Job Discussion Forums

[teechar]

Hi all,

I have read over many of the posts here over the past week, and I see that there is a lot of wisdom here.

I am seeking advice about my very specific situation that must have been someone else's specific situation in the past.

I have a full-time faculty position teaching developmental English at a US community college. I have taught there for 6 years now. I have a BA in French and English Linguistics, an M.Ed. and am currently working on an MA in teaching languages (French and TESOL). I have taught freshman composition to non-native speakers at a university and worked as an ESL Researcher at that same university. I have a rather solid CV for someone a month from 30. I have a lot of experience being involved on various projects at my current college and feel I could bring a lot to any employer.

That was a lengthy introduction, but my question is related. I promise!

My partner and I intend to come to the UAE to teach. We will be married at that point. He is from a Middle Eastern country and is completing his PhD in computer science here in the states. He will be looking for a post doc or professorial position over there. What I am wondering is how we should go about looking for jobs. My concern is that we will end up with offers in different cities or with separate offers for benefit packages (housing, furniture allowance) and this will be viewed badly by our employers. Would it be safer if I waited until he secured a post to apply for posts? I saw some references to "double dipping." I mean, we are individual people, so it makes sense to me that any flights home awarded with our posts should be our own, but I want to be sure that us each securing employment would not be viewed as dishonorable.

For what it's worth, posts in his field seem less abundant that those in English teaching.

Thank you for any advice you have.

Best,

Teechar

[adorabilly]

Teechar

I'm of the opinion (and we all know what those are worth) that you should apply to locations as a teaching couple.

There are numerous posts in the UAE (and the gulf) which are after Phd's for content courses, and if your future husband were to apply for those positions you could easily be a more "desirable" catch because of your education and experience.

So go out and interview as a teaching couple. It really doesn't matter for the benefits portion because (in the UAE at least unless you are working in different emirates only one of you will have the housing, airfare, etc...).

Just MHO.

[teechar]

Thank you for your reply, Adorabilly. Do you know of people who have done the same? How did they indicate that on their applications? Would we do it it in our application letters? "oh, btw my wife/husband has has x and is looking for x?" Or is there a procedure.



Cheers,

Teechar

[veiledsentiments]

I agree with adorabilly... send in your applications at the same time and somewhere in there (most do online these days) refer to the spouse's application. Apply to all the various colleges and universities. (AUS, UAEU, HCT, ZU... at least)

If you can attend TESOLArabia or TESOL in the US this spring, that would be perfect. That way you could both interview.

VS
(they never let people double-dip on benefits... they aren't dumb. )

[helenl]

I think it needs to be made clear what is meant by double dipping. If your employer offers tickets/accomodation/education allowances, etc. and so does your spouse's employer - you would have to decide which of the two to accept/utilize.

Employers like HCT will claw back any $$ they have paid out to you if they discover your spouse has been claiming/receiving similar benefits - it can get ugly. In other words, if you have claimed tickets home for both you and your husband, and your husband has claimed tickets home for both he and you - that's what's called double dipping, getting 4 tickets for 2 people - nearly all employers frown on the practice. You are essentially claiming for a benefit you do not qualify for.

I agree that you should apply as a teaching couple, HCT likes 'em for example because they are cheaper than 2 separate hires. Waiting until one or the other gets hired and then trying to find work when you arrive may lead to the dreaded "local hire" - at least as an offshore hire you qualify for all benefits and full salary, rather than hourly pay.

[teechar]

Thanks everyone. I really appreciate your advice. I will share all this with my partner.

He is not in TESOL, which might make interviewing at TESOL difficult.

The double dipping thing makes sense (although likely illegal by US law--not the US, I know). The thing I want to be sure of is that I have an acceptable income before leaving the US. I have worked too hard to move and find a local job for peanuts. I mean, I'll leave the US anyhow if it comes down to it, but if I am delayed a semester in order to get a "good" job, I am willing to wait.


Teechar

[adorabilly]

T.

Look for places like UAEU, ZU, HCT, UOS, AUD, AUS (which wants phds for their content positions and will take MA Tesl folks for their ESL program).

Send in your applicaitons together, and when asked about interviewing mention your spouse.

