Job Discussion Forums

[mishmumkin]

[Shakhbut]

The starting point, irrespective of quallies, appears to be 11,000 AED.
Exactly the reason more Levant Arabs are being hired. Nothing wrong with that, just a fact that they are cheaper than Western teachers.

[Henry_Cowell]

[NadiaK]

Here's a link I've posted previously, which gives the now outdated starting salary range, and the complete salary range: http://recruit.hct.ac.ae/job_posting/sb/Professional%20&%20Academic%20Specialists%20Salary%20and%20Benefits.pdf

It's outdated following the recent 12% increase; although existing staff had their salaries increased by 12%, I'm not sure whether this applied to each of the steps on the starting salary scale.

[007]

[mishmumkin]

[veiledsentiments]

Yes, but they will have been there for many many years.... or arrived with an MA+15 or more years of ME university level experience with Arabic speakers. I do know a couple in this situation who were hired at the very top of the scale.... and fair enough

AND... I don't believe that there is a much of a variance, if any, between branches. Salaries were all set and paid through Central Services, which is probably still in Abu Dhabi... or has it moved?

Although if this new 'tell 'em what you want to get paid' idea gets popular, it may very well allow them to low-ball some people.

VS

[mishmumkin]

[veiledsentiments]

Seven years is a good run in HCT. (nerves of steel?) Another factor in topping the scale is timing. For instance, I don't believe that one could get a raise for getting an MA within a contract. (that happened to one person that I knew) So, if you time it wrong... finish the MA just *after* you sign a new contract, you might have to wait 3 years to see the cash if they haven't changed that rule. If still there, their latest third contract would have that 12% jump too. nice...

VS

[saluki]

Fortunately VS, they have changed that rule. Now you get the extra money a month after your MA transcripts are submitted to Central Services (who are being disbanded at the moment - being sent all around the colleges!).

I think when the new salary scale was introduced this year, the first two levels on the salary scale were 'deleted', so new staff could begin on fairly reasonable starting salaries.

[veiledsentiments]

Good news on the MA rule. It was a good idea to promote more people to get one.

Not sure whether breaking up Central Services is a good idea. Right now it makes for more consistent treatment... it will add to the difference between branches.

Will this affect hiring? Will you still apply to HCT or will you apply to each branch separately? Or is this still one of the mysteries?

VS

[Miyazaki]

[veiledsentiments]

Miyazaki,

Through the years I have never encountered any PhDs who were working in EFL. Most people get a PhD to get the heck out of TEFL. I don't recall that we even had any PhDs at HCT even in academics. ZU seems to like PhDs... same with AUS and UAEU.

I am just speculating, but because all TEFL teachers are MA or less, I suspect that the scales for that position are not set up with a higher pay level. PhDs are normally in the academic areas where they would start higher than the average MA. TEFL PhDs would normally be in the Education or English department, rather than in the Foundations English program where all the MAs or less are. To be honest, I have encountered very few TEFL Westerners with PhDs in the Gulf at all outside of where I got my MA at AUC in Egypt. The Education departments in the Gulf are normally filled with Egyptians or other Arabs who may very well get lower salaries.

That said, I have heard that a fresh new PhD doesn't get you much more of an entry level starting salary than an MA with many years of experience. But TEFLers hit a ceiling and a professor's salary can go much higher. A couple experienced PhDs have told me that they started in the high US$50K whereas the MA's in their TEFL dept were starting at the high US$30K.

But in the Gulf, every university level employer has its own pay scale. I have seen the scale for places like Kuwait University or SQU, but the UAE seems to keep this more of a 'secret.' There is thread about this somewhere... general ME?

VS

[Miyazaki]

Vs,

Thanks for the detailed reply.

[mishmumkin]