Job Discussion Forums

[pkers07]

Hi Guys,

I'm about to pen to paper for an English teaching job in Qatar.
Salary is QRs9000(first 3 months),QRs11000(after 3 months),free furnished apt.,yearly return tickets,free medicals,gym and other perks.

Is this an ok offer in Qatar.

All input will be highly appreciated.


Pkers07

[Bindair Dundat]

[Gogo05]

Hi Dundat,

What i need to know is if the salary is ok by Qatar standard.

If there is any cause for alarm i know how to make the' dash' unannounced.

Pkers07

[007]

[Stephen Jones]

Looks to me like a contract gig with QP. The salary increases presumably because they don't feel they should pay full whack if they don't like you.

Whether they will pay it after having you there three months is another matter.

[Bindair Dundat]

[pkers07]

Hey Dundat,

Sorry I didn't mean by 'local' standard.I meant for an EFL teacher.

Also i'd like to know what's the cost of living like in Qatar?I don't party and i'm not into alcohol.

Can i save some dough with this kind of salary?

Sorry guys i'm not comparing myself to anybody.

Any pearls of wisdom would be highly appreciated.


Pkers07

[veiledsentiments]

One detail that you might want to add to help people know if this salary is high or low for you is for them to know your credentials and experience.

VS

[pkers07]

Hi Guys,

I want to beleive i asked a simple question and i think i ought to get a striaghtforward simple answer.

I'm not seeking to know if the salary is high or low(of course it's not low when converted to USD) and alos doesn't want to know if i'm at the lowest level of the pay scale,all i just want to have is an insight into what the cost of living is like in Qatar.

The reason why i'm not so keen about high or low salary(i won't accept peanuts either) is the fact that i'm new to the Middle East,most schools prefer experience in the M.E. which i don't have now.Suffice to say i'm kinda contented with the salary.

For the records,this is me in a nutshell:
-HND(Chemistry),BA(Eng. Lit.),TEFL Advanced diploma(UK),M.A.(TESOL(yet to be completed)
-5 years teaching English and Chemistry in Asia and Africa.

Once again,please disregard my credentials & experience,just give me rough estimates of what the cost of living is like in Qatar,plain and simple.

Thaanks for the + inputs.

Pkers07

[veiledsentiments]

Since none of the Qatar people are responding - exam times I think... I will give you my general response. From your original post, you said that you were provided with free furnished housing and the usual other stuff. Since you didn't mention it, I will assume that you are single. So that would suggest that your expenditures will be for food, entertainment and transportation.

And with these it depends on your lifestyle. If your employer doesn't provide you with transport (you didn't mention that), you will need to buy a car. A search would probably bring up discussion of that from here on the board. Gas/Petrol is cheap. Eating your own cooking at home can be cheap... hitting the hotels so that you can drink and eat will run through a tidy sum each month. Food costs can be reasonable or expensive - for instance food imported from the US is quite expensive... that from closer countries is not. Fresh fruits and veggies tend to be cheap. When I was in the Gulf, I spent pretty close to the same amount as I would back in the US, but I am a plain eater. Entertainment costs depend on your hobbies... and what they cost.

Generally, I would say that there is no reason why you couldn't save half of your salary at least if that is your goal.

Does that help a little? I recall a thread here giving some Qatar websites that may give you more specific information on costs and things.

VS

[Stephen Jones]

[QatarChic]

for Pkers and others...

Its definitely a contract with QP/Griffith. Quite a few people have already handed in their resignation for June- unable to put up with beaurocracy and the various mafias being the main reasons. I know people who have worked there for over three years as contractors and they say its fine while others who could not put up with it and left...

Just be aware that:

a) annual leave in the summer only works out to be 27.5 days in total
b) gratuity is negligible/non existant as this is a contractors position
c) holiday pay has been known to be paid much later than expected
d) EFL teachers on a direct hire contract with QP earn far more than contractors (15700QR) though these positions are hard to get

It is possible to save money here in Qatar (with your salary it would be possible to save at least $1400); life has become more expensive but not to the extent where you can't save money.To supplement your income some teachers work as hourly paid teachers elsewhere like at the BC, ELS etc, IELTS Examiners or teach private students etc where the going rate seems to be between 150-200QR, (some teachers have been known to charge more) an hour

To answer your previous question pkers, salary ranges here in Qatar (For TEFL teachers) range from 8000-20000 QR per month- the lower end being at language schools etc (any fellow dohalites want to clarify/amend this?)

Hope this helps...feel free to ask any more questions

(Yes VS you're right it's exams season )

[pkers07]

Thanks VS,Jones,Qatar chic.I'm so grateful.

However,i'd like to let you guys know that i'd be provided with a chaffeur driven car to and fro work base.

Sorry this might sound carzy but i'm not that keen on having a holiday(though i do want to) as i've been working(in China) for close to 3 years without a holiday.So i can cope with all uncertainties as things are far worse sometimes here in China.

Regards to all positive inputs.

See you guys in Doha in 3 days.


Regards

Pkers07

[Bindair Dundat]

[Bindair Dundat]