Job Discussion Forums

[Whereintheworld]

Hello All,

I've had it with my vocational college job, including among other things, 25-30 contact hours/week and 35+ students/per class. Of course, we were promised fewer of both - or I would never have accepted the position in the first place.

So, do I give a one month notice or do a runner? I'm not unhappy about living in KSA, and would like to apply for some "good" jobs across the region, including in KSA, at Arab TESOL in March (I have an MA-TESOL, many years experience, etc.).

Thus, in terms of potential future prospects - does it matter if I give a notice or do a runner (or is it just seen as breaking my contract?)? Of course, if I give notice, they'll find reasons to keep my last month's pay. Which I don't mind - if there's some future benefit? But, if not - why bother?

Also, would love to tell them what I really think. Bad idea? Bridge will be burned anyway... and yes, it would feel good. Btw - I have a multiple exit VISA and my passport, so no problems there.

Advice greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance.

Regards

[nomad soul]

Assuming you arrived in KSA on an employment visa and were issued an iqama (and you've just passed your 90-day probationary period), check your contract about termination. Since you plan to potentially work in KSA again, you'll want to do things properly without burning any bridges. It may or may not impact your chances for future employment in the country, but why take that risk. Moreover, if you do a runner, it will be in the computer system and evident to the Saudi consulate when they review your new visa application, and that could be a headache you won't want to deal with.

The vocational colleges are faced with a teacher shortage (for various reasons), which is why your student numbers and teaching hours are high. Be aware you may face the same scenario---in terms of class size---even with the better employers, although it tends to be temporary.

Anyway, if you still plan to travel to Dubai for the TESOL Arabia (not Arab TESOL) conference and job fair in March, start checking their website (http://tesolarabia.org/tacon2015/) periodically for job postings---ads will begin to trickle in over the next few months.

[Mushkilla]

[lcanupp1964]

If you 100% feel you will not come back to teach in KSA (well, at least for 2-3 years), do a runner. You can always teach in Oman, but I feel if you can't hack it in the job you just wrote about, I really don't feel you can handle life outside your fragile bubble called life.

Is it really that bad? More details would help those teachers looking at your school for a job.

Most full-time public school teachers in the U.K. and the States have to work at least an 8-hour day and teach almost the same number of students per class.

The "it would feel good" part of it tells me that you might be a younger person (30's?) and that you don't have a family to support. The younger you are, the more bridges you can afford to burn.

Maybe if you have better reasons to quit beside, "the school mislead me and that's just not fair. Where I come from, people have honor and...".

Oh, boy.

With a multiple exit VISA, just wait until the day you get your money and fly out the next day. You can always go back home, get a job, find stress in that job, run away and find another job. Repeat this process until you are older and wiser and tired of breaking your word. I did this for most of my life (running away and not facing my problems). It took me a very long time to understand that a thousand people can't be wrong and I'm the only one that is right. Maybe I've been the problem the whole time.

The Native Americans having a saying... "True wisdom can only be earned through pain".

Oh, the price of asking complete strangers for free advice.

[scot47]

As well as the formal banning, there is a network between employers in the region. When hiring we would regularly employ our contacts to find out the truth (or otherwise) about a teacher's work history. A phone call here, an e-mail there, a word to my man who goes to the BAe shebeen...........

[plumpy nut]

[nickwils]

[scot47]

Korea better than KSA ? Not for me, thank you very much ! A totally alien society with xenophobia at levels unimaginable in the ME !

It is worth noting that KSA experience on your CV can be the kiss of death. Too long in the country and no one in the real world will employ you.

Long spells in Korea will also make it difficult to get "real employment"

[ESL104]

[lcanupp1964]

Ok, that last post made me laugh out loud.

I think there are many people on this site that could post details about the amount of crazy people in South Korea getting into peach SoJu fueled knife flights. In the two years I spent there, I saw zero hate crimes, but many drunken flights. One time, I saw (while draining a large tea kettle of the wonderful peach cocktail directly into my mouth) a drunk dude chasing another one with a baseball bat.

But I get your point.

[plumpy nut]

If you're in jail at least they don't come in with a big container of some kind of rice with a little bit of meat in it. You don't have to fight with the Bangladeshis and Yemenis just to get a portion of it.

[cmp45]

[ESL104]

[CVN-76]

If your contract calls for the employer to pay for your way home, do NOT do a runner. Never do a runner in that case. Always make the employer or agency provide you with a ticket home. Why do a runner, pay your own way home, and give them that break? Agencies love it when we do runners, as they don't have to cover that going-home airfare. You could get fired and get the airfare instantly, but the better way to go is to give proper notice. And demand a severance letter. If they screw you around, come back here and tell all.

[Whereintheworld]

Thank you all for your collective insight and advice. Much appreciated.

What is a severance letter?