Job Discussion Forums

naturegirl321 · Joined: 04 May 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: home sweet home

My husband and I are thinking of leaving Peru to the Middle East. I'm American, but my husband's Peruvian.

Are any of you married to non-English speakers? What kind of jobs could they do in the ME? Have they been able to find jobs easily?

Cleopatra · Posted: Sun Apr 29, 2007 6:29 am Post subject:

I'm not married, but I know many people who have non-English speaking spouses here. The issue is not the fact that your husband is not a native speaker of English - the overwhelming majority of foreign workers here aren't either - but what his qualifications are. Since you haven't given us any idea of your husband's professional background, it's impossible for us to advise you.

naturegirl321 · Joined: 04 May 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: home sweet home

He's a DBA, a Database Administrator, works with Oracle, Cisco and Java.

Cleopatra · Posted: Sun Apr 29, 2007 1:42 pm Post subject:

The problem with IT is that, while there is plenty of work available, most of the jobs are filled by Indians and, to a certain extent, Egyptians and Syrians who are prepared to work for relatively low wages. Also, your husband will need to have a very good command of English and/or Arabic in order to function in just about any non-menial job here.

naturegirl321 · Joined: 04 May 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: home sweet home

So maybe KSA might not be a good choice for us. Any ideas on where we could go?

Cleopatra · Posted: Sun Apr 29, 2007 2:41 pm Post subject:

If it's important for you that your husband works in his profession and gets reasonably paid for it, I'm sorry to say that the Gulf in general is probably not the best choice for you. As I say, almost all IT experts in this regions come from low-wage countries.

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

........and most have a high level of competence in English.

trapezius · Posted: Sun Apr 29, 2007 6:43 pm Post subject:

^^ Well Peru is not exactly a high-wage country, is it?

If he becomes competent in English by taking some courses while there in Peru, I don't see no reason why he won't be able to get a good IT job.

naturegirl321 · Joined: 04 May 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: home sweet home

Cleopatra · Posted: Mon Apr 30, 2007 4:53 am Post subject:

Even if Peruvians don't earn high wages in their home countries, the OP is presumably moving to the Gulf in expectation of saving a relatively large amount of money. If her husband has to take a job paying no more than SR 2000 a month (that's just a guess - really I have no idea of the going rate for an IT assistant) then that's obviously a bit of a spanner in the works. Also, certain professions are associated with certain nationalities here, and employers may be reluctant to take on a Peruvian, however well-qualified, in a field dominated by Indians and Arabs.

omanized · Joined: 04 Jun 2006 Posts: 152

Consider the UAE - despite my limited knowledge if IT, I know that people are making good salaries in the field - of any nationality - being good at Oracle etc. is usually a huge advantage and these guys can make far more than us wee teflers working for large companies.

omzd

Cleopatra · Posted: Mon Apr 30, 2007 1:41 pm Post subject:

Yes, but I think the OP said elsewhere that her husband doesn't speak much English. I'd imagine that for the type of jobs you mention one would have to be fluent in English and/or Arabic.

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

English AND Arabic !

007 · Posted: Mon Apr 30, 2007 3:31 pm Post subject:

Cleopatra · Posted: Mon Apr 30, 2007 4:44 pm Post subject: