Job Discussion Forums

voltaire

Wah salaam malakim,

If Mr. Sperling would permit it, I would like to post this query on every Middle East forum, but perhaps it's enough to have it here on Saudi Arabia. which of all the countries in this region is certainly the middle-easternest of all.

Hopefully browsers of its sister forums will find their way here.

I have received some responses to my job inquiries into the Middle East, indeed almost every one I have made has had a positive response. What baffles me then, is why there is never any follow up.

I've received have a dozen warm invitations to work at schools, some with an application attached. I dutifully fill in these applications, never remarking on the fact that I have already sent an exhaustive CV, photo etc.

Either way, with or without the application - these places never get back to me. 'Never' may be too absolute a term, but in some cases it has been weeks. I will hear from them once, then again after I've sent my application, or even when there was no application to send - and then nothing.

Is this simply the pace of life in fair Arabia? Or what?

cmp45 · Joined: 17 Aug 2004 Posts: 1475 Location: KSA

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

A dutiful servant should not question the actions of his masters.

Cleopatra · Posted: Mon Jun 01, 2009 6:27 am Post subject:

As cmp says, this topic has been discussed several times already on this board.

What we are dealing with is a different attitude to time: let's just say that advance planning is rarely a priority for Saudi administrators. Not receiving a response to your application does not necessarily mean it has been rejected - it simply means that the person in HR or whereever hasn't got round to replying just yet. They will do so when they are good and ready - by which time you may have accepted another offer or will have to rush to get your visa processed by the starting date.

This pace of life is something you'll have to get used to in this part of the world - nothing happens for months on end and then suddenly it's all go. It can be rather aggravating for those of us used to a more gradual, step-by-step procedure, but this is how things are done here.

rigel · Joined: 17 Apr 2009 Posts: 308

Considering you wouldn't be starting until late August with a lot of these outfits, it's no surprise they're taking their time getting back to you. They have plenty of time. In the meantime, you wait, wait, and wait some more.

Cleopatra · Posted: Mon Jun 01, 2009 9:34 am Post subject:

Kipling

Kipling · Last edited by Kipling on Mon Jun 01, 2009 11:28 am; edited 1 time in total

Mr Brave Heart commanded,

rigel · Joined: 17 Apr 2009 Posts: 308

Cleopatra · Posted: Mon Jun 01, 2009 12:57 pm Post subject:

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

Stephen Jones · Joined: 21 Feb 2003 Posts: 4124

I have known people get their visa processed in the USA in less than two weeks but that was with the block visa already in Washington and the person going to stay in Washington DC to extradite everything. The amount of paperwork you have to get done for a Saudi visa in the USA is formidable.

The fastest I have ever got a work visa was two days. I had the interview in London on the Monday, signed the contract on the spot, had my passport taken and was sent off to Harley Street for the Medical. On Wednesday at Heathrow we were given the passport with the visa in it, flew out, arrived in Saudi on the Thursday morning and started work on the Saturday. That was very much the exception.

There are varying things that slow things down here. The main one is eternal Saudi optimism. HR will tell you they have had forty applicants for fifteen jobs, and have made fifteen offers. You tell them that means they will probably get five staff turning up so they still need to interview the other twenty-five and probably get another couple of dozen applicants to be safe. They don't of course, find they need to contact people at short notice, get a total of eight if they are lucky, start seven short and then tell you exactly the same story next year.

johnslat · Posted: Mon Jun 01, 2009 3:09 pm Post subject:

Dear Steven,
"HR will tell you they have had forty applicants for fifteen jobs, and have made fifteen offers. You tell them that means they will probably get five staff turning up so they still need to interview the other twenty-five and probably get another couple of dozen applicants to be safe. They don't of course, find they need to contact people at short notice, get a total of eight if they are lucky, start seven short and then tell you exactly the same story next year."

SO very, very true - I can recall (every year), the director saying something like "We have ten teachers signed and coming", and from past experience we ALL knew that meant maybe two would actually show up.

Regards,
John

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

Interesting. I work with this from the other side. The Saudi government promises "We are sending 60 students on February 01." We need to line up teachers. The first week of January....the second week of January....the third week.....on the 28th "oh, sorry - it will be 35 students on 08 February.'

And then 55 show up on 12 Feb.
And another 8 three weeks later Very Happy

It's hell on the scheduler!

rigel · Joined: 17 Apr 2009 Posts: 308