Job Discussion Forums

[trapezius]

[Never Ceased To Be Amazed]

[bergerac]

Dear trapezius,

I appreciate your fair and honest comment and I thank you for it.

I don't use words lightly and when I say libel, I mean it. I don't take your comment badly, you are right in asking me whether I am fully aware of the meaning of the word or not.

I can stand by every single word I write.
Yes, I imply the whole truth was not said.

I have worked in different institutions in KSA and even in the worst ones I have never seen people being sacked the way it was described here.

I have also had my share of bad treatment in some places in the kingdom but I have never had to use such strategies to achieve... well I don't really know what exactly.

We still don't know what part of the contract was not honoured. I am not the only one to have asked to be more specific, but there was no answer.

The argument was cleverly diverted to other, more personal issues.
When I write something I don't bluff and I can document everything I say.

People with bad experiences should indeed let everyone know. I agree with this.

But we have to be fair and make sure bad experiences are not confused with bad employers. Some people will have bad experiences anywhere with just anyone.

I am just saying we need more concrete facts.
It is easy to say someone is not qualified when nobody knows who we are talking about exactly.

For example, If I tell you that so and so is an idiot and is not qualified and is giving me hell, you will certainly sympathize with me but how do you know I am not making everything up because I have a personal grudge?

Let's wait for a while and see if this thread is spotted by people from that institution and see if more have to say something about it, either way.

[darhell]

No grudges, nothing personal, just want to share my negative experience with others. It is a valid negative experience, and I have fabricated nothing in my posts.

[darhell]

bergerac if you stand by the fact that you have not worked at DAU, then please accept my experience as something you cannot possibly have anything to say about. you do not know the institution or the people there. every institution in KSA is different, why are you discounting what i am saying when you have no experience with this specific company? seems strange.

[bergerac]

[VOICE-OF-REASON]

I was reading what Darhell said about this school, It really did not paint much of a picture at all. It seems like the same stuff that people say about any other university. Housing, admin, faculty? I looked on the website, it looks like its only been open for a year? I would appreciate any useful information.

Thanks,

[veiledsentiments]

I can share the opinion of a friend who applied there last year. This person felt that although it was new and still naturally somewhat disorganized that it had good management/faculty and acceptable conditions. The pay and benefits package was competitive with other Riyadh universities.

This is a person who knows Riyadh and the university level employers there well and it sounded like it was worth a try with no major red flags. There will always be some issues with new places.

Don't know if that is useful or not...

VS

[jerboa]

A friend of mine works at DAU and although it sounds like it has a decent working environment and good facilities, the HR department is a mess. Many of the teachers do not have iqamas. They are still on business visas after a year. The university provides low grade insurance that is useless, so teachers must pay out of their pocket to get their insurance upgraded. The holidays are the worst I have heard of in the Kingdom. They give 45 paid days during the summer which isn't bad, but during the year they only give 4 days of paid holiday during eid. Staff and faculty are allowed to take unpaid leave during normal university holidays. For example next week if faculty want to take the week off, they will take it unpaid. Some people signed a contract in their home country that said they had 60 days vacation, but when they got here they signed a new contract that only gave them 45 days vacation.

Be careful with DAU as some of the things they tell you during the recruitment process is deceitful.

[Citizenkane]

I've got the same impression as jerboa about DAU.

The pay is very good (maybe the best in riyadh unless you count the military contractors) but the administration is a nightmare. I guess this isn't so unusual for new places, but not fun if you're working there and they mess up your paper work.

Hadn't heard the bit about the useless insurance, but i did know the holidays were awful. It's almost as though they found out what was the legal minimum and decided not to offer one day more! Is it true that it's only 4 days? 4? Not even a full week! Probably they now that people will often take unpaid leave and thus save them money.

I did hear that there were issues with the coordinators in the English dept last year, though I'm not sure if they're still around.

[veiledsentiments]

[jerboa]

VS,

I'm curious to know if universities in other Gulf countries give other holidays besides Eid. One reason why having short Eid vacations in Saudi is so terrible is that there are usually no other holidays during the year.

[scot47]

My employer gives 60 days plus both Eid holidays.

[veiledsentiments]

[Cleopatra]