Job Discussion Forums

[gjeo]

I am offered a post at kau.
They offer SR 6620 - 9245 per month + SR 17000 annual housing allowance + SR 8500 one-off furniture allowance + 60 day annual summer vacation, annual round trip air tickets for upto 4 people.
I have 4 years' teaching experience (post-MA) and good degrees in ELT.

My doubts:

1.Is the salary low for someone from India? I have read here that anything below SAR 10000 is considered low for a teacher from America or Britain, but please do consider the differences in currency value and living expenses in my case.

2. I would like to know whether SR 17000 annual housing will be sufficient for me and one dependant. We may not need to live at the heart of the city, but need a decent place not too far from the university, with at least a couple of neat, spacious rooms and kitchen, a/c, transportation facility etc.

3. How much can one save in Jeddah IF the university provides trasportation? I guess we may have to meet the expenses for food and minor personal travel. I get the impression that KSA is not as costly as UAE. I wonder whether it would be possible to meet these expenses with SAR 3000 per month.

4. Are there any other better options at KSA or UAE Universities/International Schools for someone from India?

I would be grateful if someone here could help me with some information.

[scot47]

Many live on less !

[gjeo]

Really? If so, that's quite reassuring. Thanks.

[trapezius]

1) So what exactly IS the salary? You have given us a range. Can't you find your actual salary from them? However, assuming that it is 6,620, that is still very good for an Indian national. But as you said, no Western national would come here for anything less than SR. 10,000 PLUS free furnished housing.

2) Your housing is covered (yes, the 17,000 is enough), as are your tickets, so that means you can save quite a bit. What about medical insurance? That should be provided, I guess.

3) Monthly living expenses could range from SR. 1,500 to SR. 3,000 per month depending on your living style and eating habits, so yes, you will be able to save a lot.

4) In Jeddah, try CBA: www.cba.edu.sa (they are hiring). I know that you will get SR. 20,000 as a housing allowance, and 10,000 as one-off furniture allowance, but I don't know what your salary will be. It will partially depend on where your degrees are from. There are many colleges and universities in SA, but I don't know which one would be better in terms of money. Where are your degrees from, and do you have a school teaching qualification, and if so, from where?

Good luck.

[gjeo]

Thanks a lot for the comprehensive reply.

They have just given the salary range based on experience. I am yet to sign the contract. They say that exceptionally well-qualified candidates can get a 50% increase. I am not sure what their criteria for this will be. They have also mentioned the possibility of getting paid for overtime work.

They haven't mentioned anything about the Medical Insurance.

I have all my degrees from India.

I will try the link you have provided. Thank you once again for the help, and please do let me know whether you have some more information for me.

[Mia Xanthi]

Dear gjeo,
I think that this is probably an excellent offer for you. Salaries for Saudi Arabians themselves are often half of what foreigners make, so locally hired teachers make 5000-6000 SR a month. Local hires here also make less, and I know people in your situation who have been hired for 5000 - 6000 SR with no benefits, so your offer sounds like it is probably top notch. Your qualifications are excellent and I have seen many "native" posters on this forum who can only wish they they had your "native-like" command of the language. The university is fortunate to have you. Best of luck in your new post.

[gjeo]

Thanks...I am truly humbled!
I needed some reassurance, and I seem to get a lot of it here. I have never ventured out of India, and was not sure how I would get my doubts cleared. Now I know I've made the right choice.
I may keep my options open until I sign the final contract. But I feel I should accept this good offer if nothing else works out in the meantime.
Thanks once again for taking the time to go through my posts and helping out.

[Stephen Jones]

The institution does not have a bad reputation, and Jeddah is still quite a nice city although the Bride of the Red Sea is slowly changing into a bag lady.

Saudi is cheap compared to the Emirates. What will really hit you is school fees so check that out.

[gjeo]

I am glad to hear that the institution does not have a bad reputation. It was very thoughtful of you to mention the school fees, but that won't be a problem for me in the near future.

[gjeo]

Just got news that the salary is revised for the new term - and the range will be 8660 SR to 12910 SR. The housing allowance is 25000 SR per year and furniture allowance is 12500 SR (only once). Work load is 18 teaching hours and 5 office hours per week. Extra teaching hours will be paid. They offer health care for teacher and dependants, but don't know whether that would be a medical insurance. Everything else the same as in the previous years' offer. Sounds good to me altogether
No Children's Education Allowance
The final contract can be signed only in the University (Jeddah) and the salary, based on experience, can be fixed only then. Does one have to be a bit apprehensive here?

[lall]

[gjeo]

They have explained the way they will count the experience.
But I thought one must be prepared to get the lowest in the salary range, when they said that the final contract could be signed only there...
A salary even lower than that? That's a scary thought! Well, let's see...
They have advised the prospective teachers to bring their dependants only after settling down in Jeddah.
Some four months left to make up my mind.

[Stephen Jones]

They want to see the documentary proof of your experience.

[gjeo]

That's what they say, and it sounds sensible to an extent. But a copy of the contract would have given some reassurance. I simply hope that there won't be any serious problem, except perhaps in fixing the salary scale. They say that they have already recommended the selected teachers, and highlight the 'package', which is good enough for someone like me.

[desert date]