Job Discussion Forums

[desertfox]

A teacher's relationship with his/her HOD or supervisor is a moot point because it impacts directly, in my experience, on a situation where you have a team of teachers, some more qualified, some less so.

I have observed over the years in the Middle East that those who are more challenged in the field of having adequate qualifications, seek to ensure their relative job security in alternative ways.

In other words, those who have less qualifications are more likely, I would argue, to cultivate relationships with management. Whereas those who more self confidently know who they are and what they are doing, don't need to go down that road. Or are less likely to.

The name given these days is "networking." Many years ago it was called "crawling," or more colorful phrasal verbs were employed.

I am not saying it is always the case, but there is a tendency for that to occur. Especially in Saudi where personal desperation is not unknown.

[veiledsentiments]

[Desert Dueller]

Networking: interact with other people to exchange information and develop contacts, especially to further one's career.

All of the above applies when you "network" within your place of work - including management - in order to establish a good, better or special relationship with superiors, possibly in order to progress on the career ladder or simply to protect your career interests by trying to retain your current job. It's all part of developing contacts. Furthering one's career may well include extending one's current status quo.

[desertfox]

Desert Dueller - I'm obliged for your comprehensive definition....

[nomad soul]

[veiledsentiments]

[desertfox]

nomad soul wrote:
"Prospective employers will wonder why he didn't bump his qualifications to a related MA or at least a Delta, instead, choosing to skate by over the years with minimal credentials. He decided to make TEFLing his career path, so the excuse that it's not always possible to take a "time out to upgrade" for professional development purposes is simply that: an excuse. Employers will compare his CV against other job applicants who made time to pursue an MA."



We don't know why this individual never upgraded his qualifications, there could be a variety of reasons.
However, it does rather reinforce the previous point that people seek alternative ways to protect and enhance their job prospects ie cultivate a relationship with management.

Qualifications are for life, relationships can be transient. It's no way to plan for the future, particularly if one has dependents.

[desertfox]

[Balzac]

desertfox,

[Desert Dueller]

[That obviously does NOT refer to your relationship with your current managers.

It is NOT a synonym for brown nosing... in spite of your odd interpretations. quote]

Yes, it does. And brown nosing may or not be part of one's networking activities. Maybe "ingratiating oneself" is a more appropriate term.

Capitalizing negatives is indicative of having lost the argument.[/quote]

[leggeymountbatten]

[Desert Dueller]

Your friend's current situation is not unique. There's a lot of culling of under-qualified staff going on across the board in every industry in KSA. If he does get culled, there are always options in Europe as well (someone suggested China or Taiwan as well), in which case basic language skills in Spanish, French and German, for example, would come in handy. Does your friend have those?
Times are tough, especially with dependents, so a downgrade in living standards is probably unavoidable. What a shame, but such is life.

[scot47]

Saudi Arabia was one of the last places where it was possible to earn enough in a salary to support a family. In the rest of EFL-land the idea is simply not practical.

Saudi Arabia helped me support my family when I needed it. My younger daughter - soon to be 16 - was born there.

I have no grievances against the Kingdom or its people.

Special tanks to two really good employers - Saudi Arabian Airlines and KFUPM.

[Balzac]

[Lord T]

You know the industry is changing when middle-class chaps from the Home Counties are now expected to have qualifications and speak an oriental language or two.