Job Discussion Forums

saudimad · Joined: 30 Nov 2006 Posts: 19

Hi All,

I've been offered two positions in the Kingdom and am unsure which to take.
The first is with BC Riyadh for a base salary of 10,500 pm + benefits
The other is with UCJ in jubail with a base salary of 12,000 + benefits.

I'm unsure which to take and would be grateful for any advice.

Thanks

trapezius · Posted: Thu Jul 19, 2007 7:08 pm Post subject:

British Council for sure.

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

I would second that - with the reservation that Riyadh is not the best place in Saudi !

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

You should realise that the 'Winds of Change' have not really cleared the dust from the corridors of the British Council. There are 'Upstairs' people and there are 'Downstairs' people. As a classroom teacher you will be in the second category.

However as a place to work for 2 or 3 years it could be tolerable and would add a hint of respectability to that CV.

Applications from colonials MAY be considered but are not actively encouraged.

miski · Joined: 04 Jul 2007 Posts: 298 Location: Kuwait

I wouldn't trust the British Council anywhere- I worked for them for four years in Kuwait on an overseas contract and then not only did they fail to give me the correct visa transfer letter for three weeks and force me to pay a fine of about �200, but they also refused to pay four years indemnity ( re Kuwait Labour Law) which was about �2400. When I took them to court , they suddenly declared they were 'diplomatic' and couldn't be sued.......it's still under appeal I believe..

The reason why I was leaving was that the then Director was attempting to change our contract conditions mid contract and add an extra 2.5 hours per week teaching .If we didn't agree to the change he wanted us 'out by the end of the week'.... This 2.5 hours he was planning to take from accumulating the 15 minute breaks we had during 2 hour classes......ie. 15 minutes that students had ALREADY paid for......what a rat. I think he ended up in Bangladesh.LOL

PS. He was definitely a 'them upstairs' employee, although his office ws downstairs. I think he came upstairs to the staffroom twice in the two years he was there at the same time as me....Donutman we used to call him.

Madman · Posted: Sun Sep 16, 2007 9:31 am Post subject: Not Jubail

On no account come to Jubail! Seriously, you will regret it! This is a total armpit - the pollution from the refineries will rot your lungs, the management is useless and the accommodation is substandard and grisly. The locals are openly hostile and if you are male you will be stuck in the worst area of town. Use the SEARCH function here and check for yourself. Nothing is so bad you would want to come to Jubail.

WD40 · Joined: 14 Jan 2007 Posts: 104

The British Council, I would trust them completely. It seems the poster before is one of only a few who have had a bad deal from the council. If youm want to work for a professional organoization that has decent conditions of service, do not promise the earth and then do not deliver, support you in professional development and expect you to give as much as you receive (and it looks good on your CV and you have a chance to move to far better world wide locations) then there is no choice but the BC.