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isaak
Joined: 02 Jul 2015
Posts: 11
Location: england
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 Posted: Fri Jul 31, 2015 9:23 am Post subject: |
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| akoo1 wrote: |
Isaak
What you want to do is possible and many people have done it or currently doing it. I have one American friend who brought 4 of his kids to Riyadh (and he stayed 3 years). His wife came too.
If you're willing to drop the Aramco part you can find many jobs where you and your wife can work together or at least nearby each other.
You should always take whatever is said on this site with a heavy grain of salt. A lot of people talk as if what their experiences may apply to others, which often it doesn't.
Just finish your qualifications, make a nice resume, all professional, apply either together with your wife, or bring her in a few months after you settle in by yourself. Either way, you can do what you want here as long as you don't depend on the opinions of others. Just figure it yourself and don't try to overplan every detail until you're actually here.
Also, nobody cares if you have MA Tesol or MA education, or whatever else. Those pieces of paper will only get you so far. It's your ability to have a good resume, interview and relational skills on the ground that will make or break your success here. For example, I know one teacher who made 6 figures on just a bachelor degree. He's gone now but the time he spent here, he really enjoyed it as do I. It's a great place for a family as family if first (especially for a Muslim family) as there are many benefits.
It also depends what you want your family exposed to. I can think of 1001 sights and sounds in China alone (especially the expat areas) which no Muslim child should ever witness. At least in KSA, those kinds of activities are on the down low or people have to hide away to do them.
Finally, there are plenty of nannies and babysitters here. That's not an issue.
Good luck! |
Of all the advice I had on this thread yours is the most positive. Thank for your optimism and for looking at my questions from a different angle.
I will go on to apply for the jobs that I want, and see what happens. Others here are on a mission to deter people from working in saudi yet they went there some still there, so why's saudi such a bad place for others. Anyway like you said " with a heavy grain of salt" |
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isaak
Joined: 02 Jul 2015
Posts: 11
Location: england
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| Posted: Fri Jul 31, 2015 9:34 am Post subject: |
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| nomad soul wrote: |
| akoo1 wrote: |
What you want to do is possible and many people have done it or currently doing it. I have one American friend who brought 4 of his kids to Riyadh (and he stayed 3 years). His wife came too.
You should always take whatever is said on this site with a heavy grain of salt. A lot of people talk as if what their experiences may apply to others, which often it doesn't.
Just finish your qualifications, make a nice resume, all professional, apply either together with your wife, or bring her in a few months after you settle in by yourself.
...
I know one teacher who made 6 figures on just a bachelor degree.
....
Finally, there are plenty of nannies and babysitters here. That's not an issue. |
Based on your response, your advice to take others' comments with a grain of salt should apply to you as well. By mentioning someone who allegedly earned a 6-figre salary, are you essentially telling the OP that this is a possibility for him and other newbies? Talk about a grain of salt...
Frankly, rather than advising job seekers to disregard the advice and comments of others (except yours), a better response is that they weigh all options presented on this forum, prioritize their needs, do their own research, and make an informed, adult decision from there. That's what I did a few years back when I began looking at possible employers in KSA. The info on this site was invaluable.
In the OP's case, he's trying to shoot for the moon using newly-minted qualifications (a soon-to-be MA and later, a CELTA) and apparently with zero EFL teaching experience. Expecting a high-paying job directly with Aramco or a direct-hire position that pays for monthly daycare isn't going to happen. (He wasn't asking if nannies are available). Anyway, he needs to get real with what his qualifications could get him and that will mean making compromises and greatly lowering expectations. Of course, he could certainly apply to whatever position he's interested in, even if his qualifications don't quite make the cut. |
Nomadsoul I never said I was expecting to get a job with Aramco I said I was hopeful and was asking if I had a chance, I then went on to say I guess am not qualified for it just yet. When you and others went on to say I couldn't even dream for a job with Aramco ever. Anyhow take a leaf out of akooq1's book and cut down the negativity.
