Job Discussion Forums

bcnbound · Joined: 14 Oct 2006 Posts: 14 Location: Europe

Is it possible to come back to the Gulf to work after a 6 month-1 year gap? I finished my contract in June 2007 in the UAE after 2.5 years there and moved to Europe, (working here legally, as am British) I'm having a great time teaching in France and will move onto Spain or Italy for a few months. But in spite of the quality of life here pay is poor in comparison to the Gulf and looks like I will be heading back again after all Laughing

, but worried that maybe the gap (6 months-a year) will look bad to new would be recruiters, if I reapply for September 2008. Any advice? Experience? I have no regrets leaving the UAE as I really enjoy my life here in Europe- for now Smile

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

For TEFL-lifers like me, this is the normal pattern.

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

I'm not sure why this would be a problem... people do it all the time.

I did a two year gap because of business that had to be taken care of back home. As long as you have something on the CV and "letters of employment" from the other countries and jobs... zero problems. I only did part-time education during that gap and otherwise worked at my previous career in business. (I only put education experience on the CV)

Many employers don't want to see a CV with big gaps of *no* employment.

VS

Cleopatra · Posted: Sun Oct 28, 2007 2:21 pm Post subject:

I don't know about the rest of the Gulf, but Saudi Arabia is full of 'returnees'.

Some of them storm out swearing they will never again have anything to do with that h**lhole, only to meekly show up again a year or two later, having found out that they actually quite liked the disposable income, free bus to work and the fact that the comfy apartment comes rent free. Others leave for family or work/study related reasons, always leaving open the possibility of returning sooner or later. Here I'm talking not only of EFL employees, but of those in other walks of life too.

The fact remains that, while the cultural and social life may leave a lot to be desired, the Gulf is still one of the few places on earth where an ESL teacher can have a reasonable standard of living, and even save quite a bit too. As often as not, it takes people just a few short months of split shifts and anxious waits for pay day to work this out.

NadiaK · Joined: 27 Jul 2006 Posts: 206

Yer, people do it all the time.

QatarChic · Joined: 06 May 2005 Posts: 445 Location: Qatar

Taking a gap sounds like a good idea to me.

mishmumkin · Joined: 01 Sep 2007 Posts: 929

Yes, I've taken the gap and returned w/o issue. Thinking of returning again.

cam · Joined: 22 Jan 2003 Posts: 124 Location: Maine, USA

Taking a break after a couple years is a good idea. The great thing about the ME is you can always come back. I plan on taking 6 months off at the end of my current contract to travel. After that I am going to come back to the same place for another year or two.