Job Discussion Forums

jdl · Joined: 06 Apr 2005 Posts: 632 Location: cyberspace

It is that time of year when contracts are being renewed or not and frustrations run high with most stories here reflective of that state of mind.

Is anyone out there happy and looking forward to summer break as a well deserved holiday from a job and location to which you will be happily returning?

johnslat · Posted: Fri Apr 09, 2010 3:30 pm Post subject:

Dear desultude,

I think you're being paged (see above.)

Regards,
John

isabel · Joined: 07 Mar 2003 Posts: 510 Location: God's green earth

jdl · Joined: 06 Apr 2005 Posts: 632 Location: cyberspace

"Ain't no sun shine when she's gone"

johnslat · Posted: Fri Apr 09, 2010 8:05 pm Post subject:

Dear isabel,

"Des tried to change something on her profile . . . "

Good lord - was it rhinoplasty (or maybe it should be called cameloplasty in this case?) Sure, her avatar had pretty big nose, but we all miss her.

Regards,
John

isabel · Joined: 07 Mar 2003 Posts: 510 Location: God's green earth

johnslat · Posted: Fri Apr 09, 2010 10:24 pm Post subject:

Dear isabel,

Oh, by the way, if you see Des, could you tell her that I don't know which post she was referring to in the PM she sent me?

Thanks,
John

isabel · Joined: 07 Mar 2003 Posts: 510 Location: God's green earth

Yeah- saw her today. Seems to have lost face.

But she is still happy. Must be the meds.

Can't figure it out. She works with a bunch of extremely f'ed up people, and the department seems to be going sideways fast, but she smiles on. It is a sort of secret "I have something up my sleeve" sort of grin. You know, that cheesy cat grin?

What in hell happened to her in Saudia to have turned her into Holly Golightly in Oman? I miss my jaundiced sis!

balqis · Joined: 30 Jul 2006 Posts: 373

Isabel,

Having the choice say both in Salalah and in Nizwa, would you rather go for the uni there or for the MoHE college? I don't mean the area, which I am inclined to positively and - excuse my French - equidistantly, but the educational outfit. The college then, or the uni?

And - with all due respect to your time and end-of-year exhaustion - very briefly: why?

balqis

isabel · Joined: 07 Mar 2003 Posts: 510 Location: God's green earth

It is a tough call at the moment.

It was a rough year at the uni. There are some real management and "personality" issues. The place has a reputation for cliquishness, and it is all of that and worse, as one clique has dominated things to the grief of a lot of other people. Consequently, there are a whole lot of people leaving. There is a new asst. director who shows promise for being able to manage things. Next year will be interesting. We'll see- as least those of us who are staying.

There are two colleges- Applied Sciences and Technology. Technology is the most stable bet at the moment, at least in Nizwa. The Colleges of Applied Sciences are going through another shake-up, and some people who are "making too much money" are being "encouraged" to resign. That is going on with the ministry hires. CfBT has the usual mixed bag. Apparently people who wish to take unpaid leave will actually have to pay CfBT OR78 a day! So, they forgo their wages, and have to pay big time for the privilege.

All things considered, I would opt for the Colleges of Technology in Nizwa. But it is a tough call. I would be cautious about the Colleges of Applied Sciences. And use the usual caution with recruiters. Negotiate hard with the University- they will be needing instructors desperately.

balqis · Joined: 30 Jul 2006 Posts: 373

Isabel, thank you for your p.o.v and the time taken to present it.

I find the uni more interesting due to many factors and my inclination sways naturally towards it - it has almost surrendered, the only - but major - nuisance being the summer term, which I detest and abhor and which makes me keep on searching and reconsidering what otherwise I find all right and even desirable, i.e. the uni.

When you say: ''negotiate hard with the uni'', do you mean: 1000 all in all salary is still negotiable? Even if the interview phase is over and I am about to deal now with the HR dept only? Please, clarify it in a sentence or two.

balqis

isabel · Joined: 07 Mar 2003 Posts: 510 Location: God's green earth

Tell them about that offer you got from Technology for 1400.

balqis · Joined: 30 Jul 2006 Posts: 373

Yes, but there is housing allowance in the 1400. The very salary is more or less the same. So there is little room for haggling I think.
I thought the pay the uni offers is just a slot in the uni's pay scale, with little room for negotiating. True, there is handsome vacation time in the colleges' offer and the shameful summer term on the other hand in the uni calendar. But I'm afraid after the interview it is too late. You can only back out or take it as it is.

balqis

isabel · Joined: 07 Mar 2003 Posts: 510 Location: God's green earth

Anything is possible, and you will not get what you want if you don't ask.

isabel · Joined: 07 Mar 2003 Posts: 510 Location: God's green earth

Housing allowance at UNizwa is 175 a month. But they will try to put you in a questionable apartment. Make sure to get the allowance and find your own place. Some people spent 3 months in the very subpar Safari Hotel while the uni found them housing. Take the allowance and find your own place.

With a housemate you can find a villa in the area around the tech college (about 10 K from the uni) for around 200-250. You can pocket a lot that way. You can find a good flat for 150-200. Find your own.