Job Discussion Forums

[ESLNomad]

Hi,

I've looked over the recent posts, and I think this is a standard offer. But I wanted to get some feedback from anyone in Kuwait.

The offer is to teach at a university (for discretion, I'll just say that this university is affiliated with an American university that shares its name with a popular brand of chicken . . .).

The monthly salary, with the housing and transportation allowance already included, is $1300 Kuwaiti Dinars. The workload: 20 contact hours/week, plus 10 office hours and 10 prep hours. I will be teaching students who need to improve their English prior to entering university. All teaching will be done on the main university campus. There are 60 days of paid vacation (apart from the summer). Other benefits: medical insurance and a furniture allowance (equivalent to $1000 Kuwaiti Dinars).

Does this offer sound reasonable? Should I attempt to negotiate for more? If so, has anyone had successful experience negotiating? Any tips? For instance, could I emphasize that I am not bringing any dependents to Kuwait and, therefore, won't be receiving the child/partner supplement offered to other teachers? For reference, here are my credentials.

MA in TESOL from U.S. university
10 years of teaching experience in several countries (but not in the Middle East)
TESOL Diploma (not CELTA)
U.S. Citizen

Thanks for any insight.

[veiledsentiments]

Colonel Sanders Kentucky Fried University? Tyson's U? Sorry... I'm just intrigued by your comment. McNuggets U?

I'm not clear on a couple details. Normally we talk about salary and benefits... So, is the salary 1300 KD? Or... how much of that number is supposed to be the housing allowance?

You say that you have 10 years of experience... is that teaching university level Academic English? If so, 1300 KD (inclusive of housing) sounds low to me. Direct experience is worth more to an employer than say... if your ten years was in the Far East teaching conversation classes.

I also don't understand the 60 days of vacation "apart from summer." In the Gulf, the standard is 45-60 days of vacation in the summer plus the standard religious holidays (which add up to a total of 2+ weeks) and a break between semesters of 1-2 weeks. I have never heard of giving 60 days plus summer leave?? You need to get this clarified.

By the way... don't put a dollar sign $ in front of other currencies. Not to mention that there are US$ and MX$ and NZ$ and OZ$. In the Gulf we use the initials of the local currency. So, Kuwaiti Dinars are KD.

I think 1000 KD is rather low for a furniture allowance. My contract in Kuwait was some years ago, but I got 2500 KD at the university.

Hopefully 15yearsinKuwait will pass through soon to give her take on the current situation.

VS

[ESLNomad]

Thank you V.S. I should clarify that, if I sound a bit uncertain, it's because I haven't been able to get absolute answers from the university (Perhaps this is not unusual).

The 1300 KD is inclusive of the housing allowance. I haven't been given an answer on exactly how much of that sum is the housing allowance.

You are almost certainly right about the vacation time. The 60 days must reflect summer time off. Thanks for clearing that up.

In terms of my teaching experience, roughly four years was teaching university students. The remainder was spent at institutes teaching primarily adult learners. This experience was in North America, South America, Europe and Japan.

Finally, I had one more question. Have you ever heard of potential teachers being flown to Kuwait for an interview at the university's expense? How would you interpret that? Would you advise finalizing certain contractual details (namely salary) before the flight? Or would that issue be better resolved in a face to face interview. I should explain that I find the offer of a flight unusual, especially in light of how much it must be costing the university. At the same time, I'm a cautious person, and everything about the university - their name and reputation, their Web site, their staff and application procedure - seem perfectly upright.

Any thoughts?

Thanks for your first reply.

[veiledsentiments]

This is not uncommon for Kuwait. I was flown there from the US and stayed for 3 nights in the on-campus VIP housing. It is great because you usually get to meet both the management and other teachers... see the facilities... even get a little tour of the city.

A year later I was flown by AUS to Sharjah for an interview (from Kuwait). So, this is not uncommon in the Gulf for someone who has good credentials like yours. Really the only thing you are lacking is experience with Arabic speakers.

I wouldn't talk salary and benefits until you are face to face. I do think you have some room for negotiation.

VS

[15yearsinQ8]

GUST and AUK have flown teachers (however as I've seen not garden variety EFL teachers) out for a look at the university's expense - not the time to finalize salary
the only experience they care about is teaching after you've earned your Masters and teaching at university level so your pay package is fair and there is no negiotation bonus in saying you're single, etc
corners are being cut, 1,000kd for initial furniture allwance would be fair in their eyes as you are just a single efl teacher with a masters - you may not have negiotiation wiggle room here as well unless you had phd and or would be an asst prof in different field or had a family - also expect a clause that there would be payback if you left before the contract is played out - this is getting to be standard
expect students to be a hassle but you can make a life here

[ESLNomad]

Thank you 15yearsinQ8. It's helpful to know that there's not much room to negotiate. Also, thank you for the warning about the payback clause in the contract for early departure.

I was confused on one point. You mention that it's "not the time to finalize salary." Were you referring to the face-to-face interview? If that's not the right time, is there an opportunity to negotiate afterward?

A twist, to complicate matters further: Suppose a husband and wife were traveling to Kuwait together to be interviewed at the same university. They both have nearly identical qualifications and experience (see above). Would that be a possible bargaining point, a liability or just irrelevant?

Thanks again. I guess it's good to get different perspectives, as you and Veiled Sentiments seem to have different views on wages, benefits and negotiating in Kuwait. Or maybe it's simply that the market has become much more competitive of late, and salaries have taken a hit.

[veiledsentiments]

They payback clause is pretty standard in the Gulf. Although this amount is so paltry that it will make them seem almost ridiculous to try to grasp some of it back.

As to salary, I think 15years meant that it is not the time to finalize salary before you even mmet with them. So, is it you and your wife with similar credentials applying? Most places like teaching couples because it saves them money and they expect more stability. I still think you have some room for negotiation... it really depends on your CV and experience and how well you can sell it to them. As a teaching couple, I would certainly try to get as close as you can to a parallel contract. They will look at it as a chance to pay one housing allowance and one furniture allowance. I would try to split the difference and thus get a bit more of a housing allowance and at least a 1500 KD furniture allowance. (IKEA and the used shops are about all this amount will cover. )

That doesn't mean that you will get it, but it is worth a try... and then you can decide whether you want to take it or not.

VS

[15yearsinQ8]

a married teacher or couple would have a larger housing allowance and larger furniture allowance - not sure why you're comparing yourself to them

salaries are getting to be set on a scale not really negiotiable unless you're at the asst or full professor level