Job Discussion Forums

[Angelo Pappas]

I would like to move to the Middle East (specifically U.A.E., though other places are options also, including Brunei, which is not in the Middle East, I know, but is fairly similar in many ways, including job requirements). I have some questions about the requirements for getting jobs there.

I am a qualified (and certified) high school teacher from Australia. I worked as a substitute/short term teacher in Australia and the U.K. for several years. I recently finished two years of English teaching in a Taiwanese government junior high school (and have the means of proving it).

From what I have read at this site so far, my qualifications seem to be enough for high school type jobs (though one way or another, I will probably start a Masters in Applied Linguistics or something similar within the next year or so).

I have questions about my experience levels. Firstly, from what I have read here, three years of experience seems to be a minimum for decent jobs. Is it possible to get jobs in the Middle East with less experience that would allow me to advance? I don't want anything that is illegal or a dead end/waste of time, though I am willing to accept that the benefits wouldn't be as good as other options, so long as I could pay my living expenses or even save a little and it would be a foot in the door, so to speak.

Is it worth contacting a whole lot of organisations, employers and recruiters (I'm wary of recruiters generally, but if that's the only option for me to get my foot in the door, then so be it) and even try to go over to the U.A.E./general Middle East on a fact finding/meet and greet mission? (Because I realise the recruitment process for a lot of August 2010 jobs is underway right now).

If I still require more experience, then I want to know how much. I realise my experience in Australia and the U.K. is not going to count for much, if anything at all. However, I want to know whether my experience in Taiwan will count for anything, because that will determine my next course of action. There are a whole lot of reasons I don't want to continue living in Taiwan, and I realise that the Middle East is not going to be the Promised Land, but the benefits and general lifestyle seem to be better. It would also be a new set of experiences as I feel I'm a little stale and have no room for advancement/challenge left in Taiwan.

If my experience counts, then probably the easiest option for me would be to simply get another year's worth of experience in a government school in Taiwan.

If my Taiwanese experience doesn't count for much (or anything), then I would like to know what the best option(s) might be for me.

It seems that if it's hard to get into a job in the Middle East, then it might be hard to get into an international school anywhere, but I'm actually willing to go pretty well anywhere else in the world for a few years simply for the experience (and I'm interested in travel generally). Of the options necessary if my Taiwanese experience doesn't count, then this is probably the most preferable for me. It might also be possible for me to get a job in an international school here in Taiwan, though if a job somewhere else (even somewhere like Uzbekistan or Burkina Faso) were as easy to get, I'd rather somewhere else than Taiwan.

My next best option is to try to work in the U.K. again for several years, though I'd prefer not to if I could avoid it, simply because of the cost of living and the general attitude of students there (which I am sure many of you can relate to).

Finally, my least preferred option is to return to Australia to gain the necessary experience (for the same reasons as the U.K., plus it's far too familiar/unexciting to me, and I worry that I would get too settled there).

I realise that the recruitment process for August 2010 is underway right now, though I am willing to fly to wherever necessary for an interview, including the Middle East. Time and money aren't such an issue for me here in Taiwan because I have a marriage visa and managed to save a fair amount of money over the past couple of years, so I can kind of do what I want over the next six months or so (indeed, I'm planning on doing a little travel in south-east Asia), so I can more or less drop whatever I'm doing right now if necessary.

I know it's a rather long and complicated post, but thanks in advance for any advice or feedback as I don't really know anyone in Taiwan who has lived in the Middle East.

[15yearsinQ8]

the larger and most established western schools in the middle east hire through job fairs (iss, etc in the usa, caanda and london). they will want a solid work history, references (supervisors and parents of students you have taught) and a spanking good interview
less established western schools will look at you and say, "hhhhmmm, western name, looks western, wow! even has a degree, credentials and experience, when can you start?'
have someone who has worked at western schools in the middle east look at your resume then shoot it to all western schools, they're still doing faxes as well
don't downplay or apologize for your taiwan experience - make it look good but don't lie

[Angelo Pappas]

15yearsinQ8: Thanks for your reply.

I figured the good schools would basically be out of reach, at least for several years. Fair enough.

The less established schools are probably a bit hit and miss, right? Likewise with recruiters? What are they like in terms of actually doing what they say they will do (such as providing an apartment, airfare, paying the full amount on time, etc.)? Also, are they a foot in the door? I'm willing to put in the required time to work my way up (just so long as I'm not being cheated or generally exploited). If I would be beating around the bush, then I would probably be better either trying to get into something else (especially an international school) here or trying to get a full time job in the U.K. for a few years to beef up my c.v. and then make my move to the Middle East. I'd actually prefer not to be in a really bad first job in the Middle East simply because that could really set me off on the wrong foot because if I were to move to the Middle East, I'd want to be there for at least five years.

