Job Discussion Forums

[canukteacher]

I applied about 8 months ago. Had an email from them about a month ago asking me a few more questions. Received an email from them last night congratulating me on making their short list of candidates for 2005. They want to interview me via video conference in Toyko on Wed. May 25th..........one week from yesterday. Apparently their video conferencing does not work in South Korea.

I have no issue with paying for a ticket to Tokyo. However, do they really expect people who are working to simply be able to take off to another city in another country in the middle of the work week on a weeks notice?

It's very difficult for me to get time off from my current employer. This also happens to be the one day of the term that government officials are coming in for observation classes. There is not a chance that the principal will let me go.

Are they always so last minute? Has anyone found away around this (short of refusing the interview)?

Thanks in advance.

CT

[younggeorge]

Generally, I think they're pretty efficient - although my only direct experience with them was some years back. I suspect what's happened is that they've got to the end of the recruiting season (everything should be pretty well sewn up by now) and found they've had some rejections or some late resignations so they're still short of people. The plus side of it being so late is that you should hear very soon after the interview if you've been accepted.

If it would be easier for you to make the interview on another day, try asking them. Remember Saturday and Sunday are working days in the UAE so they would be able to do it then - though the video facilities in Japan might not be available. Worth a try, I'd say. Good luck!

[Ka-CHING!]

Video conferencing doesn't work in South Korea? That seems odd. I'd suggest verifying the location and asking if there are any facilities in South Korea that could be used. Maybe check at some of the international hotels in Seoul and see if their business facilities include video conferencing.

Sometimes applicants accept positions and then cancel. That might be what happened here.

[grand fromage]

Yes they are very efficient when it comes to hiring. Their interviews are not "interrogations" like HCT's so as long as you don't mess up on common knowledge stuff (read up on the sensitive issues in this part of the world if you haven't lived in the M.E. before) you stand a very good chance of getting in. They had an answer for me within a couple of days when I interviewed with them a few years back. Oh, don't be surprised if one of the interviewers dozes off

If you get the job, don't make my mistake: don't accept it and then back out no matter how fast. I had to back out for personal reasons a week after accepting and they have never bothered to even acknowledge my subsequent applications. Some employers in the M.E. are so sensitive on this point that they prefer to hire someone from abroad than look at someone like me again Serves me right

[Bindair Dundat]

[playtapus]

yes, this is typical of UGRU. Do this now, never mind if you don't have access, just do it. It gets worse when you are there. Depending on who is interviewing you, you might want to brush up on your knowledge of football.

[robotboy]

I don't see much on this institution. I'd like some answers if possible.

Currently employed UGRU staff:

On a scale of 1-10, how would you rate the following:

Housing:
Parking:
Housing Maintenance:
Location:
Holidays:
Annual Leave:
Perks:
Bonuses:
Salary:


Workload:
Program:
Teaching Hours:
Office Hours:
Success:
Foundation Program:

Staff
Senior Staff:
Head:
Assistant Head:
Co-ordinators:
Clerical Staff:
Support Staff:
Colleagues:


Facilities
Photocopy system:
Materials:
Books:
Curriculum:
Facilities:
College:
Office:
IT facilities:
Classrooms:

Students:

Student Attitudes:
Student Competency:

[uaeobserver]

I have several good friends at UAEU --- here's how I'd describe what I hear:


Housing: Read up on UAEU housing issues in Al Ain. I think they were short-term issues ---- but not sure.

Parking: Not bad....

Housing Maintenance: -- average --- but you'll need to be persistent.

Location: Al Ain is a small town ---- but Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Muscat are all close enough to steal away for weekends in-town.

Holidays: Hard to beat (actually --- so many, it gets disruptive)
Annual Leave: Hard to beat
Perks: Not bad
Bonuses: What's that?
Salary: Livable
Workload: HCT staff work longer hours,
Program: Not bad for Arabia
Teaching Hours: Not bad
Office Hours: Not bad
Success: ---- frustrating, at times --- you're not going to enhance your CV by working there.
Foundation Program: Main limitation of Foundation program is the students.

Staff : ---- twice as many as needed (due to ever-present tea boys, drivers, etc)
Senior Staff: Always changing

[773]

I'll give a little info here instead of ratings:

Housing: There have been housing issues for newer staff, but I believe these have been resolved. I am very, very happy with my housing; it's spacious, new, and very nice.

Parking: Plenty! Never an issue.

Housing Maintenance: Depends on who you rent from, as this is the landlord's responsibility. However, the Housing Dept. at the university can help to mediate between you and your landlord, and I have found them to be very helpful.

Location: Great! The university isn't more than a 10-15 minute drive away from most Instructors' housing, I believe.

Annual Leave: about 10 weeks in the summer, 2.5 weeks in January, and 1 week in April.

Bonuses: One month's salary per year worked, given when an Instructor leaves UGRU.

Salary: Excellent, especially for new hires. There have been two significant pay raises in the past year or so.

Teaching Hours: 4 per day

Office Hours: 1 per day (plus 1 hour of 'committee work' each day)

Head, Assistant Head, Co-ordinators: Fantastic, no complaints! Yes, there have been a few recent changes, but things are running smoothly.

Overall, UGRU is a very good place to work. The office atmosphere is healthy and I feel supported by my colleagues and superiors. Plus, Al Ain is a smaller city that is more relaxed and easier to get around than Dubai or Abu Dhabi. It can be very quiet and a bit dull at times, but bigger cities are nearby and make a good day out / weekend away.

[hamergirl]

I completely agree with 773. I think UAEU is a great place to work.