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ghost
Joined: 30 Jan 2003
Posts: 1693
Location: Saudi Arabia
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 Posted: Wed Sep 12, 2007 2:01 pm Post subject: University of Hail, Saudi Arabia - legit? |
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After spending literally 10 minutes filling out an application form that had arrived in my e-mail box from a recruiter for the University of Hail, I received an e-mail back offering me a position at the University. Obviously this is unusual, and I was wondering how desperate they are for Instructors at Hail University, if they make a tentative offer with little or no probing for supplemental information and reference checks?
The basic details of the job offer:
University of Hail
5 days a week/8 hours a day
Saturday to Wednesday work schedule
Salary: sr 12,000.00 per month
Overtime: sr 150.00
Vacation days: 30 days after 10 months
Local transport and housing provided by UOH
Hail is not my first choice of work venue in Saudi, and other more reputable places in Saudi, take more time to respond (which is not a bad thing, as it shows they are careful about who they recruit, and that they probably check references and other details more carefully as well).
Does anyone here actually work at UOH and would they recommend working there? And where is the main campus actually located?
Thanks for any feedback you may have on this rather unusual offer (at least in terms of speed of response).
Ghost in Korea |
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007
Joined: 30 Oct 2006
Posts: 2684
Location: UK/Veteran of the Magic Kingdom
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| Posted: Wed Sep 12, 2007 3:32 pm Post subject: Re: University of Hail, Saudi Arabia - legit? |
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| ghost wrote: |
The basic details of the job offer:
University of Hail
Salary: sr 12,000.00 per month
Overtime: sr 150.00 |
The salary depends on your qualifications, years of experience, and most importantly your passport type.
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| Vacation days: 30 days after 10 months |
Why after 10 months? Usually vacations is 6o days for each academic year with public universities.
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| Hail is not my first choice of work venue in Saudi, and other more reputable places in Saudi, take more time to respond (which is not a bad thing, as it shows they are careful about who they recruit, and that they probably check references and other details more carefully as well). |
Not necessarily, the majority of Saudi universities/employers do not check references, and sometimes they through your application in the corner, and dig it up when they are in need! So, you expect anything from them, they might call or email you out from the blue, at any time to offer you a position in the magic kingdom. |
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trapezius
Joined: 13 Aug 2006
Posts: 1670
Location: Land of Culture of Death & Destruction
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| Posted: Wed Sep 12, 2007 4:07 pm Post subject: |
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| The salary depends on your qualifications, years of experience, and most importantly your passport type. |
That's true when you come on the institution's visa.
At UOH, almost everybody is initially recruited by a contracting company. And everybody gets 12,000.
Which is highly unfair.
Last year, there were people with PhDs and lots of experience, and there there were people who had done non-academic work their whole lives (aged 50-60), gotten a TEFL diploma at that age, taught for a year or less, and then showed up at UOH.
And they still got 12,000, as did those with PhDs or Master's degrees and several years experience.
ghost, search for brasscat's threads. He made many threads about UOH while he was there, and also after he left. Safe to say that once you read the threads, you would not want to go there. |
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Cleopatra
Joined: 28 Jun 2003
Posts: 3657
Location: Tuamago Archipelago
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| Posted: Wed Sep 12, 2007 4:15 pm Post subject: http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/posting.php?mode=reply&t=5 |
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| I was wondering how desperate they are for Instructors at Hail University |
I would say they are pretty desperate indeed. Most places try to have their recruitment sorted out by late spring: if they are still looking for people in Ramadhan, that's a sure sign that they are having huge trouble getting teachers. Do a search for past threads on Hail uni and you may understand why.
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| other more reputable places in Saudi, take more time to respond (which is not a bad thing, as it shows they are careful about who they recruit, and that they probably check references and other details more carefully as well). |
For once, I have to second what 007 wrote. Few Saudi employers check references, and your qualifications are more likely to be investigated by the embassy rather than the employer. Time of response has no connection to the reliability - or otherwise - of the employer. Most places in the Gulf will ignore your application until they feel they need you - it's not uncommon for people to send out an application to a college and hear nothing from them for months. Then, when you've forgotten that college even existed, you get an email asking if you can be in Riyadh next week. By which time, of course, chances are you've made other plans. |
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ghost
Joined: 30 Jan 2003
Posts: 1693
Location: Saudi Arabia
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| Posted: Wed Sep 12, 2007 10:27 pm Post subject: re |
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| Then, when you've forgotten that college even existed, you get an email asking if you can be in Riyadh next week. By which time, of course, chances are you've made other plans. |
But I thought it would take weeks/months to get the paperwork sorted out, like police clearances, medicals etc.?
