Job Discussion Forums

Handsome Boy · Joined: 30 Jun 2003 Posts: 7

Does anybody know anything about this outfit? Is it based in Muscat etc, etc.

Cheers!

joe-joe · Joined: 15 Oct 2003 Posts: 100 Location: Baku, Azerbaijan

If this is the job I think you're referring to, I saw it advertised on tefl.com a few days ago. I believe the contact guy Abdul Majid Majali, is also the same one who works for Sur University College, and as you may have read on posts on this forum about SUC, this establishment does not have an especially great reputation. So, if this is the same person I would say it doesn't bode too well for this place being a great one to work at either. I may of course, be way of base here, but I may not. Perhaps another person can post something more definite.

kaw · Posted: Mon Dec 08, 2003 5:45 am Post subject: Oman Royal Air Force

Hi
Can't help you too much. The last person to comment that the contact (recruitment) guy is Majali is correct. As far as being connected to SUC - in as far as they are both part of the Hawthorn Chain - then yes Hawthorn Muscat is connected to SUC but am sure life is very very different.
It should be ok - the main complaints were with the administration at SUC.

carnac · Posted: Tue Aug 10, 2004 5:36 pm Post subject: Re: Oman Royal Air Force

Handsome Boy · Joined: 30 Jun 2003 Posts: 7

Carnac,

Thanks for the info, however, my post was written on the 3rd December last year. I've been working for RAFO since March this year. Very Happy

We more than likey know each other.

Thanks anyway!

Ozzy070 · Joined: 08 Jan 2005 Posts: 1 Location: UK

Thanks guys for all the information but I'd like to ask someone who already worked for RAFO or knows someone who works for them. You might help me with that Handsome. I've just been offered a contract there for 2 years to teach all over the sultanate. The will fly me to the locations where I have to teach. The basic salary is OR 730 + OR 60 transportation allowance.They told me that basic salary equals �1285 but when I checked I found that it is just slightly over �1000. Does this sound OK?. I hold a degree in English teaching + CELTA with 3 years experience.

Also I want to know more about the country and the working environment. Is RAFO a good employer?? How about the cost of living in Oman??

Thank you very much and looking forward to hearing from you. Smile

carnac · Posted: Sat Jan 15, 2005 5:07 pm Post subject:

re RAFO new hire -
The cost of living: RAFO will provide quarters for sleeping/bathing/living, and you will eat at a military "mess", like a restaurant, and your meals will be billed. (cheap). Your pay is low, but you should be ok with daily living, and may be able to save a bit if your extracurricular activities aren't exorbitant. You will be working with Omanis, Scots, Irish, English, South Africans, Canadians.
Tell them you will come if they offer better pay. They may increase the offer. Nothing is written in stone here. Tell them you need at least "Naqib" level (Captain,grade 5) pay. It sounds like they are offering grade 6. You will lose nothing if they say no. Boost, without lying, your qualifications. Tell them how wonderful you are, and maybe you can get more.
Good luck and best wishes.

carnac · Posted: Sat Jan 15, 2005 5:14 pm Post subject:

"Also I want to know more about the country"
Use Google. Oman culture history languages whatever
After you have done this, ask more questions. Just advice. It's a great place! After you come and get settled, get off the base as often as you can and meet people. You will be rewarded beyong imagining.

Couper · Joined: 11 Oct 2004 Posts: 18

Forgive me if this is a reaaally stupid question, but does the RAFO employ female teachers?

I'm just about to reply to an ad in The Weekend Australian newspaper. I've scoured the newsprint several times looking for something along the lines of "males only" but, to my surprise, found nothing.

Is this too good to be true, 'cause I'd love to go there!?? Surprised

Kabina · Joined: 09 Jan 2005 Posts: 10 Location: Canada

I would be grateful if someone could let me know how I can discover what sorts of teaching/training vacancies are available. My husband has a lot of experience training computer professionals and has taught computing and maths in the past in Abu Dhabi. We would like to work in Oman but cannot find any RAFO vacancies posted. For that matter, the very few advertisements we have seen have been posted by recruitment agencies that want to pay less than OMR 600 per month!

Couper · Joined: 11 Oct 2004 Posts: 18

Ignore last post, have just had an email from RAFO saying they DO employ women. Can anyone currently working there please give any more info - eg, how many women (roughly), is there a problem with sexual harassment, etc?

Not that I'm overly worried about that kind of thing, but I would like to feel reasonably comfortable if I'm going there for a couple of years...

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

Couper,

I haven't worked at RAFO, but I can tell you that as far as sexual harassment, there is little or no problem in Oman. Omanis tend to be complete gentlemen and their form of Islam, Ibadhism, is very conservative. It is considered totally inappropriate to even 'look' at the other sex. I went from Cairo to Oman, and it was real culture shock. Laughing

Not that none of them look at you, but they will often be very embarrassed if you catch them.

I lived there for years as a single woman, and this will NOT be a problem. Things can be a bit quiet, and it is not exactly a party place, but I found it a great place to live and work.

VS

Couper · Joined: 11 Oct 2004 Posts: 18

Veiled sentiments,

Many thanks. That makes me feel more confident.

Anyone who has worked/ is working for RAFO - what's it like for women?

Also, I'm not after a party lifestyle at all, just want to check out the culture, get some teaching experience in the region and save some money. Will I be able to do the latter on 13000 pounds a year or am I kidding myself?

Any other info about this outfit gratefully received!!

Cheers... Very Happy

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

Couper,

Hopefully someone there will come on and talk about if there are any female teachers right now.

As to savings, naturally the answer is that it depends on the individual. Smile

I am presuming that they provide housing, tickets, medical - the usual benefits. Thus your expenses will be utilities (probably water and electric, certainly phone and internet), food, entertainment, and transportation. If you eat and drink at the hotels quite often, that eats up lots of your income. If you eat at home and drink little or no alcohol, that is pretty cheap. You will need a car as Oman is much like living in the suburbs in the US... cars are a necessity, not a luxury. So, you can buy a cheap or used car or you could buy a big expensive 4WD.

I don't drink and rarely eat out - drove a cheap (but new) Nissan or Toyota - and saved about 80-85% of my salary. (and still did significant travel during the summer leaves... and short trips during Eids) I'm not sure what exchange rate you are using - better that you use Riyals - as I don't know what 13,000 pounds is.

VS

Couper · Joined: 11 Oct 2004 Posts: 18

Thanks for taking the time to be so helpful, Veiled.

Yes, they are offering all the usual - airfares, free medical, free apartment (no mention of utilities so I assume they're not covered). Plus an incredible 60 days annual leave.

13,000 pounds is 91,500 Ryals, according to my currency converter.

Also, they are offering a 2-year contract but I probably only want to go for one. Which is better at this stage - be honest and ask them to let me sign a 1-year contract or sign for 2 years and then try to wriggle out later (I really don't like screwing people over so would be uncomfortable about this, or does everyone do it and it's an accepted practice?)

Thanks again for any advice/suggestions.