Job Discussion Forums

[Grendal]

Maybe AHED should switch to recruiting for Afghanistan and Iraq. That's the new craze now and only Americans can get that gig. Be all that you can be, join the army, invade other countries, destroy infrastructure, then get all the major contracts for your own citizens to make ridiculous amounts of money.

Grendal

[brasscat]

Deleted again!!! Must talk to the Chaircat about those R-rated quotes.
brasscat

[agmoe519]

Umm dude ... so far we have one testimony from one disgruntled person who has actually accepted a contract from this startup group .

There are almost 100 teachers with AHed in Saudi right now. Maybe 2 actual employees have posted.

Unlike yourself, I read all 15 pages of this thread and saw a lot of generally useless speculation. There were some legit criticisms from those who interviewed, but very few comments from actual employees (because the program just started in September those won't be posted until coming months).

I have not made a final decision. I am waiting to get a fuller picture from teachers on the ground there.

Furthermore, I know better than to make a final determination from an open source online forum of self promoting educators.

But thanks for your concerns!

[veiledsentiments]

My advice is to look at your credentials and look at what that will normally get you in Saudi. The original offers from this group were an insult and were well-panned here. Hopefully their offers have improved. Don't just key on the salary, but also the rest of the package.

New employers are always a big risk. Hopefully more teachers will be reporting in to help in the decision. I don't expect to see much information now until a number of them leave for the summer or... early terminations. For now, none of them can post here because access to this board is banned from Saudi.

VS

[johnslat]

Dear agmoe519,

You might try posting for info on the General Middle East Forum. Apparently that forum isn't being blocked (so far) in Saudi, and teachers there are aware of that.

Regards,
John

P.S. Of course, if the General Middle East Forum becomes a sort of substitute for the Saudi Forum, it might not be too long before that one gets blocked, too.

[brasscat]

From Nov. 30 2010 to Jan 3, 2011, I can call by name 11 people who have left the Jeddah Group.

Actually I am not disgruntled at all, factually I was invited back to Jeddah by AHEd after I was cleared for travel by my Doctor.

If you wish to ignore what you read, then by all means do. However don't show up at this forum howling about a raw deal. Your choice.
brasscat

[agmoe519]

I won't be howling. I would never take this sort of position without being fully prepared to accept responsibility for whatever BS i have to deal with. I don't quite understand the howling mentality any how.

And truthfully I do appreciate your comments brasscat. My apologies for the incorrect label.

[caballo]

Agmoe: It's more than that. The four AHD interviewers/recruiters I spoke with last summer all lied. Pure and simple. This is a cowboy operation. If you choose to work for a thoroughly dishonest outfit, you deserve whatever you get.

[agmoe519]

With all due respect, at this point I am only looking for info from people who are on the ground with AHed.

http://saudisam.posterous.com/

Great website I found via Google. This is some teacher's blog who is working with AHhed in Riyadh (transferred to Dammam). Gives good insight into the problems on the ground. Pictures posted as well.

Amazing what a google search will poop out.

[veiledsentiments]

Some pretty interesting details in there... guess I'm not terribly adventurous any more, but it didn't make it sound very appealing.

VS

[killthebuddha]

[agmoe519]

Basically I am trying to piece together as full of a picture as I can. From what I gather AHed is a startup operation that is conducting a pilot program in hopes to gain a long term contract with the Saudi Govt. In these early stages they are very unorganized and some people have become fed up with the BS.

Some jimmies apparently thought it would be all roses and are crying foul for having to deal with changing schedules, locations, delayed pay, and the overall lack of objectives being disseminated. Completely understandable.

I have worked for 2 years with adjudicated delinquent male and female sex and violent offenders with a for-profit company that epitomized corruption, discontinuity, and mistreatment of employees. Regardless, the experience working with some of the toughest kids in the USA was very rewarding and completely worth the poor pay and organizational madness.

What can I say? Some of us in this world are drawn to these type of settings. I don't think there is a much of an explanation for it.

It ain't the healthy ones that need a doctor

[agmoe519]

When my soul has rest, I will know what I am looking for.

[Grendal]

[killthebuddha]

Pardon Me agmoe,

I can understand that you thrive in difficult circumstances, so that's a check in the AHEd column, yes? And it sounds as if you're willing to transfer from the rewards of helping troubled kids to the rewards of benefiting a fledgling company (or of empowering other students, etc., etc.), yes? This particular thread speaks to your first criterion, but your second criterion--if it be to grow with a growing company--is also bundled with the first. And if it's a challenge you want, and because you can excel in difficult circumstances, it seems that this thread should appeal to you. In other words, why not just take the leap with AHEd? Surely you're not waiting for good news about them, if only because the satisfied customer never writes or calls. I'm sure I'm missing something, but it sounds like you wanna go skydiving but need someone to push you outa the plane. Take the leap and let your poor soul breathe again.

--ktb