Now that I'm older and more serious and am making longer-term plans, many of the things that other people find attractive about Taiwan (for instance, that it's slack, easy money) don't appeal to me anymore and I don't want to simply end up in a similarly highly unprofessional environment with no long-term prospects, just in another country. From what I've read, teaching in the Middle East isn't always a bowl of cherries -- there can be frustrating, unmotivated students and bureaucracy to deal with, just as in Taiwan -- but the benefits are a lot better than in Taiwan and the minimum requirements do raise the bar (one of the things that frustrates me about Taiwan is that even teachers I know who have MAs and decades of experience all around the world are still treated more or less the same -- even within the government system -- as some guy working here illegally who is willing to sing and dance). There doesn't seem to be anywhere near the race to the bottom that there is in Taiwan, and a general read of these forums paints a much better picture of professional and personal satisfaction. On the other hand, if we're talking about a very mediocre job in the Middle East with not many prospects, then I have a priveleged legal status in Taiwan, can still make/save decent enough money, and have some level of immersion and understanding of the culture here (though there are also things I dislike a lot, and one of my major concerns is sending my own future kids through the horrible education system here).

I guess what I'm trying to work out is that if I need to put in X number more years (and realistically, what is that number? If it's three, not one, fair enough, but I just want to know that so I can make an informed decision about what to start doing over the next year) before I'm capable of getting a good job in the Middle East, what is the most efficient way of doing so given my current circumstances and preferences?

[veiledsentiments]

I don't know what you mean by a job with prospects. In the ME, these are contract jobs and there is no guarantee that they will be renewed at the end of the 2-3 years. As long as you do the job and play the game, it will usually be renewed. If you are looking for promotions of some kind, there is not much. Most people who teach in a college or university (with an MA, of course) have the same contract position when they leave that they got when they arrived... even those who have been there for 20+ years.

I suspect that the International Schools are the same situation. You have the basic credentials now, all you are lacking is much full time experience. I don't know that an MA would help you at this level. You won't know what kind of offers that you will get until you apply... applying is free... . If you could attend one of the international school fairs, that would be the best step for you. London?

VS

[helenl]

Another FYI, if you think any employer in the GCC that hires employees without proper visas, security checks etc. is one that pays adequately or on time, then you're far off.

The good employers follow the rules and make sure the proper documentation is in place for their employees.

There is an Australian School (not sure of the exact name) in Sharjah that hires qualified Australian teachers. Might be worth a google.

[bje]

The Australian school you mention above has a terrible reputation; I know at least six people who have taught there over the past few years and all left as soon as they possibly could- so caution is advised.

[Angelo Pappas]

veiledsentiments: Thanks for the information.

It sounds like it's not too different to other places then, although I guess the money is better. One of the things that frustrated me about my position in Taiwan was that the yearly salary increases seemed to be designed almost to drive more experienced teachers away so the school, government and agency could save money. That was one of several factors that led to eight people (from a staff of eight) leaving in the first year, and another nine (including me) leave by the end of the second year. For instance, for anyone renewing for a third year or beyond, the salary increase was at or below inflation. On the other hand, people teaching at universities actually earn less than people in either government schools or people working in language schools and kindergartens here (though those jobs are more intense), so there's absolutely no point in becoming more qualified for any job here in Taiwan. It's really screwed up from a financial and professional point of view.

In a sense, the money here isn't too bad. Living comfortably, but frugally, my wife and I could still save 2,000 USD/month with her working full time and me picking up a little extra work on the side, but there are virtually no other benefits other than health care, which is the real kicker for me (and as previously mentioned, I'm not particularly impressed with the education system here, so I wouldn't want to send my kids through it). The lack of holidays really leads to burnout. We're thinking about having kids within three years, so I'd like to sort out something better (both money and general conditions) by then.

I think there's a little more room for advancement within the international school system because those schools are basically normal Western schools, so they have heads of departments, co-ordinators, assistant principals and principals. I'm trying to find out about those jobs in Taiwan right now. I think though that I lack the minimum full-time experience for those kinds of jobs also. I'm not sure. I have a former colleague who works at one, so I'm waiting to hear back from her. I could kick myself because when she left in the middle of last year, she said that or another international school nearby were still looking for teachers, yet I didn't want to break my contract (which didn't run on a normal academic year).

I'll contact some people in the Middle East anyway.

helenl: I wouldn't even go down the road of trying to work at a place that didn't provide proper visas or do security checks. Those things would be big red flags. Thanks for the warning though.

bje: Thanks for that information.