Most universities LOVE to get teaching couples because it lets them kill two birds with one stone, and cut costs. Plus couples (and folks with kids) are more likely to stay longer.

I have known several people when interviewing for positions who mention that their spouse has "x, y and z" qualifications and it seals the deal for the job because it lets the uni hire more two people at once.

If you are looking at coming in the Fall, try to come to Tesol Arabia, or the international TESOL conference in Boston. Go to the job fair and when there mention that your hubby is finishing his Phd in computer science. And watch how fast people want to interview him too.

As for the double dipping... it isn't the US and it is FULLY legal here. Don't think about how things are done in the states... it will make your head explode if you try to make the comparisons...

The oldest and best piece of advice when discussing working and living aborad ... be flexible coupled with "smile and nod."

ETA: As VS pointed out, I was not very clear above about double dipping here. Here it is fully legal to not give both spouses the exact same contract (double housing, double airfare, double everything) and that difference in spouses contracts is what is fully legal. I"m sorry for the confusion.

[veiledsentiments]

[adorabilly]

VS.

Sorry.. i was rushing to get dinner and kids to bed. I was not very clear. My mistake.

I was replying to the idea that it would be illegal to STOP each spouse from getting the full benefits in the states. (ie to stop double dipping in the US).

But it is not illegal to stop double dipping here in the UAE. I apologize for the lack of clarity and confusing wording.

[teechar]

Adorabilly- I understood what you meant. Thanks for clarifying anyhow.

I really appreciate all the pointers. I am feeling fairly positive about our prospects now.

One other question: has anyone here gotten a job as a single person and then gotten married after the contract began? This could be how it works out for us. We probably won't be marrying here in the US but rather in his home country. How would I handle this in terms of benefits?

I am really not trying to double dip at all. I just want to be well informed.

Thanks,

Teechar

[15yearsinQ8]

post docs and teaching fellowships are not things i've seen in the gulf

get married - even come here and get married here for convienence sake

but you need to be here legally before you can marry, consult the us embassy fact sheet posted on their embassy websites for each country

probably easier to do a court house run in the usa before you go
south carolina or las vegas you can get married fast

[teechar]

Thanks 15years. When and where we tie the knot is more related to family right now. It won't be in the UAE, but it probably won't be in the USA, either. It's a long story, but it's possible that he'll end up getting a job as a single guy, and we'll get married soon after.

T.

[helenl]

So long as you realize he cannot sponsor someone who is not his wife (and they do require an attested marriage certificate). You can enter as a tourist as a US passport holder, but it is technically illegal to live with someone you're not married to and the penalties (while remote, are there) are severe.

You mention your fiance is not a US born citizen? If his skin colour differs from yours, you (as a couple) will stand out and any illegality with your living arrangements becomes more dangerous in terms of being reported to the police especially if you have nosy, self righteous, and racist neighbours (and racism is overt here in the GCC). The police will not seek you out, but they WILL act on complaints.

Penalties can include arrest, jail time, deportation (and depending on the ethnicity/citizenship involved, lashes).

[veiledsentiments]

I may have misunderstood, but I don't think teecher was planning to live in the Gulf with her fiancee before marriage. (were you?) It appears that it is one of those family complications that we don't really need to know.

One option to greatly simplify your job search/visas/housing arrangements might be to do two marriages: a quickie courthouse marriage in the US to provide the UAE with proper paperwork from the start... and then when the time is right, go to his home country and do the whole process again with his family.

That said, you could both apply for jobs in the UAE as single people and if you both get offers... then discuss the situation with the employer(s). You could both start out with singles benefits, but then once you marry and move into the same flat, one of you would have to give up theirs. (wonder what they would do about the furniture allowance... )

VS

[teechar]

No, no. We aren't going to live together before marriage. We aren't even doing that here, so I am well aware that it is unacceptable culturally. Shoot, we shouldn't even be dating!

The quick courthouse marriage is a totally logical option. Unfortunately, it is not one that "those family complications" will allow. We also have the issue of visa status. Students are not supposed to marry while on student visas. I know people do it, but honestly it's easier if you don't have brown skin and a name as Muslim as they come. I would hate his not being able to come and visit my family because we were not cautious in that respect.

I truly appreciate the advice you all have provided. You have given us a lot to think about and several options to consider.

Best,
T.