Job Discussion Forums

[teacherj]

I was hired through Gulf Connect, currently working for Assrooh. I haven't had any real problems yet, so far I've been paid on time and the correct amount. The job itself is pretty straight forward. Typical Saudi placement company. You'll be dealing with a general lack of organization, but you get that with any placement company.
Last year I had to choose between a job in China and a job in Saudi. I chose China, and ended up in Saudi after 3 months. The problem with taking a lower paying job in China for me was that anytime there was BS I kept thinking, 'I could be paid SO much more in Saudi'. There are a lot of extra expenses in China too. Taxes, taxes, taxes. Also, unless your company pays all your visa fees, it really adds up once you're in-country.
In my opinion, if money is a goal, go to Saudi, what you can make in China is significantly less and you'll spend all your time in China thinking about how much more you could be making.

[Jo_sa_li]

I would say be careful who you work for. This company is a cheater. They give you a 10 month contract and where you work 9 months and the 10th month is your vacation. But the 10th month, they only pay you 25 days instead of paying you a full months salary. CHEATERS. Then they give you a 20 percent housing on that 10 month contract while other companies are giving 25% or more. CHEATERS. And the worse part of it all is, THEY KEEP YOU IN THE SAME WAGE FOREVER. Meaning while other companies are giving up to 5% increase, this company expects you to stay at 11,000 Riyal FOREVER (CHEATERS). The is one guy that makes the whole thing worse and his name starts with H. I won't mention names on here but he is the rudest guy you will ever meet. No sense of respect for anyone and if you are a attractive female from the west, expect him to flirt with you. If you have ANY OTHER company in Saudi Arabia that is offering you a different package, I would say TAKE IT AN LEAVE THESE GUYS ALONE TO THEIR CORRUPTION. I'm glad I'm out of that hell hole. I have a better offer here in the Kingdom and I'll tell you, I'm exhaling and I'm skipping to work now since I don't have to deal with Mr. H and their corruption.

To be totally fair, working for the SEU is the easiest thing you will ever do because its only four teaching days and the workload isn't that much. But thats because this company only cares about making money and not servicing their client or their needs. But this is just one opinion of many so best of luck to you :)

[Rayk]

I was hired through a recruitment company Gulf Connect in South Africa to work for Saudi Electronic University through Assrooh. I have been here for 4 months now and it has been great. A plus for working for Assrooh is that they always pay your salary round the 25th of each month whereas other companies pay around the 30th of each month. Whenever I have needed anything they have always been very accommodating and caring. For example when I first got here I was not happy with the apartment, like it was quite dusty but I called the boss and I was put into a new apartment within the hour.

The workload at SEU is not much at all as there are only 4 working days a week and you only teach for 4 hours a day. There are also many holidays to look forward to such as the Hajj break which was 2 weeks and a few Saudi national public holidays. In addition, the English Teachers are receiving an end of semester break of 24 working days from January 1 to January 25 (paid vacation). Is there any easier job on this planet? Many teachers will be travelling in that time. I know a couple of my friends working at other companies in KSA will only get a 12 days vacation for the semester break coming up.

All in all, the accommodation, transport to and from work, medical care and the salary is very good so I am a happy teacher. If you coming to Saudi Arabia with the main objective of saving money and enjoying the culture then Assrooh won't let you down. I am sure there are other good companies out there as well but for my first 4 months in Saudi, I think they have done a superb job.

[scot47]

I am always suspicious when I see that a new poster's first ever comments are high praise for an employer ! Allow me to pass the salt around the assembled company.

[veiledsentiments]

[Rayk]

[veiledsentiments]

[Muhammed Abbas Khan]

I can concur that in the east end of London at least the word 'dusty' can be slang for 'run down'. This of course was during my younger formative years when I, like many of the teenagers today, was at the forefront of innovation in the English language.

[veiledsentiments]

One should probably keep in mind that one isn't in the East End of London any longer and only a miniscule sub-culture of English speakers may be conversant in one's idiolect.

VS

[LPKSA]

[Jcray21]

I work for Assrooh. It isn't that bad a company. I have an iqama but I know not everyone working here does. Some people need to do visa runs. I am in Dammam. They pay ontime, at least before the first. Its not that bad of a company but the benefits could be better. As a single person it isn't bad. Really the pay isn't bad if you don't have a masters or years of experience. And, if you do you should be doing a direct hire.

The thing you want to find out is where you will be teaching. Not just the city but what school. Assrooh teaches at both the airbases and Saudi Electrical University.

[fat_chris]

[mikeggert]

I have worked for this company for almost two years. I was given the option of being here on an Iqama or Business Visa. They both have their advantages and challenges. I'm glad I chose the Visa option - since this company has been very supportive of flying me to a different country every month to explore the surrounding GCC countries. I'm having a blast, learning a lot, and improving my English teaching skills at the same time. The school and the students are fantastic and the love and respect flow both ways.
The few people I see posting against this company are the type of folks who aren't happy anywhere or always complain about anything that isn't perfect. I almost didn't sign with this company because of some unfair complaints on this forum - what a mistake that would have been!
P.S. - I have been on Dave's ESL Cafe since 2008 when I taught in Korea - but due to some sign-on problems I had to re-register recently. I'm not a novice at this game..
- Michael Eggert, PhD.

[manowur]

Michael,

Thanks for your insights.

Do you (or anyone else working at SeU now) know when they will start recruiting again for the Fall?

TIA

[Sheik Yerbuti]

Yep, they are lining up to make 3000 usd a month. State of affairs
here in full view.