I know am a newbie with hardly any experience but I will take my chances and apply , who knows I could get something decent. |
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nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
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| Posted: Fri Jul 31, 2015 10:09 am Post subject: |
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| isaak wrote: |
Nomadsoul I never said I was expecting to get a job with Aramco I said I was hopeful and was asking if I had a chance, I then went on to say I guess am not qualified for it just yet. When you and others went on to say I couldn't even dream for a job with Aramco ever. Anyhow take a leaf out of akooq1's book and cut down the negativity.
I know am a newbie with hardly any experience but I will take my chances and apply , who knows I could get something decent. |
What you saw as negativity was others giving you reality rather than broad, ambiguous statements or sugar coating what you likely had hoped to hear since you initially mentioned applying to Aramco. By the way, I posted that Aramco requires years of experience and is highly competitive but never said you couldn't ever get on with them, if that's a long term goal of yours.
Certainly apply to whatever job you want. My point was that you be realistic with your expectations about salary and benefits as a newbie so that you don't get frustrated or disappointed.
For a look at the type of qualifications for some of the better, direct-hire Saudi jobs, check out IATEFL's job board from this year's conference (iatefl.org). |
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isaak
Joined: 02 Jul 2015
Posts: 11
Location: england
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| Posted: Fri Jul 31, 2015 12:23 pm Post subject: |
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| nomad soul wrote: |
| isaak wrote: |
Nomadsoul I never said I was expecting to get a job with Aramco I said I was hopeful and was asking if I had a chance, I then went on to say I guess am not qualified for it just yet. When you and others went on to say I couldn't even dream for a job with Aramco ever. Anyhow take a leaf out of akooq1's book and cut down the negativity.
I know am a newbie with hardly any experience but I will take my chances and apply , who knows I could get something decent. |
What you saw as negativity was others giving you reality rather than broad, ambiguous statements or sugar coating what you likely had hoped to hear since you initially mentioned applying to Aramco. By the way, I posted that Aramco requires years of experience and is highly competitive but never said you couldn't ever get on with them, if that's a long term goal of yours.
Certainly apply to whatever job you want. My point was that you be realistic with your expectations about salary and benefits as a newbie so that you don't get frustrated or disappointed.
For a look at the type of qualifications for some of the better, direct-hire Saudi jobs, check out IATEFL's job board from this year's conference (iatefl.org). |
Thanks I will look into this. |
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akoo
Joined: 01 Apr 2015
Posts: 5
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| Posted: Fri Jul 31, 2015 12:56 pm Post subject: |
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Welcome isaak
To answer your new question: Others here are on a mission to deter people from working in saudi yet they went there some still there, so why's saudi such a bad place for others.
There are are many answers however the first that comes to mind is because they don't get paid higher elsewhere BUT since most don't have local friends and don't understand the people or culture (and many don't even bother to) it creates and us and them mentality which they lather in. Also, they don't bother to learn the language or immersing themselves in the culture. A similar groups lives and works in China.
But unlike China, with its its vices and distractions a plenty. Usually, people here just go to work and spent 90% of their free hours locked away inside their rooms. Some go to Bahrain for debauchery.
By deterring people away from Saudi, it's a way like a sort of vengeance on Saudi, the same place that pays them to work is also the place they love to hate. Since, they're too (enter adjective) to say anything in front of the locals, they often whine and complain to other teachers, expats and especially online, on this forum to potential arrivals. A sort of early warning system to others, which of course is 90% negative, as you noticed.
It's become a pastime (as remember they often say there's not much to do in KSA). |
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jobsworthjohn
Joined: 28 Sep 2014
Posts: 22
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| Posted: Fri Jul 31, 2015 1:08 pm Post subject: |
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I rather doubt that some people here are somehow conspiring to deter fresh souls from imbibing the ether of the magic Kingdom. I do agree there is sometimes a little more negativity detectable in some posts - borne of experience no doubt, but as one of the senior members of this forum is fond of saying, ones experience is strictly personal and not a general rule.
