Job Discussion Forums

[Floridaguy]

Hello All,
I know some of you will tell me to look in past posts and believe me I have.
However, the best places to work in Oman is really a relative subject and seems to change hourly.
In the opinions of my esteemed colleagues, where do you recommend I apply?
As always thanks.
FG

[i-like-tea]

I think that Sohar is the best place for work in Oman.

[jdl]

Depends what you want.
Party/xpat/embassy/bar crowd equals one thing
Party/xpat/backpacker/bar crowd equals another
Home body/family/local crowd equals yet another
Loner/nature/camper type equals some thing else

I guess the short answer is Oman has something for everyone depending on what you want. Define that and the best place to live will just appear for you.

I guess the only places I wouldn't live in Oman are Muscat and Sohar. My absolute fav is Salalah.

[Duffy]

Have to agree with jdl,

I have been to Sohar Ibra and Sur - not impressed the towns.
Colleges? Never worked in any of them, wouldn't want to from what I saw of the locations.

Now in Nizwa but not been here long enought to comment either, yet there is potential for the those who like to explore and want the nicer things of life available an hour or so away (traffic permitting) in Muscat.

Salalah, well having spent 5 lovely years there I have to admit to being biased yet, after that length of time there was the feel for the need of a change.

Duffy

[Floridaguy]

Just an update:
My qualifications in a nut shell are:
Masters degree in TESL/TEFL.
Masters degree in Technology Education.
Several years experience teaching TESL and in education.
As for personality type:
Home body/family/local crowd
Thanks all.

[jdl]

Good luck Floridaguy. Oman is a great place to enjoy a simpler life, save some money and get to know oneself and fellow man a whole lot better.

Duffy I would have retired in Salalah if it weren't for some pressing family issues. Salalah was an ideal situation for me; great lifestyle, predictable job, wonderful country, some 'good old down home feel about the place' and then always the Club when the need for a rare steak arose! And the sea and sand and mountains!!!! Ah, Duffy you are making me misty...

[Geronimo]

There are a lot of videos featuring Omani cities now available on youtube .
For example, here is a link to a beautiful little video shot in and around Salalah;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nwPAbr2nuOE
and here is a fine aerial viewing of Sur...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I05-CCwOIXk
posted by someone called Matt Heines.

Likewise, at www.flickr.com , hosts of great photos
are available via the search facility.

One question I was invited to ask myself early on was:
"Would you prefer a location on the coast to one in the mountains?"
Do you target the 3 'S' s - Sohar, Sur, and Salalah with their beaches...or Nizwa and Rustaq et al with their striking arid scenery?

Another factor to consider is how much appeal trips to the UAE hold for you.

Muscat has its additional attractions, for sure.
However, there aren't very many job opportunities for teflers located in the capital which offer a
sufficiently generous remuneration package.
Accommodation costs are much higher in Muscat
than in places such as Salalah.

Geronimo

[Chinaski]

Geronimo,

The first youtube clip was amazing; Salalah looks beautiful. I would never have guessed...^^

Cheers,

Chinaski

[lamornaboy]

I agree, Salalah looks more like a tropical place, though from my research I know it can get hot and dry in the Summer.

I am thinking of applying through one of the recruiters for a job with the "Applied Sciences " college in Salalah.

Can anybody give me some information on the place?

Any info will be gratfully received. I just like the look of the place.

Lboy

[cderekbower]

I taught a year in Nizwa and a year in Salalah. My opinion is that Nizwa has more serious students, more genuinely friendly students, but horrible heat for many months at all hours of the day and night and fast drivers who love to tailgate. Salalah has students who view you as an obstacle to their 95% mark and spend all of their energy begging, harassing and threatening you for that mark. The students here are the worst academics I have ever taught anywhere. Their friendliness is often not sincere as well. However, Salalah has a lovely climate, some nice coconut plantations for a little green and a better grocery store than Nizwa. Salalah drivers drive slowly and will always pull out in front of you forcing you to slow down. They don't tailgate.

[dragondotter]

I submitted my application and CV almost two weeks ago to several recruiters for the positions at the community and technology jobs but haven't heard back. should i give up hope? have they made all the offers they are going to make to women? do they prefer hiring folks with a masters? i am still working on my masters at this point... i have two years experience teaching overseas. what do you think?

[qahirii]

it does depend on what you want, but i can tell you what you don't: avoid ELS language centres like the plague. they are where teachers go to die. pedophiles and drunks who get fired from the colleges and have nowhere to go end up there, and are the only "teachers" who stay for any length of time.

keep that in mind...

[happyroofus]