Job Discussion Forums

Paul in Saudi · Joined: 03 Mar 2003 Posts: 404 Location: Doha, Qatar

I am depressed. I did not get the job I was counting on. Further, it seems I screwed the interview. Nobody to blame but myself.

Further, today they Al-Qassim job slipped away. They are the same company as I am stuck with here. They refuse to transfer me. Sigh.

Since this company will not give me a LONO, I wonder why I am staying here while looking for a job. Perhaps I would be better off going back to the US and washing my passport while looking.

Your thoughts?

Asda · Joined: 01 Jun 2008 Posts: 231

Paul,

You have my sympathy. Altho a muslim from the UK, I think many western non-muslims realise that the K of SA is hardly a bed of roses for even us here. There are just a few benefits here which many western muslims hardly take advantage of anyway. Fact is that we are used to standards in the west, which we simply do not get here...

As one of my Sudanese colleagues describes it, as a concentration camp!! HAHA!

As for the passport...sounds like a plan to me! Very Happy

Thing is, would you leave on final exit or get an exit/re-entry, clean your passport and then come back in again on a new passport and visa? I have heard varying reports from it being untraceable (as it goes by passport number) to the jawazat (Passport Office) hammering you!! I saw a rather disturbing billboard ad from jawazat saying they now want fingerprints and retina scans!!! Shocked

Maybe concentration camp runners can learn a few things from these guys!! Laughing

It may be worth getting the final exit stamp then...PLUS get a new passport on the safe side, or so I have heard.

Cheer up...

Paul in Saudi · Joined: 03 Mar 2003 Posts: 404 Location: Doha, Qatar

I have not thought it through. Right now I am consoling myself with Baskin Robbins.

trapezius · Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2008 12:45 pm Post subject:

Which flavor? Razz

Paul in Saudi · Joined: 03 Mar 2003 Posts: 404 Location: Doha, Qatar

Chocolate. There is no other flavor.

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

I used to take Jim Beam for that. Or Johnnie Walker. Four Roses was good too. Myers Rum worked as well.

Now I just stick to tea or coffee.

Wastaman · Joined: 23 Apr 2008 Posts: 19

While you have my sympathies I find it odd, after reading your epic saga, that you would want to return to Saudi in the first place.

Are you a glutton for punishment, do you really like the place so much that you're willing to be abused again.

Do you not have any other options?

If I were you I'd put the whole thing down to experience, learn from it and start afresh.........................perhaps the desert sun and the cabin fever are seriously affecting your judgement.

sheikh radlinrol · Joined: 30 Jan 2007 Posts: 1222 Location: Spain

sheikh radlinrol · Joined: 30 Jan 2007 Posts: 1222 Location: Spain

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

Oh I used that too. And Glenmorangie. And Gin and Tonic. And Talisker.

biffinbridge · Joined: 05 May 2003 Posts: 701 Location: Frank's Wild Years

I'd relocate.

Libya is TEFL's best kept secret if you have a good job.

Quite often the money is better than Saudi NOW and you get 3 weeks holiday with return tickets every 42 days.

The students here also want to learn and are polite and friendly.

North African culture beats Gulf culture hands down.

Tripoli has an ex-pat scene that allows you to have a good social life.

I work in the desert and it's cool on this gig as the accommodation, food and gyms are all new and free.

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

Some might have reservations about signing up with "Al Majnun min Tarabalus".

Wastaman · Joined: 23 Apr 2008 Posts: 19

Paul,

If you provided the forum with a brief rundown of your qualifications/exeprience/expectations etc then maybe someone out there could advise you.

I really think you should get 'out of Dodge' a sap.

Maybe you've become so used to being used as a carpet you've forgotten that there are alternatives out there.

Time to step up to the plate, bite the bullet or whatever.........time to go.

007 · Posted: Thu Jun 12, 2008 6:36 pm Post subject:

biffinbridge · Joined: 05 May 2003 Posts: 701 Location: Frank's Wild Years

Yep, things are changing here and my guess is that Libya will be boom town in the coming years. Loads of construction is going on, infrastructure is being developed and these days there are loads of foreigners in Tripoli...although the desert gigs are pretty well Libyanised.

Let's face it, everything you can do in Saudi you can do here. What's more, it's safe. The people here are extremely friendly, from the bloke who sells you fruit and veg to the people you work with. I also have a great deal of autonomy in the work place and good relations with my Libyan colleagues.

Regarding salaries....about 2,000 quid a month is the norm, which isn't amazing but it's ok. It can be more, it can be less. You get great holidays...I get 18 weeks paid a year with tickets. The desert is ok if you're with one of the newer companies. The facilities at my location are excellent. We have a new gym with rowing machines, cross trainers and bikes as well as all the free weights and a multi-gym. We have internet access from the office, sat tv, billiards, pool and a coffee bar. The rooms are better than most hotel rooms and are cleaned daily.

The big thing for me though is that the students want to learn and the bosses expect me to fail poor students..ie I can do my job ethically, which is often not the case in Saudi, Qatar etc. Anyone who has taught QP or Aramco can probably vouch for that.

I've heard it's still hard for Americans to get work visas here though. So, for all us Brits there's that bonus too:))