Job Discussion Forums

drandreasbrown · Joined: 06 Nov 2008 Posts: 34

I'm curious about the jobs being offered in northern Iraq and wondered if anyone knew about them. I'm not asking for references to other things on the internet as I have done quite a bit of research, but more for personal stories, impressions, experiences etc. Friends of friends stuff and hearsay is ok of course, but I'm interested in what people have to say about it, not a list of links.
Thanks in advance.

Cool Teacher · Posted: Fri Jul 09, 2010 4:45 am Post subject:

I think so. There is this universtiy:

http://www.auis.org/

But some people have a go at it:

http://auiswatch.blogspot.com/

What's the turth I don't know. Confused

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

Salaries are less than you get in the Gulf countries.

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

I will presume that you searched and read the threads on here in the past year or two.

VS

axxo · Joined: 11 Jul 2010 Posts: 2

The twenty million dollar question is how safe will things be in k-stan if war
breaks out with Iran, especially if your sitting 100 km from the border
at the The American University of Iraq in Suli.

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

If the hawks in Tel Aviv and Washington get their way and nuke Iran, we can forget about working in the Middle East for a generation or two. Maybe for good if it sparks off Amageddon.

Never Ceased To Be Amazed · Posted: Thu Jul 15, 2010 12:58 pm Post subject:

And, don't fergit scot's apt warning..."Pick yer captor's well"... Laughing

NCTBA

Urban_Kitten · Joined: 21 Jul 2004 Posts: 81

I have encountered zero security issues since I arrived in Kurdistan. People are great and the beer selection is stellar. What more do you want?

talktome · Joined: 26 Jun 2010 Posts: 45

I will be working in Duhok- does anyone have any insight into the place?

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

Hey urbankitten, I think our avatars are relatives. Cool

VS

bulgogiboy · Joined: 23 Feb 2005 Posts: 803

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

TopFlight · Joined: 25 Aug 2009 Posts: 3

I taught in the EWPLI (English) program this summer. I did not get into university politics at all. I will comment just on the working conditions:

1. Teachers are very well paid.
2. Teachers are worked very, very hard. They teach 5 days a week, but need 8 or 9 days a week to fully and adequately fulfill their responsibilities and have a little time left to rest and live. Thus, the next point.
3. Teachers have no time or energy for a life outside of teaching and related activities.
4. Teachers find themselves in an entirely American environment. If they have any interest in getting to know Kurdish people outside the classroom, or in getting to know the city of Sulaimaniyah or the Kurdish region in general, they will have to do this during vacations, as there is no time while classes are in session.
5. During the regular school year, English teachers are required to live in a university-run apartment shared with another teacher. The only way to avoid a mandatory roommate is to bring a spouse with you. No exceptions are allowed to this rule. When you come home after an exhausting day's work, you may want to be alone, but university rules forbid this.

As long as you are aware of the above conditions, and are willing to take the high pay (~$5,000 per month) as compensation for the stress, you will be fine. If you do not find the preceding conditions acceptable, though, you should look elsewhere for employment. You are unlikely to find pay this good elsewhere, but you can find jobs that pay reasonably well and that leave you time to have a life outside of work.

TopFlight · Joined: 25 Aug 2009 Posts: 3

Urban_Kitten · Joined: 21 Jul 2004 Posts: 81