an employment visa. |
They said it is an iqama visa (I specifically asked). They seem to be forthcoming in all respects so far, giving information and answering questions, emails promptly. It strikes me a professional and normal company. The posts about them on here seem to suggest they say one thing and do another. I just wonder if that is typical. All companies screw up occasionally. Do these types of problems happen with ICEAT in 10% of cases, 50%, 90%? That is sort of what I am trying to get at. |
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jammex88
Joined: 09 Feb 2014
Posts: 43
Location: United States
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| Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2014 9:11 pm Post subject: |
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| Betrayer of Hope wrote: |
Majority of the folks have had bad experience with ICEAT. The only thing they are good at is paying their employees on time. Having said that, the only group of individuals who generally have benefited from being employed by ICEAT are teachers who were promoted to management positions at KSU. They are well looked after, and perhaps some of the senior teachers, the ones ICEAT first brought in many years ago.
Choose your master carefully! |
Well, paying on time is a BIG plus considering one of the main reasons I would take this is for the money. The pay is 4 times what China is offering. For a one year appointment (11 months really) how bad can it be?
Have the bad experiences been mostly in terms of visas, working conditions? The stories on here seem to be mostly about visa processing.
Everybody says "do a direct hire don't go through a recruiter", but I really haven't seen that many jobs advertised directly by a university. |
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nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
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| Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2014 9:18 pm Post subject: |
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| jammex88 wrote: |
| The posts about them on here seem to suggest they say one thing and do another. I just wonder if that is typical. All companies screw up occasionally. Do these types of problems happen with ICEAT in 10% of cases, 50%, 90%? That is sort of what I am trying to get at. |
They're 100% inconsistent, if you're looking for a percentage. Signing on with them means taking your chances.
| also wrote: |
| The stories on here seem to be mostly about visa processing. |
They're known for bringing teachers over on 90-day business visit visas, which don't grant the holder the right to work or reside in Saudi. In other words, you'd be working illegally.
| and lastly wrote: |
| Everybody says "do a direct hire don't go through a recruiter", but I really haven't seen that many jobs advertised directly by a university. |
See "The skinny on direct-hire university opportunities" (http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?t=103722). Now's the time when many Saudi universities do their hiring. Try TESOL.org and higheredjobs.com. Also, some universities only post openings on their websites. |
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RiyadhExpat
Joined: 12 Dec 2012
Posts: 5
Location: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
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| Posted: Fri Apr 18, 2014 8:14 am Post subject: Unscrupulous, Dishonest, total Profiteers |
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| There is a reason that, three years after taking over the entire KSU-PYP fiasco, ICEAT has not been able to get another contract, anywhere, despite a lot of effort and an amazing sales pitch. They have a terrible reputation, which they deserve. Avoid if possible; or use them as a way in and move on as soon as you're able. |
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lazarenoir
Joined: 29 Apr 2014
Posts: 22
Location: United States
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| Posted: Wed May 07, 2014 10:07 pm Post subject: |
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| I've been asked to interview for a position at KSU. PrimeTeachers was the recruiting firm that posted the listing, and the company with whom I was in touch, but the interviewer's Skype address is "name.iceat". Found that interesting. Rather murky, these waters, mmm? I'm wondering if ICEAT is a subsidiary, or vice versa... |
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nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
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| Posted: Wed May 07, 2014 10:45 pm Post subject: |
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| lazarenoir wrote: |
| I've been asked to interview for a position at KSU. PrimeTeachers was the recruiting firm that posted the listing, and the company with whom I was in touch, but the interviewer's Skype address is "name.iceat". Found that interesting. Rather murky, these waters, mmm? I'm wondering if ICEAT is a subsidiary, or vice versa... |
ICEAT is most likely the contracting company (employer). Plenty of other threads about them within this forum. |
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Nabz1236
Joined: 04 Mar 2014
Posts: 54
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| Posted: Thu May 08, 2014 4:17 pm Post subject: ICEAT & KSU |
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Hi guys,
Just a further update was offered a job with ICEAT at KSU back in February when I attended an interview in London.
I have a BA Degree and just under 3 years teaching experience.
I have been waiting for M2R to issue me with the contract.
I have now been advised by ICEAT as there is a new Dean at KSU the requirements have changed.
They are now only accepting candidates with a Masters degree plus 5 years experience.
Somehow think that may change in time when ICEAT are unable to supply so many teachers with them requirements,
I contacted Education Experts who have advised they are still accepting a BA Degree with CELTA or TEFL plus 2 years experience minimum for KSU.
So i dont understand how it is different for ICEAT?
ICEAT have been trying to get another contract on their books but have so far failed like always.
Cheers
Nabz |
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cultofpersonality
Joined: 12 Jan 2012
Posts: 94
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| Posted: Thu May 08, 2014 4:50 pm Post subject: |
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Masters Degree plus 5 years experience.
Good luck with that KSU
For me, any company that has a past track record of not issuing iqamas during the first 3 months is a no-go company. The company obviously doesn't care about you being a lawbreaker in Saudi Arabia of all places. |
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lazarenoir
Joined: 29 Apr 2014
Posts: 22
Location: United States
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| Posted: Thu May 08, 2014 6:29 pm Post subject: |
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| I have an interview tomorrow with ICEAT for the KSU program--I have MED+3, but because my thesis took forever, the three years of experience (IEP and community college) were all pre-diploma. So maybe the MA+5 isn't written in stone. |
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Cletus
Joined: 30 Apr 2014
Posts: 48
Location: Qassim
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| Posted: Thu May 08, 2014 7:46 pm Post subject: |
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Being illegal in KSA is very different than being illegal in the USA. But people need money and will take the risk.  |
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