Job Discussion Forums

Bob Gorn · Posted: Thu Jul 12, 2007 10:18 pm Post subject: back to the topic

Thanks for the helpful replies from Cleopatra and Scot47. I do think that this situation is fairly normal for KSA and that there may be some hope that PMU will turn out to be a decent place of employment some day. It does seem that employers in Saudi Arabia often only get "bottom of the barrel" candidates, and that they do not know how to keep good teachers. They hire thoughtlessly and fire thoughtlessly, not thinking about how this will affect the morale of good teachers currently employed. It's just a downside of working for Saudi administrators.

BTW, has anyone noticed that Al Falak has posted another employment ad, obviously for PMU, on Dave's? I guess the rumor that PMU had dismissed Al Falak isn't true.

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

I hear on the grapevine that Al Falak has lost the recruitment contract at both UoH and PMU.

Rumour ? Could be.

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

Do you expect that it may depend on how desperate the two places are for people?

VS

MIKEBUCHAN · Joined: 18 Mar 2007 Posts: 106 Location: Russia

I was contacted to work at PMU (I am American in Russia at this time) and my good friend from Oz will be there this Friday - 20 July.

Neither of us talked with Al Falak. Two seperate recruiters contacted us.

Both of us have been in the Kingdom of Eternal Darkness in the mid 90's so we have an idea about the management. And salaries have dropped about $10,000/year since then, I will find out about things by next week when my friend is in country and looking things over.

vunderful · Joined: 09 May 2007 Posts: 10

Hopefully things will shape up for PMU. What I've heard about Al Falak is that they're interested in cutting costs for their employer. What university wouldn't want that? If PMU has made a split with Al Falak, I would guess it's because Al Falak isn't coughing up the teachers fast enought.

As for me, I'm outta the KSA for awhile. As was mentioned previously, there are other places in the Gulf that pay as much as or more than places such as PMU, and the environment is much more conducive to real life. That being said, though, if my lottery ticket is pulled and I get a sweet job at BAE, I'll give up real life and spend some time taking baths in some sterling. Like a lot of us teaching in KSA, I'm willing to sell my soul for the dough.

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

vunderful
Just be aware that when Beelzebub DOES show up to offer you a contract He is serious about having your immortal soul !

I suggest that you have another look at 'Dr Faust'.

Bob Gorn · Posted: Tue Jul 17, 2007 11:36 pm Post subject:

Question for the poster M. Buchan (American in Russia):
Do you mind telling us the names of the recruiters who offered you and your friend the jobs at PMU? Also, what kind of housing are they offering you? Will you be at the regular PMU compound, or are they putting you up in a flat somewhere? If you are single, will you have to have a roommate?

I hear that the PMU compound is quite nice, but that security is not as good as it could be. If they are offering you a flat outside the compound, what is the plan for security? Will you be living with a lot of other Americans? I know there haven't been any incidents lately, but it is a big concern for Americans living in the Magic Kingdom, as you know.

Looking forward to your answers - Thanks! Bob G.

MIKEBUCHAN · Joined: 18 Mar 2007 Posts: 106 Location: Russia

Hi Bob,

Ms. Lalita (MOD edit) is the recruiter that contacted me, but I don't know who contacted my friend in Oz. I could ask if it is necessary. However, he will be leaving Wednesday or Thursday for the Kingdom of Darkness.

This lady is probably new to recruiting - she gives what appears to be honest answers! She indicated that uni housing was the probable housing. But, also told about possible other locations and / or a cash payment to live where you could find housing. I am not single - so my room mate is well known to me. The advantage we have is this: no kids. Lalita did have this to say --- the costs to PMU and each person's situation i.e. family housing, number of children, air fares, etal - could determine what salary you will receive. Or something close to that. I have all our emails and could reread all of them to be sure - but..........

Last year we were in Qatar and the housing was very bad there and NO security at all. And the US was building up for invading Iran and using the base in Qatar as the base of operations. In the mid 90's I was in Tabuk and Khamis and housing was great and secure - jeeps with heavy machine guns 24/7/52 and very friendly Saudi Army guys manning them. Even hours after Khobar Towers was bombed, those guys were there and cared all the more.

As Jimmy Buffett sung, "...some of it was magic, some of it was tragic, but I had a good life all the way..." ------- so when the end comes - it comes. I have survived many things - 14 years of university, Vietnam and a nasty divorce that cost over a quadrazillion dollars, so the Kingdom of Eternal Darkness is another bump in life. I do, however, worry about my Russian wife being there this time. I was not married the first time in country.

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

My information is that PMU is also hiring direct. Not sure if they are still using agencies.

And as for Bob Gorn - "I know there haven't been any incidents lately, but it is a big concern for Americans living in the Magic Kingdom"

The last incident did not involve Americans. You are not the only target of the crazies you know !

trapezius · Posted: Wed Jul 18, 2007 9:42 am Post subject:

1) Someone said in the UOH thread that "Premiere Recruiting" is recruiting for PMU.

2) I received an email from "Ms. Lalita (MOD edit) and she is recruiting for PMU as well. She is an ex-UOH ESL lecturer. But here is what's baffling: the only email link in her message pointed to [email protected]. So Al Falak has subcontracted it out to her?

3) I am confused

Stephen Jones · Joined: 21 Feb 2003 Posts: 4124

Network Overseas, 34 Mortimer Street, are also recruiting for PMU.

MIKEBUCHAN · Joined: 18 Mar 2007 Posts: 106 Location: Russia

I have a little different address for Lalita -- @lalitasworld.com -- this is from the return header. The same window that I copy to report all the lottery and bank scams.

trapezius, pleease tell me what UOH is? Thanks

Bob Gorn · Posted: Wed Jul 18, 2007 3:24 pm Post subject:

Scot47, didn't mean to leave others out of the "terrorized" category. Certainly Americans are not the only ones targeted.

I used "Americans" instead of "Westerners" because Mike Buchan had said he was American and PMU so far has hired mostly Americans.

I'm sure that the deviants (as KSA tends to call Al Qaeda) believe in equal opportunity for us all.

globalnomad2 · Joined: 23 Jul 2005 Posts: 562

If you don't mind my returning to the dollar topic, I don't believe the dollar is collapsing per se. These things come in cycles. It has been steady against the yen at around 125, but in the early 1990s the dollar was so low it was incredible--at around 80 yen at its lowest. Of course, there was no Euro then, but so what. The sterling used to be $5 in my earlier lifetime (and I'm not that old) but so what. It's all in cycles.

In '92 we got rid of the first damned Bush and the economy got much stronger. Personally I predict the dollar will continue to drag--but not collapse--until we get rid of the second damned Bush and with any luck a common-sense Democratic president--and an additional 17 democrats in the Senate to even give it veto-override power--will give courage to the economy almost by osmosis, and lift the dollar.