Job Discussion Forums

[scholz]

I will have later an interview and I there will be two options for me:
Al Ain or Madinat Zayed.
So which one is better?

- I have no drivers licence. Is it possible to get there a driver�s licence without any big complication? Is it possible to get to the job with bus/taxi or should I hire in the mean time a driver (costs per month?)?

- can anyone upload a picture how a room looks like? Are the housings which are provided good?

- how is internet connection there (how can I install Internet connection there? Is there a telecommunication company who provides i-net connection)?

- are woman able to travel alone (for example in taxis) ?

- When are usually the holidays there and when does the weekend start (at Friday?)?

- if my relatives want to visit me (with travel visa), how long can they stay there normally?

[veiledsentiments]

First of all... can we assume that this is for a teaching position and you are single? If you are not being hired as a teacher, the following may not be accurate. It appears that you are not a native speaker... so there may even be small variation if you are teaching other than TEFL.

I'm not sure that the choice will be up to you on whether you accept Al-Ain or MZ, but if you do have a choice, I would take Al-Ain. The main reason for this is that currently, MZ teachers live in Abu Dhabi and have a long commute to MZ each day (but thus only teach a 4 day week, I believe). Of course, since you don't have a license, this might be fine for you. I personally like Al-Ain because it is a quiet small city... very scenic and green since it is an oasis.

If possible and if you are a "Westerner," get your driving license in your home country. (North America, I would guess, because you said "driver's" license) It is long, tedious, and likely expensive to get a license there, but possible. In Al-Ain, there will be taxis, but it does get pricey... and sometimes they are not around when you need them... always on the hottest days. It is as safe for a woman to use a taxi in the Emirates as anywhere else in the world, and safer than most places. Of course, you use common sense... being drunk and taking a taxi at 2 or 3:00 in the morning wouldn't be advised.

HCT has always provided good housing. There is no 'standard' to post pictures, you are assigned to inventory available. Most teachers are assigned a 2-bedroom flat. It will be empty and you use your furniture allowance to set up house.

Internet is easily available, but depends on the efficiency of the provider - which is still the phone company, I believe.

The holidays follow the Islamic calendar and I think the weekend has changed to Friday and Saturday. Your family could come on a tourist visa and you might want to check a travel website for the length of these visas. It probably depends on their passport.

VS

[scholz]

Hi,

many thanks for your advice. This is a teaching position in a vocational school, but not provided from HCT. If I get the job, then I will teach some basic stuffs like Maths or some economics stuff. No, I am not a native speaker and I am married. I want to take my family with me.
I am not sure if I will get the job, but had some questions thus i asked you here. I must say, nice forum.
You know what is really strange: i looked up for some jobs in colleges and universities and applied for 3-4 jobs, but did not get any answers. Very strange, but seems to be normal there.

[veiledsentiments]

OK... it is hard to get all the right information when you are not specific as to employer. The only one that I knew with locations in both AA and MZ is HCT.

For instance, people will not be able to tell you about housing if they don't know who the employer is. I understand that there is only very limited housing in MZ, so that may be an issue for you. Also, if you have children, there may not be schools.

Positions in the colleges and universities require at least an MA and experience.

VS

[Never Ceased To Be Amazed]

Hey, VS, I heard that that British outfit...something like CfBT or thereabouts is at MZ. I wonder if they could be who's offered s/he a yob?

NCTBA

[scholz]

Hi,

i cant be specific about the employer as I dont have full information. I live in Europe (Non-English speaking country) so it has nothing got to do with HTC or other private agencies. The only thing I know: The emirati government has asked our government to fill the job positions at a new builded school. So for our government this is the first step in this specific area. So, for everybody (Government Institution + Job seekers) this is a new step. The only thing I know is that accomodation is provided and there will be a local contract.
As I still have no interview yet I have no more information about it.
But to be sure what this area looks like, I have joined this forum and asked about some general facts in this area.

[carlen]

There are also model schools in MZ staffed by MOE. If you have children choose Al Ain, the only private school in MZ is an Indian one.

Accomodation for both new CfBT staff and Model school staff is at a newly built block of apartments.

The public education system differs to the west in that the use specialist teachers even at primary/elementary level. There is a shortage of math/science teachers and the Moe and ADEC is constantly advertising for them.

Taxis are available in MZ, they charge standard 10 dirams for a trip from small local market to home. Local hospital sells fresh fruit and vegetables. Taxis are harder to get if you want them to come and pick you up from home, the price escalates.

MZ is very undeveloped, no coffee shops etc. If you have a choice, choose Al Ain.

[spicegirl]

I vaguely remember seeing something in the Gulf News a few days ago about a new vocational college set up in collaboration with some organisation in Germany. I can't remember for the life of me any of the details, except that it said they'd be bringing in teachers/trainers from Germany, and that it would be English-medium. I don't remember that it mentioned anything about MZ, and I'd assumed it was in Dubai or AD, but maybe this is what the OP is being recruited for ...?

[redeyes]

NCTBA, thanks very much for your PM -- I just replied.

Best,

RE.

[holbrook]

Don't go to MZ unless you really want to spend some time alone living in a shack or sitting on busses for 3 hours a day. HCT can not find any adequate housing in MZ so I doubt anyone else can. I've been there and there is not much. Most commute from Abu Dhabi for about an hour and a half each way. If there was housing there I would be skeptical of the quality.

Al Ain on the other hand is lovely. Great place to live. Quiet enough but not dead.

[Takahiwai]