Job Discussion Forums

[sheikh radlinrol]

[johnslat]

Dear Sheikh,
Sorry I neglected to mention the reciprocal (which does, however, bring up the interesting question of who began it all.)

However, the OP seems to be fairly impervious to Mia's post:

"Thanks to all and I'm not so thin skinned or sensitive to be bothered by the odd negative reply...no problem."

and I DID write "a TAD harsh."

But I have to admit that your "policing" mockery would be a little like my "policing" irony/sarcasm.
As a regular practitioner, I think I'd pass on that chance.

Regards (and apologies)
John

[PJ44]

Dear Mia,

Thank you for your apology. I did not take your comment personally, absolutely no hard feelings. I'm in the fog here just trying to get some footing on the reality of working in Saudis. I'm after the money. After 2 years in Thailand, I'm practically broke, not withstanding a battered US stock portfolio. I'm not expecting much of a life in Saudis. I am prepared to sacrifice a year to get my feet back on the ground.

Any knowledge of the Canadian University? Thank you for all your help.

Sincerely,
PJ

[Bebsi]

PJ44,

In your initial posting you kind of, sort of, more or less, in a bit of a way, gave a somewhat more negative impression than is actually justified or warranted.

You appear well qualified to work in a number of sectors in Saudi. TEFL isn't the fastest way to make money there but I absolutely take your point about being burnt out in certain other areas. You could get something with the universities (not especially lucrative but not bad either, especially if you do overtime in places like KFUPM). Military contractors are a good place for teachers to knock a fund together fairly quickly.

Maybe one year wouldn't get you too far, but two or three years in Saudi could indeed make a difference to the old bank balance. You must go in 'the front door', however, as the other approach would result at best in your getting exploited by some rather charlatan operations.

Search the threads in this site, you will find out quite a bit about the better places in Saudi to start looking for work.

Sending a CV on spec can often produce results. This is a good time in fact, as the Saudi government is currently investing a very large amount of money in education.

Good luck PJ44.

[Mia Xanthi]

PJ44, thanks so much for your kind reply. It made me feel better to know that I hadn't offended you.

Have you thought about using your business degrees and experience to get a better job over in this area? HCT (in the UAE) are usually looking for business instructors and often hire those with MBAs, especially those with experience teaching non-native speakers of English. Your salary would be much higher than you would make simply teaching EFL.

You might also want to consider applying at Prince Mohammad University in Al Khobar. They are in need of EFL teachers for the male campus, and I believe they may also be in need of business instructors. You seem like you would be the ideal candidate.

Again, best of luck to you.

[desert_traveller]

u know this thing with the so called 'tourist visas' ...

its the same pancake as with the issue of foreigners buying land ... there is a law but it is not enforced, it is only there so that the ksa can display itself in a more favourable way and join all sorts of farcical international organizations, but at grassroots level, it just simply does not happen

the ksa is member to the wto, the un, etc etc ... isnt that just a joke? that unfortunately tells a lot to us about these organizations too

how did willy put it, the whole world is a theatre or something like that, well, he was spot on

[Sheikh N Bake]

Mia, it IS a giant prison. It's a preposterous country. Coming from someone who's spent 34 years overseas in ten countries on four continents (if you consider the Middle East socially and geographically as essentially separate from both Europe and Asia, which I do).

[trapezius]

[Bebsi]

.......and I suppose all the indignant westerners who complain about the inequality in KSA will be demanding a pay-cut in solidarity with the Bangladeshis etc?

[sheikh radlinrol]

[Cleopatra]

[Bebsi]

[scot47]

Of course many people think that remuneration should correlate with skin colour.

[johnslat]

Dear scot47,

And quite often (but not always), those with the "most favored" skin color are the strongest proponents of this notion.

Regards,
John

[Bebsi]