Job Discussion Forums

[While I was out]

Hi,

I'm considering going to Oman in late Oct and wanted to ask a few questions. I hope someone will take the time to answer. I'll be coming with my wife who won't be working as a teacher, she's not a native speaker. By the way, if I'm innaccurate about anything please point it out.

When is the peak hiring season for an October start? Does it fit in with Omani terms or am I putting the cart before the horse?

I've seen that there are a number of HCTs, private language schools and universities, what kind of job can I expect to find with a BA, TESOL and 3 years of experience? 1 year each in high and middle school, 1 with a language centre, 2 terms of part-time uni work and some in-house corporate courses.

I've been reading posts & job ads and have seen that salaries range between 700 to 950 OR for my qualifications, with accommodation and hopefully flights and medical. I probably wouldn't accept anything less than 800, have to keep body and soul together you know.

Anyway, please give me your advice and suggestions, positive or negative. Thanks.

[windstar]

you'd better start sending out your application for september. October is not a month to hire and it is most probably religious holiday mostly. So, nobody would want to hire in october.

[While I was out]

Thanks for the info Windstar, I'll have to have another think about my plans. Do language schools hire in that season mainly or are they/ their needs more flexible?

[desultude]

Ramadan is actually mostly in September this year. For a fall start, it is definitely the right advice to start looking now.

[While I was out]

Thanks Desultude. There are a few more than usual on tefl.com, they must be starting early.

[veiledsentiments]

I don't know what you mean by 'starting early.' Gulf employers start the hiring process for August/September in January of the year.

If you plan to go the language school route, you will likely have to wait and apply while within the country. Just don't expect benefits. Presumably, your wife's job will provide housing and other benefits.

With your limited credentials, you will be hard pressed to get 800 a month.

VS

[While I was out]

Thanks VS.

I'm not going to come without a job on a tourist visa, so if I don't get one lined up then I'll be going somewhere else. I certainly don't want to be hired without any benefits, medical etc. I just don't think that makes sense, those are the perks of being an ESL teacher.

The wife will be coming on my visa, hopefully she can get a job there. She's SE Asian, and I don't know what opportunities she can take advantage of. She's a great girl, reasonable English, work experience as a PR and admin clerk.

As far as being unqualified or under-qualified, well, I yam what I yam. I'm looking into taking an MA, whether on-site or online. That's a choice I still have to make. If you guys have any advice about MA's relating to Omani employers I'd welcome it.

[windstar]

Coming to Oman on a tourist visa is not so important, once you have got your job offer it is easily transferred to resident visa (work permit) as was the case with a few of my colleagues here in Oman. It is also possible to extend tourist visa for a few more months, even by going to dubai and coming back will buy you some time.

[veiledsentiments]

OK... I misunderstood your first post and thought that your wife had a job and you were coming with her.

Start applying right now!! Don't expect to arrive and find a job as this is not the usual procedure and local hires often get shorted on both pay and benefits. (they figure that you are desperate)

You should qualify for the Ministry jobs outside of Muscat... the various recruiters often have jobs advertised here on Dave's or the other usual job websites. You just need to have low expectations of management and organization. There are threads here about most of the jobs and recruiters.

Another disadvantage of the jobs in the smaller towns is that there may be no work opportunities for your wife.

These are not high pressure jobs and you would have time to get that MA by distance and move up to the better jobs and employers. Having that MA and some ME experience on your CV should help you to get a job in larger places in the Gulf which would provide more opportunities for you and your wife.

VS

[While I was out]

Thanks again for your kind and helpful replies.

I am keeping my eyes peeled for jobs and will apply as and when they appear. I would much rather come to Oman employed than as a tourist, we'll be having a long break after this contract to catch up with family so I will need to get back to work.

VS, I'll take into consideration your point that working out of Muscat may equal more opportunities for me, but equally, as you mentioned, that means less opportunities for the wife. It may, in the long run, be better to take a job that pays less, in an area with more employment opportunities for my wife.

[desertrat]

I would start applying now as a lot of the pvt colleges and universities are already advertising and some have even started interviewing. The semester starts in September and most resignations or terminations are carried out in May/ june but you really need to start applying now.

I wouldnt recommend starting out in the smaller towns esp if this is your first time in Oman. And it would be extremely difficult for your wife t find a job or even a Big Mac in some of the lil towns. Start off wth Muscat and then when youve adjusted you can give the lil towns a shot. Good luck on the job hunt!

[veiledsentiments]

Just a warning that jobs in Muscat are more difficult to get as that is where almost everyone wants to work. Thus the competition is keener and your limited credentials put you at a disadvantage. (not a criticism BTW... we were all in that position at one time)

The jobs in the hinterlands have many disadvantages, but their one big advantage is that they are easier to get. And I'm not even sure that there are that many jobs going for your wife in Muscat... but there is more to do and more chance of meeting some of her compatriots.

I would actually strongly warn against going without a contract in hand. Get those applications out now. Do apply to the private universities, but they pay quite low and some of them have 'issues' too. Some of them only provide a housing allowance - and it can be near impossible to find anywhere to rent for the money - or they give a salary that sounds large until you start looking at the rent that you must pay out of it.

VS

[While I was out]

Hello again people. I took all of your advice and got my applications out to a variety of sites, with some interest being shown. So that's good for me .

There seem to be quite a few jobs, and I was contacted by a few recruiters at the start of last week, for the college jobs. Had a brief, intense flurry of emails, then silence. Should I follow up on them, as I dislike waiting, or should I let things take their natural course for a week or two?

[veiledsentiments]

I am assuming that you have read around the board and know the inherent weakness and negatives of the recruiter system. Right now there seems to be a major re-organization going on... moving different majors to different colleges and there may be some confusion about how many teachers are needed and where.

Don't expect rapid response... it will cause ulcers... Applying for jobs in the Gulf is a lesson in patience. They can't be hurried and communication can be spotty. It is how most everything is done.

Learn to like waiting... (give them that week or two)

VS

[While I was out]

Yes, I've read some of the kerfuffle that's going on, sorry to hear about the guys who didn't have their contracts renewed.

I'll wait until I hear back from the recruiters, I'm sure I can wait a week or two. Thanks.