Job Discussion Forums

[americanjoe]

scot47Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Posts: 14670
Location: Ultima Thule
New postPosted: Fri Nov 25, 2016 11:14 pm Post subject: Reply with quote Report Post
American
I was there
1970-1972
1990-1991
1996-2002
2003-2011
and still have a network of friends and informants toiling away in-kingdom.

I worked in Tabuk, Jeddah, Riyadh, Dhahran and Hafr Al Batin.
While working in the airline I was responsible for testing airline staff in all 24 of the airports in Kingdom - soi I have been around a bit ! Have you ?
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I honestly do not mean to be insulting here, but as a service to other less experience readers, who posters like yourself are intentionally discouraging from coming to KSA and pursuing good employment opportunities that come in various forms, please let me present a few facts so those possible candidates reading this will still seek jobs in the Kingdom: You are a +70 year old senior citizen who spent a good portion of his time in KSA in the last century and you haven't even been in this country for over five years. And by your own admission, your overseas experience is quite limited compared to many others on this board.
My reason for participating on this board is to get and to give information about expat life in the KSA, and also to encourage qualified potential employees to come here, as I have found over the past eight years that the Kingdom presents a unique employment experience to those with an open mind and the desire to come here. And after reading this board the past several months, it is my opinion that some posters continue to practice a subtle but deliberate type of bullying and scaremongering in an effort to do the opposite.

[scot47]

I do not think things have changed much in KSA. Remember when they were celebrating the centenary of KSA in 2003 and the slogan was "100 Years of Progress Without Change" ?

The ageism that Americanjoe expresses in his last post is not echoed in KSA. People there have some respect for those of advanced years and wisdom !

The reality in recent years is that terms and conditions of employment for EFL teachers in KSA have deteriorated to a level where few people from "The West" will be tempted. US$2000 a month is not enough ! The years when a few years teaching in KSA would allow teachers to save huge sums and pay for a house are long gone. However the image remains and many people think of KSA as the Eldorado of ELT. It is not that any longer.

I can post that without adding gratuitous insults that Americanjoe feels are required.

[siologen]

[veiledsentiments]

It seems Americanjoe is one of those who only wants to hear good news and happy talk - and have his opinions confirmed, rather than the fact that not every employer provides the same conditions as his might. And if you can't tolerate the negative posters here, perhaps you should avoid the Gulf... where the faculty areas are filled with many teachers who are much like this.

The reality is that way too many posters arrive here with the idea that the reputation of the Gulf being the place to do little work and make LOTS of money. (and many of those think that they need no training, education or experience to collect it)

The negative posters are mostly giving a reality check. Salaries and benefits have completely tanked in the Gulf. The number of good, high paying positions are very rare and go to those with extensive experience and at least a few of the proper pieces of paper. More and more employers are having their teachers work on illegal business visit visas... giving them no rights to open bank accounts or do other things required for a comfortable, safe life... or take their employers to court for grievances. So conditions have also tanked.

That said... if the equivalent of US$2000 sounds like Big Bucks to you... and you can tolerate extremely variable conditions... go for it. That fact that we Gulf oldtimers made more than that 20-30 years ago doesn't matter.

VS

[bigdurian]

[bigdurian]

[veiledsentiments]

[nomad soul]

[siologen]

I think the salary issue is not really the be all and end all.

If you are teaching somewhere where you are happy, and the living cost is reasonable, and you are saving as per your own requirements, then I think that should be enough. I hear of people teaching in Vietnam who earn enough that they don't know what to do with it, obviously it will not pay as much as the KSA though. I think the middle ground is somewhere like Taiwan, more westernized, where they require the qualifications to teach at public schools and provide a free apartment/apartment allowance, and you can save half of your salary away...while still having some cash to enjoy life. I wonder how many people actually enjoy their free time in the KSA itself, beyond just making and saving money, without popping over to Bahrain, Dubai, etc for a beer and a movie or whatever they like? I found Oman to be boring, even Muscat after going to the british pubs in the hotels there a few times. Each to their own I S'pose......

[americanjoe]

nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 9773
Location: The real world

PostPosted: Sun Nov 27, 2016 3:51 am Post subject:
............Otherwise, your boasting about a big salary and perks (on this and your other thread) isn't helpful. Seriously.
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Yeah, right.
I'm going to tell one of this board's biggest bullies where I am working.
Sure... I'll get right back to you with that!
Here's the tip: You and scott 47 are both bullies, and I can see you've been doing it on here for years when I do a search on your names.
Many people who come here are very much aware of what you are doing.
But whatever...

And from here on, I'm just blocking you, scot47 and the other cast of characters who come on here and consistently state that all the good jobs are gone in KSA and you are fools to come and work on a Business Visa. Because basically, I do not associate with negative people like you in RL, or in Cyber life.

So, to you Scot47 and about 2-3 others on this board I say: "Goodbye, good luck and I hope all your dreams come true!"

But to those investigating coming here on various types of visas/work status/even the Business Visa: Do a little homework, talk to people who have actually work for the company (and not just one ex-employee either) go on Glassdoor, Indeed etc to get some insight on what it is like there. Basically, you have some real sourpusses here for some reason, but you can get reliable info from the net, sometimes just google the company's name and the "Employee Reviews".
Don't let the 3-4 sad sacks who post only negative stuff about working over here discourage you form taking advantage of a good opportunity to go somewhere interesting and make some money.

[siologen]

You can block posters on esltb, like facebook, that is a new one to me? Where is this block function then, it sounds useful? I can only see a red exclaimation mark, which when hovered over says report post?

[americanjoe]

I mean in a metaphorical way, like with a karma akido move or something.

Or as The Dude would put it "You cannot drag this negative energy into the tournament, man!"

[siologen]

You have quoted a great quote from one of my favourite films, so there must be a hippy in there somewhere, or at least an easy going dude behind all that money making