Job Discussion Forums

[Gulezar]

Forgive me if I am wrong, but has anyone noticed that some universities don�t seem to be giving a salary range for positions offered. It seems that, in the past, offers came with some indication of the salary range. I�ve been offered two interviews with two different universities and neither could give me a range on salary. One even asked me to pay for my own flight for the interview and said that they were not equipped to do phone interviews.

Maybe this is nothing new, but I find it difficult to accept that a credible business could expect to hire staff who are not even remotely aware of what kind of salary might be on the table.

[mistral]

Never pay for your own flight. Never take a job without a formal contract stating your salary, accommodation, vacation days, flights etc. Don't just turn up with a "letter of offer". You'll be lucky to find the person who sent it to you.

[Cleopatra]

I'm not sure what the situation is in the other Gulf states (I doubt it is very different) but in KSA you cannot even apply for a visa without a detailed contract, signed by both you and your employer, which clearly states salary and benefits.

Regarding interviews, the situation seems to vary widely. Some places don't interview at all, while others require you to do a lengthy panel interview conducted by webcam.

[Gulezar]

It has been my experience to either have a phone interview or a webcam interview, and there would be at least a general idea of what the package might be. So I was quite surprised when the interview offers came through without any indications of what the salaries might be. I think some places in the Gulf can afford to be sloppy in the HR Department, these days, as the rest of the world has heard that there is a pot of gold sitting here somewhere.

[veiledsentiments]

I certainly wouldn't pay to fly to an interview... and if a place doesn't have the technology to do a phone interview, I would wonder. (do you have electric? running water? )

As to the lack of ranges for salary in the ads, that has been the situation for years. Nor would it normally be in the interview letter. But, if they wouldn't discuss it in the interview, I would wonder. Normally the interviewers are not the people who decide the final number but I haven't heard of any legit place giving an actual offer letter without a salary on it.

Do tell us if anyone is doing that...

Pot of gold? Not for teachers...

VS

[Cleopatra]

[zeke0606]

I was accepted for a teaching position in KSA and will be there next week.

1. The company paid for my flight to the states from Russia.
2. The company paid for my hotel in the states for 10 days.
3 The company is paying for the flight from the states to KSA.
4. All details - salary, housing and all benefits - were emailed to me BEFORE I left Russia.
5. Even more benefits were explained after I arrived in the states.
6. All the staff in the states kept in email contact every day or so and the staff in the kingdom have done the same - including insuring that I would be met at the airport.
7. Any place that I wanted or needed to go the company sent a car and driver for me here in the states.

This will be my fourth trip into the kingdom and all four times this was the proceedure.

So, Gulezar if I were you, I listen to cleo, mistral and VS!

Good luck in your search!!!!

Zeke

[shinjinrui]

[Gulezar]

I'm elated because I received an offer with flight and accommodation for an interview "back home" and the search committee had no problem answering the salary question. Too bad, I was too busy to cut out and take them up on the offer of flight and accommodation, but I did a phone interview instead.