Job Discussion Forums

skullydude06 · Joined: 04 Feb 2007 Posts: 30 Location: ATLANTA

Looking for a job in Ash Shinas Oman. If anyone has any information let me know. Thanks

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

I lived in Oman for years and don't recall hearing about this place. I assume that it is some little village in the middle of nowhere. Why would you be looking for a job there?

Chances are very slim that they are hiring expat teachers there I would think.

VS

Pikgitina · Joined: 09 Jan 2006 Posts: 420 Location: KSA

There's a new technical college there. I know some people who worked/are working there. They say it's mostly fine. I know this sounds vague, but I don't have all the details. CECN recruits for them.

Aliskander · Joined: 01 Feb 2005 Posts: 50

Go to CECN page on the internet - on the CECN Global Schools box, click on read more - click on Teachingoverseas.ca - scroll down the left side - Oman will appear - click - see full job advert.

For info about Shinas - www.travelpost.com or wikipedia. Not billions of info, but will help you a bit.

skullydude06 · Joined: 04 Feb 2007 Posts: 30 Location: ATLANTA

thanks for the advice. Very Happy

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

Also be sure to search and read all the warning messages about past problems with CECN positions in the past years. Their reputation is NOT good in Oman.

Is this place in the Batinah? up in the mountains? must be a very small place...

VS

kuberkat · Joined: 03 Jun 2005 Posts: 358 Location: Oman

I must agree with VS there, as I often do: CECN do not have the best reputation. But then neither do any of the other agencies that have taken over most of the recruitment in Oman. It seems the days of direct hires are over, and those agents are laughing all the way to the bank. And while I'm in a mood to instigate trouble, nobody on this board has mentioned that while ministerial employees received a 15% raise this January, the (already lower-paid) agency recruits received not a penny. There's no way around this, since the ministry no longer hires.

There is an upside, though: anyone who does not plan to settle in Oman for a long time can benefit from the furnished accommodation provided by agents. But moneywise, it's not so cool.

Bottom line? I love working in Oman, but the money is a big factor for me. Since the agents have entered the picture, I would no longer recommend working here unless you are really passionate about teaching, the local culture or both. And even these passions will be put to the test.

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

... or have an MA and some experience and can go direct hire at SQU or perhaps one of the private univerities...

VS

Pikgitina · Joined: 09 Jan 2006 Posts: 420 Location: KSA

VS says it like it is as always. Kuberkat is also right. However, I worked for CECN for two years and the problems you are likely to encounter while working at the technical colleges would most definitely mostly be caused by the Ministry of Manpower who runs these colleges. Simply put, they do a very poor job and are clueless. Hopefully one day they'll be under the umbrella of the Ministry of Higher Education, but that's unlikely to happen anytime soon. The students at these colleges all know the politics behind them - probably better than you and I - so that's a possible reason for the lack of interest and apathy some of them bring to the classroom. Yet, they're fun and I had a great time with them. While I'm no advocate for CECN, they pay on time and give you what is yours. The poorly-run colleges and the like are beyond their control. Like Kuberkat said, if it's short term, it's doable. And, you CAN save money. We saved loads and travelled endlessly - through amazing Oman and abroad.

lall · Joined: 30 Dec 2006 Posts: 358

I'm not even sure that the agents now provide any accommodation, leave alone ones that are furnished. At the most, they offer to put you up for a fortnight, by which you are required to secure your own pad.

lall

Pikgitina · Joined: 09 Jan 2006 Posts: 420 Location: KSA

Not sure which "agents" you're referring to, but not the case with CECN or the others recruiting for the technical colleges. CECN's standard offer is RO750-900 monthly including transportation allowance. Furnished accommodation is provided on top of that as well as medical, flights and the like. For the small villages, including Salalah, that's not such a bad offer. Not sure what the other recruiters offer.

Pikgitina · Joined: 09 Jan 2006 Posts: 420 Location: KSA

I know I'm digressing here, but I recently applied at Bahwan Cybertek just to check out the offer for myself. I never received a response. I speculate when I say that it might be because I was employed by CECN, who offers a better deal.

That's enough of my praise for CECN then... Laughing

lall · Joined: 30 Dec 2006 Posts: 358

You are right. It isn't CECN

lall