Job Discussion Forums

[caballo]

I just had a telephone interview with this person and two of his cohorts on behalf of Hawthorn Muscat. I've been offered a post with the Ministry of Higher Education Colleges of Applies Sciences in Rustaq. I gather his reputation is rather dubious but would someone be able to summarize this employer? I haven't been able to discern the exact reasons why his reputation is poor from this thread. This thread almost supposes some background knowledge and I have none on this prospective employer.

[veiledsentiments]

Have you done a search of these two names and the cities involved? There are years of posts of 'issues' and many of the negative threads have been pulled. If you go back a page, there are a batch of threads. It should give you a basic idea of some of the problems that some people have had.

That said, Rustaq has not been the subject of many complaints here. What with everyone traveling for the summer, we many not have anyone with direct experience pass through.

VS

[flutterbayou]

I just did a search on the recruiter in question and found many posts still available.

OP, I'd suggest that you ask the recruiter for an email address of a teacher in Rustaq so that you can get the word directly from the horse's mouth.

Last year when I was invited to go there, one of the teachers emailed me that the assignment was extremely remote and that the town had no full market, nor a hotel to go out for an occasional dinner.

[Geronimo]

Caballo, I was recruited by Abdul Majid Majali for a post at Sohar College of Applied Sciences a few years ago. I haven�t worked in Rustaq, but I have passed through that small town a couple of times on my travels. On that basis, I can offer you the following information....

During my time as an MoHE employee my salary was paid on time on most occasions; and , on the odd occasion when a delay occurred, it was due to an administrative error in the banking system. The MoHE always abided by the terms of the contract; (although there were delays with the 75% payment for the second airfare and completion bonus). If the Sohar allocation is representative, you can expect the accommodation provided to be at least adequate.

As a new starter it is likely that you will be assigned sizeable classes of Foundation Course students. However, there may be opportunities for you to get involved in Omani teacher training, (dependant upon your qualifications and experience, of course), down the line. I think that Omani teacher training is being continued in Rustaq College, although it is being wound down in Sohar.

Concerning Rustaq as a place to live....hmmm...welll...after you have visited the fort and the souq.... ....Take your laptop, walking boots and harmonica...So...How far is it from Muscat? It takes about an hour to drive from Rustaq to the Seeb district of the capital, with its Carrefour and major department stores; not to mention the airport

I suggest that you visit:- http://www.theweek.co.om/
"TheWeek" is an excellent free English language weekly packed full of news and views from Oman.
(I used its search facility for "Rustaq". Sadly there were only 2 matches.)

Good luck!

Paul in Saudi -have you tried Specsavers yet? They have got a wide range of frames available, as well as some "2 pairs for the price of 1" deals.

Johnslat - Good one! "Oman is no island" Indeed!

[gulam2]

There are many bad opions about Mujali.
Hawthorne IS A RECRUITING AGENT.
Conditions and teaching systems at the colleges are less than ideal.
The salary is low for a gulf country.

Gulam2

[Duffy]

Now tell us something we don 't know!!!!

What is the point of posting information that is common knowledge to most of the Oman Forum readers??

Duffy

[ozoyster]

I worked for this group for a short time. It was an absolute nightmare experience.



The recruiter was bullying and patronising.

He has NO idea how to treat people

he doesn't care about the people in his employ, you are just a number to him.

And 2600 is more than I was getting per month



I AM SERIOUSLY COUNCELLING PROSPECTIVE ESL TEACHERS AND CAUTIONING THEM

AVOID THIS ORGANISATION LIKE THE PLAGUE!!!!

I AM GIVING A REAL WARNING HERE!!!![/list]

[bruceoman]

ozoyster, i again find your postings interesting to read. What you say about Majali is basically true. Once you're here in Sur he does very little for you. However you're choice of the word "bullying"in several of your postings is interesting. This comes from someone who raised his fists to another teacher in front of some students, from someone who poked his fingers into the chest of a fellow teacher, from someone who had to be restrained from attacking a woman in her office (admittedly you were hard done-by by her her organization, but is that the right way to react?), and from someone who cursed others and stormed out of meetings. From my experience it seems that the people who I have known personally who have posted constant complaints about their employers are the ones who also caused problems themselves in the workplace. Not sure if that is usually the case or not, but can't help but wonder. Complain if you want, but maybe you should also disclose how you're own behaviour was in Sur. You will be pleased to know that whenever we hear a cat "meow" some of us still think of you straight away.

[ozoyster]

'Bruce' whoever you are you need to get your facts right and to stop using this website as a forum for making personal attacks on soemone else. You obviously seem to have a great deal of anger to deal with and should seek help.

When you start dragging personal things onto a public website you really are scraping the bottom of the barrel. I did not start being physical in an interviewers's office and did not raise my fists to anyone in my place of work.

YOU ARE SPITEFUL, ANGRY NASTY AND YES YOU SEEM TO HAVE SOME KIND OF PROBLEM. I SUGGEST 'BRUCE' THAT YOU GO AND GET SOME HELP WITH THAT!!! DO NOT USE THIS WEBSITE TO TAKE YOUR PETTY FRUSTRATIONS OUT ON OTHERS WHOM YOU KNOW NOTHING ABOUT.

YES BULLYING DID GO ON BOTH TO MYSELF AND TO OTHER TEACHERS FROM OTHER TEACHERS. I WOULD ASK OTHERS TO USE SENSE AND AVOID THIS PLACE.

The positng at Sur College of Applied sciences was the worst job I have ever had. I am now extremely unwell because of the things that went on in this nightmare of a place.

Like this post says 'I am glad I am out of the MOHE situation'