Be a free spirit and take the plunge. You can only learn. My tuppence ... |
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plumpy nut
Joined: 12 Mar 2011
Posts: 1652
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| Posted: Fri Jul 31, 2015 3:21 pm Post subject: |
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| Go to Saudi Arabia for some fast cash if you want, but realize in many cases the wages are not so great after you consider the money spent on the visa and the money spent on waiting. A person going to Saudi Arabia will have to deal with the weird SACM attesting your degree in a manner that no other country does (just the very way they try to sound serious and professional is a joke, I hope Saudis read Dave's). Anyone trying to get a visa should first make sure that your university registrar will provide the SACM with an itemized class list showing no online classes (My university said no, and asked why would you go to this place?). Also if you're teaching in a foreign country you'll have to come back to you home country for the visa, that costs money too. Even if you successfully obtain a visa after months of waiting, the company can still screw you over by all of a sudden not having any jobs. It's a roll of the dice and all you get in return is the chance of earning a certain amount of cash in a country that is as distasteful as it gets. |
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forumchi
Joined: 05 Nov 2014
Posts: 15
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| Posted: Fri Jul 31, 2015 7:46 pm Post subject: |
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| People who love to be in Saudi hardly post in this forum. I learned that one should totally ignore these moanings and just take the plunge. I met dozens of teachers who wouldn't want to be anywhere else. All the waiting and frustrations worth it. Those who want to come here just come don't hesitate. |
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scot47
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Posts: 15343
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| Posted: Fri Jul 31, 2015 8:28 pm Post subject: |
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Not everyone is negative about KSA. Of course there are malcontents but some of us can be quite positive !
I write as one who first came to KSA in 1970. |
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Gamajorba
Joined: 03 May 2015
Posts: 357
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| Posted: Sat Aug 01, 2015 12:19 pm Post subject: |
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Money is not the be all and end all, which most of my colleagues refused to believe, and are still slaving and b*tching away in the sandpit.
Is several thousand dollars a month tax free really worth sacrificing your emotional, physical, psychological and mental health? |
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scot47
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Posts: 15343
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| Posted: Sat Aug 01, 2015 3:03 pm Post subject: |
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| I never felt that any of these were threatened by the jobs I had in KSA. But then I only had one job at a time. |
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sheikh radlinrol
Joined: 30 Jan 2007
Posts: 1222
Location: Spain
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| Posted: Sat Aug 01, 2015 4:51 pm Post subject: |
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| Gamajorba wrote: |
Money is not the be all and end all, which most of my colleagues refused to believe, and are still slaving and b*tching away in the sandpit.
Is several thousand dollars a month tax free really worth sacrificing your emotional, physical, psychological and mental health? |
This is nonsense. I didn´t like Saudi but found it quite tolerable because I had a good employer. I had a hobby which took up lots of my time, read books, went to the gym and drank my own wine. In Riyadh, at least, the weather is pleasant and the food is good and varied. OK, it´s drab and if you can´t live without bars and cinemas, don´t go. |
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scot47
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Posts: 15343
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| Posted: Sat Aug 01, 2015 7:18 pm Post subject: |
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Some people can cope with KSA. Some cannot. That is not a judgement - just a fact of life in the Middle East.
Last edited by scot47 on Sat Aug 01, 2015 8:51 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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johnslat
Joined: 21 Jan 2003
Posts: 13859
Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
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| Posted: Sat Aug 01, 2015 8:04 pm Post subject: |
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But what's makes it a crap-shoot, is that no one - not even YOU - can accurately predict just how Saudi is going to affect you.
That must be pretty obvious, seeing as how many people went there, only to discover it was something they couldn't stand (for many varied reasons).
Many find it burdensome to intolerable, some find it tolerable, a few find it not bad at all.
Which group you will end up in will depend mainly on two factors: your employer there and you.
Regards,
John
Last edited by johnslat on Sat Aug 01, 2015 9:17 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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scot47
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Posts: 15343
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| Posted: Sat Aug 01, 2015 8:54 pm Post subject: |
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The same happens in reverse. Saudis who come to the UK or the US can sometimes cope. Sometimes they cannot. Difficult to predict who will make it and who will end up having "psychotic episodes".
I was sometimes surprised at which of our graduates and ex-students at KFUPM coped well in the US as students and which could not hack it. |
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