Job Discussion Forums

[SandyM]

Rumour has it that an e-mail went out recently to HCT teachers 'advising' them that their workloads would be increasing by 25% next semester - due to an apparent 'recruitment crisis' in certain subjects (notably English).

What this 'crisis' consists of, exactly, is hard to define. Maybe it's just a crisis for the teachers, as the college can't be bothered to try properly to recruit all the teachers it needs!

It could be related to the fact that starting salaries have been pegged at 1998 levels, and the fact that the dollar has been in nosedive for about a year now, making ME posts less attractive in general.

If you are interested in working for HCT, and by all accounts the employer does appear to be one of the best in the region, try the site below:

http://www.hct.ac.ae/

Good Luck!

[veiledsentiments]

I heard from someone with 'good connections' that there is an expansion going on for next year and they still need quite a few teachers.

If someone with good credentials is out there... and you haven't already been interviewed or turned down by them in the past... I would definitely apply.

VS

[turtlepi1]

Well I think I have figured out what the "problem" is with the hiring process.

First you submit resume to central services.
They submit it to a group of three managers to review it.
If pre-screened you get an interview.
then blah...continue with process.

As you would expect a lot of people die at pre-screening.
BUT...I think some of the managers prescreening look at the resumes and decide if THEY can use the person's qualifiations. If the answer is no, then they reject the person. The problem is the needs from campus to campus are quite different, so the manager should be prescreening for some sort of minuimum or standard requirements and (some) don't appear to be doing this so a lot of (perhaps) good candidates are getting turned away before the interview process.

Which leaves the current staff working extra because they are running at a staffing shortage.

But that is only my assessment. (with a little self-serving research conducted on the matter)

[lionbrian]

I do not think that HCT are desperate for teachers. In my HO, they are doing it in purpose to freeze the hiring and overwork the ones who are already there .

C'mon! I was at TESOL Arabia recently, talked to several highly qualified teachers with ME teaching experience, and they did not even make it at the screening stage. How would you explain it?

Sometimes, you gotta jot your brain cells, otherwise anyone on the street will be able to sell you .....!

[veiledsentiments]

That is pretty accurate, Turtle. And then once one gets to the interview process, the failure rate goes even higher. There are different people who do the interviewing - there are teams that alternate during things like TESOLArabia - and most people who fail at that stage are never really sure why.

The process there has always been rather cumbersome and inefficient (OK... that 'rather' should be a 'very...). One thing that it does do well is weed out bad people. But, at the same time, it also weeds out a high number of very good people.

Just part of the Mysterious Midde East...

VS

[Gnocchiman]

Isn't it a fairly well-known fact that HCT is controlled by the infamous "Canadian Mafia"?

Basically it works this way if I understand it correctly: If you're Canadian and have the necessary qualifications, you're in. If you're from a country in the Commonwealth and you have the necessary qualifications, you might be in (as long as a lot of Canadians haven't applied this year). If you're from the United States and have the necessary qualifications, you can wait and wait and wait and wait and..........................maybe..........well, no......sorry.......you're not Canadian.

Please correct me if I'm wrong-but this is how their hiring process is perceived by many here in the UAE.

[lionbrian]

Gnocchiman!

I just want to add one thing to your list:

YES YES YES! You have to be Canadian and FIRST-CLASS CITIZEN (NO COLOR TEACHERS PLEASE!): Typical Caucasian/ tall/ attractive/ YES SIR sort of teacher/ Weak personality/ passive/ naive/ & Still believe that Canada is the most beautiful country on Earth!

HCT as well as College of North Atlantic in Qatar HIRING PRATICE LEAVES MUCH TO DESIRE!

With all these new universities & colleges in the Gulf, I am pretty convinced that their time is running!

JUST MY KIMCHI OPINION AGAIN!

[veiledsentiments]

I think you may be wrong on this one, gnocchi. HCT has been controlled by every national 'mafia' through the years. Many years ago a Canadian group set it up - early 80's... then rather got thrown out as these things tend to go. When I was there, the British had control, but an Aussie Director was hired. Suddenly flocks of Aussies were showing up. I think that there was an American in the position for awhile and they even hired a few more Americans for awhile. But, whatever the nationality of the teachers I knew, they were worthy of hire. And there are people of all nationalities in management now. (heaven knows they have a big enough management!!)

jeeeesss lionbrian... there is absolutely no comparison between that joke of a College of the North Atlantic in Qatar and HCT. HCT is not new, but has been around for about 20 years. It has been very successful and is highly professional. But, there are many people who have hurt feelings because they couldn't get a job there.

VS (who loves gnocchi, but isn't too wild about kimchi...)

[lionbrian]

Dear Veiledsentiments,

Please be informed that I am not on the list of those potential teachers who got hurt.

Sorry you were right! In terms of chronological order, I should have listed CNQ-Q first, then HCT the second. Also, please do not try to cover up (HCT) their hiring practice because they are not better than CNA-Q in my years of collecting solid evidence.

P.S; It is easy to find out: If you have a chance, go to HCT and take a look at the teachers who they hired and you will understand the whole drama.

THIS COULD BE A THESIS FOR A PHD STUDENT: HIRING PRACTICE IN THE GULF: Superficial versus professional.