Does this mean, you can come to Saudi without going through those procedures? And, also, if I am applying from Korea, to get the paperwork clearances done (police checks and medicals) - does it mean I have to go back to my home country?
It looks like going to Saudi is a rather complex thing.
Ghost in Korea |
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ghost
Joined: 30 Jan 2003
Posts: 1693
Location: Saudi Arabia
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| Posted: Wed Sep 12, 2007 11:26 pm Post subject: re |
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The vacation allowance is 30 days in summer, at the University of Hail. This means that teachers have to come back one month early and prepare in their offices. At other times of the year, the usual Islamic vacations are given, which I think total about 10 days twice, or a bit more. Maybe there are three muslim holidays - not sure?
I think it is difficult to be productive at that time of the year, when the heat is still intense, and was wondering whether most Institutions in Saudi have 2 months off in summer, or some just one month off in summer like the University of Hail?
With one month off in summer, it is more difficult to plan a long trip in summer, because 4 weeks go by quite quickly. I was under the impression that most places in Saudi gave July and August off.
Feedback appreciated.
Ghost in Korea |
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scot47
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Posts: 15343
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| Posted: Thu Sep 13, 2007 3:24 am Post subject: |
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| At this time of the year the local English-language press in KSA is full of ads from educational institutions looking for teachers. I will leave it to your imagination to figure out what sort of 'planning' is involved where an institutionbn starts looking in September for teachers who are needed in that month. |
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ghost
Joined: 30 Jan 2003
Posts: 1693
Location: Saudi Arabia
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| Posted: Thu Sep 13, 2007 5:06 am Post subject: re |
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At this time of the year the local English-language press in KSA is full of ads from educational institutions looking for teachers. I will leave it to your imagination to figure out what sort of 'planning' is involved where an institutionbn starts looking in September for teachers who are needed in that month.
_________________
"If you run your engine right you'll get there just on time." |
Interesting comment. Out of all the countries in the region (Kuwait, UAE, Saudi, Bahrein, Qatar, Oman, Yemen) which countries do you think get the most applications from teachers, and where does Saudi rate in general in comparsion to the other countries?
I get the feeling that some schools offer positions to people, but then the Instructors do not show up. This is a problem for the schools. I would prefer to avoid doing that. It does not help me, and it is a disservice to other teachers as well, because Institutions get fed up with so many 'no shows.'
It is normal to try to get the best position, but one should, at least, let the Institutions where you have indicated you have accepted a position, know what your intentions are. Just not informing them, makes big problems at the last minute for the Institutions, and will lessen the trust towards all foreign Instructors in the long run.
Ghost in Korea |
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Cleopatra
Joined: 28 Jun 2003
Posts: 3657
Location: Tuamago Archipelago
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| Posted: Thu Sep 13, 2007 9:21 am Post subject: |
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But I thought it would take weeks/months to get the paperwork sorted out, like police clearances, medicals etc.?
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It does. My reference to employers wanting you there 'next week' was a bit of hyperbole intended to show the poor time planning and unrealistic expectations of so many Saudi employers.
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| Does this mean, you can come to Saudi without going through those procedures? |
If you are coming on a work visa, you have to go through all procedures, which differ somewhat from embassy to embassy (not every embassy requires police clearance, for example). However, some employers bring teachers over on visit visas, which cuts down considerably on time and paperwork. However, this can catch up with you later, so it's best to avoid the visit visa thing if you can.
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| it is a disservice to other teachers as well, because Institutions get fed up with so many 'no shows.' |
It's not quite as simple as that. Many teachers end up not coming to KSA even though they had every intention of so doing. Visa procedures can be long and frustrating, especially if you have a family and if you get little support from your employers - which is often the case. Some people just get tired of the seemingly endless expense and hassle of attempting to get a Saudi visa, and end up taking another job. I find it hard to blame them for this. |
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scot47
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Posts: 15343
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| Posted: Thu Sep 13, 2007 10:12 am Post subject: |
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The ads in local papers are aimed at people in KSA already. These are typically the wives (sometimes husbands) of people working here already. Or at thos who have transferable Iqamas.
