Job Discussion Forums

[jlcozzens]

Hello,
Just a question. I signed with a college in Riyadh and I am supposed to arrive by around August 25th. However, with the certification of my documents taking a bit longer than I expected, it may not happen and I plan to arrive close to September 2. When does the school term start and what will happen if I am late? I think I am supposed to be trained for a bit. What will likely happen if I miss this training and arrive late? I feel guilty about not being able to arrive on time, but the Education Mission is taking some time.
Thank you for your comments.

[Bob Gorn]

You should contact your employer ASAP and let them know that you are making every effort to arrive on time but that in all likelihood you will be late. At this point, most employers in KSA are anxiously (desperately???) awaiting your arrival, and many candidates just never show up at all. There is very little chance that you will lose this opportunity because you are arriving a week late, so just be up front with them about it.

As for the "school year" question, it depends on the school. It seems that most universities require their people to be there around August 25, but I don't think that most universities will begin in earnest until early September. You'll probably just be missing out on training sessions.

BTW, a word of advice: don't post under your real name here now that you have a job in KSA, and don't post ANY personal information that could come back to haunt you. There's not much to do but gossip in Saudi Arabia, and someone somewhere will tell your employer that you post here. You could end up being blamed for anything negative that appears on this forum. Start practicing being discreet now - it's a skill you will certainly need in Saudi Arabia.

[veiledsentiments]

What? you mean that your real name isn't Bob Gorn?

Seriously, this is good advice. Many employers do monitor this board and what you post may be misunderstood.

VS

[trapezius]

Classes are starting on Semptember 8 in public universities. I am sure the private ones can't be too different.

[Bob Gorn]

Actually, VS, my first name is Badduri. Stress on the first syllable. Yep, Badduri Bob Gorn.

[scot47]

I would not worry about arriving late. Attitudes to time and time-keeping are rather different in this part of the world.

[Cleopatra]

Teachers arrive weeks, even months late all the time in KSA, usually due to visa problems. There is absolutely no need to feel guilty, or to worry. If your employers try to pressure you - they often have no idea of the hurdles new employees have to jump through - calmly tell them you are doing all you can and will arrive as soon as you can. Given that they have already invested a lot of time and money in applying for your visa, there is no way they will back out for the sake of a few weeks.

[Bebsi]

The biggest problem with arriving on time in KSA is that you will find yourself in an empty staffroom and talking to yourself for a few weeks.

[ootii]

[ootii]

[scot47]

2008 - Our summer holiday lasts until the Middle of October. I am concentrating all my efforts on surviving to see that long holiday !

[Van Norden]

I am concentrating all my efforts on surviving each day. Every minute, every hour. Talk about eternal war! You're fighting the clock. And the calendar. Each day ticked off is like a battle won, but the only way to win the war is with an EOV.

This must be the only country (?) listed here on Dave's where a good percentage of people are actively wishing their days away. What a phenomenon!

[Cleopatra]

Another bore with Midnight Express pretensions...

[Van Norden]

[Bebsi]

I didn't say there was anything wrong with it, did I? Well OK, I used the word 'problem' but I meant it in a rhetorical sense.

Seriously, tho, it can be a problem for a newbie to Saudi, a very lonely experience indeed, to arrive before everyone else.

Otherwise, rock on til November!!!!