Job Discussion Forums

[stabnkill]

Clandestino,

I'm not sure how to respond to your posting. My comments are my personal take on the situation. I am personally looking for a flat and having a difficult time. Maybe I am just unlucky. Maybe I don't know the right people. Maybe I am going about it all wrong. Who knows. If you are serious about coming to Oman, may I suggest that you do your homework beforehand. I believe that all of the local English newspapers have websites. If I were you, I would google the newspapers, go to their websites, go to the classified or ad section, take the telephone numbers of real estate agents, and call a few from wherever you are. See what is available and how you feel about the prices.

These are the names of the local newspapers:

The Observer (daily)
The Tribune (daily)
Times of Oman (daily)
The Week (weekly)
Hi (weekly)

These are the names of two of the larger real estate companies:
Towell
Cluttons

There are many smaller ones.

You may want to keep in mind that many landlords will ask for rent three months at a time or will ask you to give them a year's worth of post-dated checks. These are things that can be negotiated, but should be taken into consideration.

Another thing that you could do is negotiate with your employer. The schools, etc. here know how difficult it is to find a place at the moment. Why not voice your concerns to the individuals who are recruiting you? Perhaps they have some suggestions or input. If you are nervous about discussing this matter with them or if they react badly to your questions, that may be an indication that they may not be all that great an outfit to work for.

[rocketchild]

Oman rents are out of control for sure.
Considering life in Oman is extremely simple and has little to offer
in terms of Western standards, why the high rents?

Don't take a contract that doesn't pay your rent and utilities...you will find yourself at the mercy of evictions and lost savings.

Besides do you really want to BUY a fridge/sofa/dining set etc for a year or two of work out of your own savings? Many schools and uni's do not offer a furniture allowance, be warned. Is living with second hand furniture appealing to you ?

Oman needs to raise its salaries. They are offering the same or even much lower than they did six years ago. With the shrinking US dollar and rising prices overall, this makes for very little savings to live in a Muslim country.

Why did I say that, well, oil and gas countries should pay people accordingly, there are many sacrifices one makes to teach in these isolated places and teachers should be compensated accordingly.

Incentive is needed to have good teachers move to remote villages in Oman, even the capital, which is not cheap to live in.

Add a car/petrol and a health club membership to the cost of living anywhere in Oman and you will see that it will be six months before you even begin to save. Or for some a year.

[SUZUKI]

rocketchild,

Never mind six years ago! In real terms, salaries are way, way down compared with what they used to be.

Don't take my word for it: take a figure of R.O. 10,000, say, which,I'm told, wasn't considered, 20 years ago, a special or high salary + allowances; multiple it, accumatively, by (a very modest)
2 1/2 % to cover for inflation. Do the calculation for 20 years and then compare the result with salary levels today.

Teachers are willing to come here; employers don't need to pay more.

Unless you're keen on the great outdoors, camping, that kind of thing, what is Oman's great attraction? The teaching isn't rewarding, is it?

[rocketchild]

[i]

"Teachers are willing to come here; employers don't need to pay more.

Unless you're keen on the great outdoors, camping, that kind of thing, what is Oman's great attraction? The teaching isn't rewarding, is it?[/quote][/i]


of course THEY need to pay. The reason I went to the middle east is for money. The camping is only for a few months of the year before it cooks up too hot....as all other outdoor activities die around April. Sometimes March, depends how the weather is that year. And camping isn't THAT great in Oman. The outdoors are incredible but you need money for the car and a lot of it.

why work for cheap...the companies have gotten bigger increases with each year and each contract they sign with the gov't etc.

And why even say the schools don't need to pay, that is just dumb.



[i][/i]

[veiledsentiments]

Well,

It sounds like both of you should stay far away from Oman. It has never and will never match the pay of the rest of the Gulf and couldn't if it wanted to. Their oil reserves are minimal and they have a restive population who thinks they should be getting the perks of the filthy rich countries north of them.