Most people who come to teach here have to jump the hoops of getting a visa from a Sauydiu Embassy. |
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ghost
Joined: 30 Jan 2003
Posts: 1693
Location: Saudi Arabia
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| Posted: Thu Sep 13, 2007 10:13 am Post subject: re |
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It's not quite as simple as that. Many teachers end up not coming to KSA even though they had every intention of so doing. Visa procedures can be long and frustrating, especially if you have a family and if you get little support from your employers - which is often the case. Some people just get tired of the seemingly endless expense and hassle of attempting to get a Saudi visa, and end up taking another job. I find it hard to blame them for this.
_________________
There is hope, but not for us |
So, back to my original question.
If I am in Korea, can I get all the paperwork sorted out from Korea, or do I need to go back to Canada to get the stuff sorted out. I have no intention, at this time, of going to Canada, and it would be a huge expense just to go there for the purpose of sorting out the medicals and police clearances?
Has anyone sorted everything out away from their home country?
Thank you.
Ghost in Korea |
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trapezius
Joined: 13 Aug 2006
Posts: 1670
Location: Land of Culture of Death & Destruction
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| Posted: Thu Sep 13, 2007 11:11 am Post subject: |
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About the vacation, don't worry, you *will* have a 2 month vacation.
Around March or April, either one of 2 things will happen. If you are sycophantic enough, or keep your mouth shut enough even in the face of injustices/lies, you will be asked to become a full time member of UOH under their sponsorship. Or you will be told your services are no longer needed after the end of the term in mid June.
In either case, you get 2 months off. In the first case, you have to go back to your home country to apply for a work visa, and in the 2nd case, you are free to do what you like once you leave Saudi in mid June.
As for the business visa, I don't know if you have to go back to your home country or not. Why don't you ask the recruitment company, as you should?
And most importantly, you have decided to go work at UOH? You didn't read brasscat's many threads on UOH? Or you read them and they didn't faze you?
You are a brave soul/May God have mercy on your soul. |
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Cleopatra
Joined: 28 Jun 2003
Posts: 3657
Location: Tuamago Archipelago
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| Posted: Thu Sep 13, 2007 12:27 pm Post subject: |
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It is possible to get a Saudi visa outside of your country of citizenship. However, you will probably have to prove residence, and the procedure may take (even) longer and be (even) more complex than it should be.
Also, during Ramadhan, (ie now) embassies usually prioritise Umrah visas, which will slow down your application further. |
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ghost
Joined: 30 Jan 2003
Posts: 1693
Location: Saudi Arabia
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| Posted: Thu Sep 13, 2007 2:45 pm Post subject: ramadan |
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Now with Ramadan taking place, until October 11, I am curious to know how much Instructors and Administrative people work during that time?
Is it a 'normal' schedule, or a shortened day, or some holidays during the last part?
During this time, I assume, it is not the best time to expect to contact Administration at different places with regard to employment. Patience, probably, will be needed until the end of the Ramadan festive period.
Thanks for any feedback you may have.
Ghost in Korea |
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brasscat
Joined: 22 Jan 2007
Posts: 245
Location: Farpoint Mindstation
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| Posted: Thu Sep 13, 2007 3:06 pm Post subject: Hail!!!! The Joke |
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brasscat here.
UOH, the failed institution just recently taken back over by KFUPM. They only had 16 return to the place after summer.
Hail is located at the edge of the Al-Nufud Desert and the Adja mountains.
The current recruiting is being carried out by Tubla, which is run by HRI (His Royal Idiot) Shagnasty, the vice pooba of the place.
They bring people in on a single entry biz visa. It has to be renewed regularly. No driving, bank account, or currency sends allowed.
Ditch that clown show and come to a first class university, which will treat you right and pay you a fine 12 month salary in cash.
Make contact with PMU in Al-Khobar. (MOD edit - PM poster for contact info)
"The Road to Hail is paved with good intentions."
Sayings of Chaircat Meow.
brasscat |
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