Job Discussion Forums

[shibainu69]

has anyone done this and what happens when they go to process your visa?
do you have to sign to accept an offer in oman or do they go ahead and do all the paper work before you sign a contract?

[veiledsentiments]

Naturally this would be considered unprofessional, but some people do it. It is better to just try to string them along. The official contract isn't signed until you arrive, so obviously the paperwork will have started with your accepting the offer letter. How quickly will depend on the efficiency or lack thereof of the employer.

This can cause you problems if the jobs you accept are in the same country. I will assume that you are speaking of accepting two offers in Oman. Once you accept in writing, they will usually start the paperwork at the Ministry. Once your passport number is in the system assigned to one employer, that could block you from being hired by another employer. This has happened in the past.

VS

[shibainu69]

its a dog eat dog world out there..... imagine this hypothetical situation that someone signs an offer then gets another offer they like more, both in Oman. And then they sign that offer as well, what would happen when both companies try to process the visa?

[jdl]

Interesting scenario.....you can tell us all how it works out.

[shibainu69]

I wouldn't be able to since it is hypothetical. Does anyone know of other people who have been in similar hypothetical situations?

[jdl]

You want to know if we hypothetically know of anyone who has hypothetically signed two contracts and been deported/jailed/advertised as an obsconder hypothetically? The answer is of course, yes! ESL is the most hypothetical of all hypothetical worlds.....all is possible in such a world where the hypothetical is real.

Curiouser and curiouser

Pass the hooka, Absolum, please.

[shibainu69]

do you actually have to sign for them to process the documents or do the recruiters just do it before you even tell them that you want the job for sure? this isn't a hypothetical situation.

[veiledsentiments]

I already answered that one in my post above. If you accept the offer, they will start the paperwork. The contract is not signed until you get to Oman, so it is not the trigger.

VS

[boundforsaudi]

The question is what exactly does it take for the teacher to be considered to have made a binding promise, and hence, not be free to subsequently choose a different employer for some period of time. And what is that time period? Everything may depend on how much wasta the employer has, but here are some relevant questions:

Does the mere sending of a scan of your passport suffice?

How about a simple email, saying, "Yes, I'll take the job. What is the pay?"

Or, "Yes, I'll take the job for $XX and not a penny less."

How about your signing a provisional salary agreement like the following:

"This is an agreement as to acceptable salary, should the university eventually issue final approval on the appointment of Joe Blow."

You might reasonably think that nothing short signing the final, formal contract should bind you and prevent you from changing your mind, but I'm pretty sure you'd be wrong, at least insofar as some Omani ministry would be making the decision, and would be highly prejudiced in favor of the home team.

To be safe, I would not send my passport, agree to anything in an email, or sign anything until I was sure I wanted that job and no other.

[veiledsentiments]

The real question here comes down to the efficiency of the recruiter... and if/when they turn your information into the Ministry to start the visa procedure. That is where you would be blocked if you changed your mind and decided to go with another recruiter. He would try to apply... but your passport number would already be in the system assigned to the other recruiter. Recruiter number one won't be hurrying to clear that out... and while it might not be legal on his part, the new employer will cut you lose in a nanosecond and go down to his next option on the list.

This happened to someone that I know who accepted a job at one university, and changed his mind and decided to go with another university (both were direct hire). He ended up with no job as the second employer was refused a visa for him by the Ministry.

This is why I advise people to string the first employer along... don't accept, don't sign the offer letter... until you are sure.

VS

[boundforsaudi]

It should also be noted that after your careful professionalism in accepting your favorite offer and turning down all others, you should not expect anything of the sort from the other side in the Middle East. Chances are about 50-50 that after the hiring season is over they will back out of the deal with the most ridiculous lie, and while they may easily blacklist you for such behavior, there's not a damn thing you can do to them. They couldn't care less if you report them on this website. They have an endless supply of well-dressed youngsters with a BA in Marketing + CELTA who will bow their heads, put their ears back, and take all manner of insults in return for a fat salary.

[bje]

[boundforsaudi]

True, but it would still seem fat for somebody whose investment and preparation consisted of only a few weeks of CELTA night school, who finds himself making the same or only slightly less than somebody with a BA in English + MA in ESL. To the former it's more like a paid vacation, and all he has to do is stand around chatting with the locals for part of the day.

[Buffalo Boy]