Job Discussion Forums

OldRick · Joined: 27 Feb 2008 Posts: 2

Hi all,

What is the current situation working for BAE? I have applied for a post and would appreciate some info from people who are currently working there.

cheers,

Old Rick

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

Still a good place to earn money. If your goal is to maximise the numbers on that monthly paycheck this is the place for you. Limited opportunities for Yanks and Colonials though.

windstar · Joined: 22 Dec 2007 Posts: 235

does "colonials" include canucks?

Neil McBeath · Joined: 01 Dec 2005 Posts: 277 Location: Saudi Arabia

Yet again, pay no attention to Scot 47. He is very who proud of that fact that he has never worked for BAE Systems or any other "merchant of death" and yet continues to spead misleading information about the company.

BAE Systems is quite happy to hire Americans, Canadians, Australians and New Zealanders. I seem to remember South Arficans and Zimbabweans as well.

The pay is very good indeed, and the conditions are more than adequate. BUT, and this is a big but, you are working in Saudi Arabia and in a very artificial environment.

Some people can take it. Others, not just at BAE, can not.

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

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

Wing Commander McBeath has decided that I am one of the enemy. I seem to recollect that he did not stay in KSA long before flying back to Oman where he has a leading role with the "Peacekeeping Forces" of the Sultan. I think he likes being a sort of TEFLing Biggles.

If you look at the nationality of BAe teachers in KSA you will find that they are predominantly British.

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

I thought it was a British organization, so that is what confused me. What percentage of the teaching staff is non-British?

VS

Neil McBeath · Joined: 01 Dec 2005 Posts: 277 Location: Saudi Arabia

VS if you are confused, it's probably because Scot keeps filling this board with incorrect information.

First he's an expert on a company for which he has never worked. Now he's an expert on my career.

To clarify. BAE Systems is a British company, but it has a fairly inclusive policy about recruiting English language teachers. As well as the nationalities that I mentioned in my earlier post, I also remember Saudis, Sudanese and Irish teachers on the staff of the School of English Language. So far as the percentage is concerned, I would suggest that someting like 35% of the English teachers are now non-Brit, but that could be an underestimate. There is a drive to recruit and train more Saudi nationals.

So far as my own status is concerned, I am not, not have I ever been, a Wing Commander. I was a Flight Lieutenant in RAFO from 1981 to 2005. I then took a two year contract with BAE Systems, which I completed.

I now have 'a leading role with the "Peacekeeping Forces" of the Sultan' at Sultan Qaboos University Language Centre. I am currently teaching highly intelligent, well motivated young Omani ladies who intend to be English teachers.

I have never read the Biggles books, so that reference flies by me, but I have the distinct impression that he didn't teach in tertiary education.

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

Stephen Jones · Joined: 21 Feb 2003 Posts: 4124

I suspect the main reason for the third of non-Brits that McBeath mentions is that BAE had problems hiring Brits. I think Scot is probably correct regarding the policy in pre-2001 years.

Neil McBeath · Joined: 01 Dec 2005 Posts: 277 Location: Saudi Arabia

I think it is more likely that, with the decline in the value of the dolar, a lot of people whose currencies were linked to the dollar saw that it was beneficial to be paid in pounds sterling.

During my two years at BAE, my American colleagues were effectively getting a pay rise every month. As a result of that, more Americans, and more qualified Americans, started to apply.

This is one of the reasons why I object to Scot's constant disparagement of a company for which he has never worked. There are still openings in BAE. Some people reading this forum might want to apply, and might be quite happy there. It would be unfortunate, to say the least, if they were deterred because of one person's campaign of misinformation.

Never Ceased To Be Amazed · Posted: Tue Mar 11, 2008 3:56 pm Post subject: Spot on!

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

I still question whether BAe is such a wonderful place to work. For making this suggestion "Biggles" McBeath wants to have me tried for High Treason !

Neil McBeath · Joined: 01 Dec 2005 Posts: 277 Location: Saudi Arabia

No, Scot, I don't.

I just think you ought to go back to selling Socialist Worker outside shopping malls.

bje · Joined: 19 Jun 2005 Posts: 527

I just think you ought to go back to selling Socialist Worker outside shopping malls.[/quote]

OUCH! What's wrong with socialism?