Job Discussion Forums

[Gordon]

Does anyone know of a website of a Middle East forum with information on jobs, living conditions, working conditions, tips for newbies, etc..?

[veiledsentiments]

This is the only one that I have ever encountered. If you have noticed, even people taking non-teaching jobs often end up here because there seems to be nothing even close.

Tips for newbies are often to be found on various university websites. Both HCT and SQU used to have very good sections to their websites for new staff. It has been a long time since I looked to see if they were still there. Another site that might have such a section is the American University in Sharjah.

But, forums? none that I have ever seen or heard of...

VS

[moonraven]

Some of the US Embassies in the region post something sort of like the former Job Information Journal.

[dmb]

Here's an idea. what do you think? Sites like Dave's and tefl.com don't usually have the best jobs. The best jobs come through local knowledge. So if you plan on coming to a country, contact a poster who might have better local knowledge and contact numbers/emails. Although I guess you'd have to be in the specific country.

[veiledsentiments]

I could have misunderstood Gordon, but I didn't think he was looking for job adverts, but general information about working and living in the area.

So Gordon? which was it? or perhaps both?

VS

[Gordon]

I'm not really looking for jobs per se. I already have a list of schools I plan on applying to. I would like more discussion of living conditions, the skinny on various schools, the kind of stuff that would not be on a university recruitment website. AUS does have an informative website as does UGRU regarding life in UAE. That is helpful, but it would nice to be more interactive and do it without fear of censorship.

dmb, you're right. the best jobs are not advertised. Those in the know just know which are the good ones and which to avoid. It is a small world after all. Please no singing.

[veiledsentiments]

Have you ever been to Disney World? That song is a killer!!

So, you want interactive without fear of censorship... I suspect that the best you could do would be by PM on here to be honest. And you can do that once you know where you are going. Things change, job situation skinny changes... etc... Until then you can pick lots of stuff up on sites and use them to direct your questions when you hopefully know which country and which city and which employer.

You could try googling for 'expat' sites.

VS

[dmb]

[Gordon]

Thanks for the suggestions. I was sort of hoping there might be a forum for middle east teacher expats. Guess not. It sounds like word of mouth is the main way people know where to go and where to avoid.

[veiledsentiments]

Pretty much this is the forum for ME teacher expats. I know that Yahoo has a group for Saudi teachers, but that is a different world.

I'm not sure what you mean by where to go and where to avoid... jobs wise? wouldn't that be here? or are you thinking of dangerous neighborhoods or something? I don't know of any. Or are you looking for one of those sites where you can ask which supermarket has peanut butter or Marmite?

Seems to me that questions similar to those have been asked here numerous times and often people even get the answer.

VS

[EnglishBrian]

Before I went to Qatar I read through a few of the 'relevant' threads on the TES (Times Education Supplement) forums. To be honest, most seemed to be titled "Don't, just don't!" and I haven't looked at it recently, but it's there if you care to look.

[veiledsentiments]

I had forgotten about that one. Yes, when I looked at it long ago, it did seem to only have 'bad' news... rather like a 'worst of Dave's'...

VS