Job Discussion Forums

gulam2 · Joined: 19 May 2005 Posts: 137

I see this University is trying to recruit again.
For the teachers that were there last year it was a nightmare.
At one time they were asking you to work 16 hour shifts.
Money was often NOT paid (including to myself).
The US recruiter was so horrified about the treatment of teachers there that he stopped recruiting for them. He was absolutely disgusted by it.
If you are thinking of working there get in touch with someone who did work there (someone on $2000 a month) they will tell you the truth.
Do not go there.

Markemark · Joined: 08 Jun 2009 Posts: 82 Location: ksa

Excellent post. Thanks gulam2.
Let's here from anyone connected with this.

aash · Joined: 18 Jun 2010 Posts: 23

After reading all this, I am frustrated. I already signed contract, visas are stamped on my passport and I am ready to fly. Please, I need true suggestion. Is it right place to work?
It�s clearly written on my contract (Joining date: as soon as possible). Now I packed my stuff, sold my house, sold my car and now they are saying come in September.
Please, true advice is highly appreciated.

redsnapper · Joined: 01 Jul 2010 Posts: 60

I iinterviewed with a Turkish person via skype. He seemed congenial. I found the conditions were not bad but the system after hire of providing help and help feedback appears non-existent

Grendal · Posted: Tue Jul 13, 2010 10:32 am Post subject: Re: Please, help me

desert_traveller · Joined: 28 Nov 2006 Posts: 335

sold your house, no problem, go backpacking in the middle east, the weather now must be great for hanging around Razz

and then in september yalla lets go to the ksa, im sure working for king abdulaziz uni in jeddah is a good experience, im also sort of interested in that job but the low housing and transport allowances have made me think twice (have i mentioned that before?)

but seriously, selling your house just because you are moving to the ksa, are you expecting to stay there until the end of your life or what? coz if you do, a few weeks delay wont make a lot of difference anyways Razz

lizziebennet · Joined: 24 May 2009 Posts: 355

Hey Aash,

Firstly, as far as I know as a direct hire there is no way the university pays $2000 a month unless you are a teacher hired in country or a non-native speaker.

IGIT a recruitment company does pay some (not all) of their teacher's $2000 a month and then send them to work for KAU but that does not apply to you.

The girls section only has morning classes not afternoon and evening classes like the boys section so you will never have to work 16 hour shifts or anything like that.

ONLY THING THAT IS TRUE IS THAT YOU WILL PROBABLY NOT GET PAID ON TIME... Sometimes they don't pay for like 2 or 3 months... You will always get your money though.

BTW Aash, a lot of people all over Saudi wanna get a job at KAU because it is in Jeddah. You are pretty lucky to have been offered a direct hire there as a lot of people I know have applied but not had that offer.

Hope it all works out!

Lizzie

Grendal · Posted: Tue Jul 13, 2010 10:59 am Post subject:

lizziebennet · Joined: 24 May 2009 Posts: 355

Will do... Say hi to Mrs. S for me... Hope you are enjoying Turkey!

Have you been reunited with your kitty? I found a 5 week old kitty on the street and adopted her! She is wonderful and made me think of you guys! You must have missed your kitty!

Lizzie

lizziebennet · Joined: 24 May 2009 Posts: 355

Grendal · Posted: Tue Jul 13, 2010 11:21 am Post subject:

lizziebennet · Joined: 24 May 2009 Posts: 355

Saudi will be ok! Just think of all that money you'll have in your pocket! Then you can buy your dream home in Turkey!

lcanupp1964 · Joined: 12 Dec 2009 Posts: 381

I work as a teacher at KAU. I am an American male. I like working here although I have experienced the normal frustrations that go with any ESL teaching job in most countries. I have been teaching ESL for 9 years (five years in Asia and four years in the Middle East) I am not an expert, but I do believe I can tell the difference between a bad school/university and a good one. I�m not going to spend a lot of time praising KAU on this post because I don�t have the patience to argue with the �old guard� - those people that mostly post negative and/or off-topic comments. If you would like to ask specific questions about the ELI program at KAU, send me a private message. I promise I will do my very best to honestly answer all of your questions. If I felt that KAU sucked, I won�t waste my time posting this message. Having a flexible, patient and positive attitude is always the key to having a good experience at any school/university.

Teachers get 17,000 a year for housing and 8,500 SR as a furniture allowance, which comes to 25,500 SR. My base salary is 16,044 plus 25,500 for housing/furniture. I have a three bedroom apartment less than five minutes from campus for 21,000 a year.

007 · Posted: Tue Jul 13, 2010 2:20 pm Post subject:

lcanupp1964 · Joined: 12 Dec 2009 Posts: 381

That's a good point 007 (love your profile picture!!). The furniture allowance is only paid one time. I found an apartment for 1,750 SR per month. If the average housing is around 25,000 per year at most universities, I would only need to pay an extra 666 SR per month (starting the second year). With my salary of 16,044, I�m happy to pay the extra 666 SR. We teachers can�t get everything for free. Very Happy