So, if it is all about the money... stay away...

When I took my second job there in the late 90's, it was significantly less than I could make elsewhere, but the job appealed. Many of us prefer the quiet lifestyle of Oman. Personally I found the students a joy to teach and enjoyed every moment of both my gigs there.

If any country in the Gulf manages to get the rental issue under control, it will be Oman. They actually have laws and enforce them for everyone - even Omanis. But, it will likely take a couple of years to rein in the landlords.

For now, a job with provided furnished housing is definitely preferred.

VS

[rocketchild]

stay away? that is your advice?

how about employers increasing the salaries?

I have worked in Oman, and yes got paid well, the dollar was much much much much much higher and so was the salary offered.

Savings were very sweet....and when I wanted to leave, I would sit with my calculator and find a reason to stay a bit longer.

OMAN has money. It is not the UAE, but even local gov't employees got fat raises to cope with inflation recently. Except the teachers.

I have recently been offered nice gigs in Oman and turned them down as they refused to pay me a decent salary, even by Oman standards. I personally don't work for THE VIEW.

Ever hear the expression, "You Can't Eat the View".
well, that applies to Oman.

A good company should want to build a staff that stays for years and years and years....flipping over staff, as it seems that is happening now on the Oman job boards, hiring 35 teachers every September is bad business and bad for the students.

I guess that is why I am moving into management now....I hope to be one of the good managers who keeps staff around and gets them decent pay and working conditions. Not in Oman, not at this time, but who knows, if the right door opens back there again....

[veiledsentiments]

The Ministry programs using recruiters have shown that Oman is not any time soon planning to spend any money on education - and is not the least concerned about keeping their teachers. They have different priorities than we do...

That is why I say... if one's primary goal is income, stay away from Oman because you won't get it.

VS

[rocketchild]

You are correct VS.

At this point and time, Oman and money ..no no no.

I look forward to the day when I can positively affect my place of work, and perhaps even the gov't structure to the education system in a place like Oman.

Working as a manager, I know that I can address staff concerns and appease the Admin without stabbing my teachers in the back.

Having worked in many countries I have met one good DOS, who stood by his staff and I can tell you he has loyal staff working for him for over 8 years now.

This is the kind of managers TEFL needs. Not just your buddy who gives you reduced hours and skrews the staff he/she doesn't like with longer hours and the worst class of holigans.

OMG. Will my staff one day post about me on daveseslcafe....eeek !
time will tell.

[veiledsentiments]

Ah Ha!! We must pay attention and see if it happens.

Of course, the reality is that middle management can't change many things in a foreign country to the system above... other than trying to avoid favoritism with the power that s/he does have.

VS

[SUZUKI]

Hi again, rocketchild

Teachers are willing to come here; employers don't need to pay more.

I thought about what I said and decided that in my own variety of English, what I said is what I meant. Employers don't need to pay more because teachers are willing to come here for low salaries. Employers should pay more, of course. But that's another matter, another meaning.

[stabnkill]

A lot of the points made here are good ones and very accurate, but since the high rents in Muscat (and Sohar) are a very important issue for teachers considering coming to Oman, I would like to bring this thread back to that focus. I would like to offer the following information:

Appearently I was slightly off on the average price of one-bedroom flats. While the *average* price is around 250 for a one-bedroom flat, the only one-bedroom flats that are currently available start at 450 RO.

[rocketchild]

so sorry to hear that...that is way outta control

do the flats still come with FREE ants by the thousands?

[stabnkill]

yes

[clandestino]

that is a totally insane price! Someone has got to get a grip, that's just sheer greed! Since when were flats in Muscat the same price as in London? I'm a bit shocked really, finding this quite hard to grasp!

wow, i'm speechless

[clandestino]

I don't think i can post a link but i found a 2 bedroom flat in Muscat for 160 OR on the internet and I just spent 10 minutes looking! PM me if you want to get the link!