Job Discussion Forums

KSAMAN · Joined: 15 May 2005 Posts: 4

I'm a newcomer to forums and just testing the waters so please take it easy on me. I have found this forum in particular very useful and informative, thanks to all for that.

I am trying to make a move to KSA. I have a Masters and several years experience. I am currently teaching tertiary and wish to continue. I am looking for a solid teaching experience with opportunity for advancement, financial and personal security and good colleagues. I have been looking at Aramco, KFUPM, JIC, European Centre, Al-Yamamah Interlink, BAE (in no order). Has anyone anything additional to say about these places? and are there other places I am overlooking? I have no wish to be controversial, I just seek up to date and honest advice on visas, salary, compounds and accomodation, potential colleagues etc.....

All replies are appreciated.... Very Happy

Mark100 · Joined: 05 Feb 2003 Posts: 441

BAE is the best gig in town if you are a Brit or Aussie.

If you are American that is another story, maybe Aramco for salary.

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

BAE is where the money is. KFUPM do not pay great money but grant nice vacations.

Which do you want to maximise ?

Cleopatra · Posted: Fri May 20, 2005 7:37 am Post subject:

I know some people who work at Al Yamamah/Internlink and most seem quite happy with their situation. The pay is good (about 11,000 SR and upwards), the working environment is very professional, at least by Saudi standards, and the campus is beautiful.

The down side is that you are expected to work quite hard (again, by SAudi standards at least) and the holidays aren't great when compared to other third level institutions. So, I guess it all depends on your priorities.

KSAMAN · Joined: 15 May 2005 Posts: 4

Thanks for the replies so far. Sounds like BAE for the big cash or most other places for decent salary, holidays and working environment.

Has anyone got any info on housing conditions, compounds, trips over the border and facilities available with the above mentioned places? Are there gyms etc? Also is it possible to do overtime with most places in KSA? And is it always paid on time or without headache?

And any other relevant info on the places in the original posting, you can PM me if you deem it sensitive.

Sorry for so many questions, its just a shame not to use the wealth of knowledge that people have on this forum.

Thanks Very Happy

Stephen Jones · Joined: 21 Feb 2003 Posts: 4124

I think you can reasonably divide the work into these categories.

a) Military work; BAE, Raytheon, Vinnell etc. The best paying, but the quality of the students is not great. Your security is dependent on the companies keeping their contracts with the military, and although you may get up to three flights a year, holidays can be short.

b) Company work - Aramco: Aramco is in a class to itself. However nearly all the jobs offered are with agents, who will be your official employers. Some employers have better reputations than others, but I would think you could count on two year contracts and reasonable money from them.

c) Company work - other organizations. Some companies hire direct, but others contract out all their classes. The European Centre has a lot of the SABIC work, for example. The pay is lower than the other two categories, but there is sufficient variety to make generalizations in this respect unwise. If you are contracted out then you may find that you're job security depends on the company continuing the contract. It is not unusual for companies to run training for eight months a year only, meaning you may well be laid off for the other four. On the other hand the contract periods are shorter, and this allows you to get a taste, or save up some money quick, without too much committment.

d) Tertiary institutions such as KFUPM, JIC/YIC, IPA, Al -Yamamah, DCC. Generally you'll be talking about two year contracts minimum. If you can stand it you can stay a lot longer - John Slat was 18 years at the IPA and we have somebody at JIC who has been there 27 years (two years more than the college has). You will get the standard school holidays more or less, (60 days in summer and Hajj and Ramadan and maybe half-term). KFUPM and its affiliated community college are more generous, and you can manage around four and a half months holiday for them (but their salaries are a little lower than JIC or Al-Yamammah or IPA). Can be a bit of a bureacratic nightmare getting hired and then getting your family over if you are married, but things settle down somewhat after that.

e) Assorted chain language schools; with your qualifications (or indeed with any qualifications) better leave them alone. A comparison of their working conditions with others should be enough.

f) Private schools; better holidays than b), c) and e) but there are few I would recommend. In general if the teaching is OK the salary is bad, and vice-versa.

Best of luck anyway.