Job Discussion Forums

[Makakilo]

Hi there,

I am looking to learn more recent info about people's experience with IGIT in Saudi Arabia. I know they are always looking for new teachers but I haven't found any sort of reviews about them from teachers in the past couple of years so please give some insight into this company.

Would you work for them again? Did they keep their word and/or promises made? What were the working conditions and accommodation like?

Thank you.

[westy]

.....

[FarGone]

IGIT bites the bone.

I worked for IGIT/Saudi Royal Naval Forces (Naval base in Jeddah) from September to December 2011. The actual base teaching was better than I'd anticipated (support given by base Education Director + level of attention/effort paid by students was not bad).

...the private contractor/warm body carousel that is IGIT was a different story: Filthy apartment (full of roaches; unswept; broken glass under a bed which had not been moved prior to sweeping), washing machine didn't work; toilet didn't flush; toilet seat was broken...

The Saudi former-Naval man who is the "site manager" was incredibly inept in his position; the drivers who were supposed to ferry we teachers around once/weekly for shopping/banking/medical needs did not respect the man and, thus, never showed up when asked to do so. Favoritism was shown to certain teachers, but not to others. IGIT's contract reads: "Ties shall be worn at all times while teaching on-base," but a Canadian/Turk suck-up/snitch was given some license to where he could wear a Polo shirt and it "was all good."

The final straw was the post-probation raise--a significant amount of money--which was not deposited into my bank account, nor the accounts of two other teachers within the same IGIT/Naval base contract. We had "passed probation," but were not paid for it and no one would tell us why not.

Finally, I told the base Education Director that IGIT was being deceptive and not honorable in its salaries to we three teachers, and that I'd be sleeping in until I got paid. He understood; told me, "I won't fire you."

But IGIT did.

I made life tough for my recruiter and site manager and, inevitably, I was paid everything I was owed + a one-way ticket, paid for by IGIT, back to my place of origin.

Live und learn.

[Makakilo]

Wow this is very interesting information about IGIT. I know several other teachers who have had S O U R and very bad experiences with this company so it really doesn't surprise me that people are taking the time to warn other about the abrasiveness and complete unprofessionalism that is put forth from this company and it's minions that call themselves managers.
My journey with IGIT started when they promised me a job is a certain city, then upon arrival nobody picked me up. After sitting in the airport for over FIVE hours and calling all three of the IGIT contacts I was given before starting my journey...someone finally called me back. They aplogized and told me there was a mistake and they didn't know I was arriving five hours ago. They also said they would be sending me to a different city than the one they had promised me to work in...the beginning of thir LIES. Upon arriving in Jeddah I was told that I had to undergo an interview and that I didn't actually have the job. This freaked out some teachers but I didn't care because I didn't want to work in that city to begin with. Eight of us "failed" the interview and were shipped to different cities and different interviews. Before I could begin teaching in the new city, IGIT told all of the teachers that they needed us to travel by bus again back to Jeddah to help them represent themselves at a formal meeting with some hotshots at the university. They wanted to use us to make it appear that they had more teachers than they actually had. Whoa what a lie that was because when we all arrived we were told that we had to be at the university at 8AM the next morning for another round of interviews and if we were selected this time then we would be forced to stay and work in jeddah (but of course we would need to travel again to the other city to get the rest of our stuff because they lied to us about it being a quick two day trip). Needless to say all of us teachers were disgusted and we rebelled. We hired private taxis in teh middle of the night and escaped to the other city and IGIT manager (one of probably 9 that I had seen come and go) woke up in the morning to find only one teacher waiting for them downstairs instead of the seven they thought they would be able to show off. Anyway, I began teaching in the new city sometime later and was shocked at the way they treated the arabs and africans. They straight up lied to them and told them they would transfer their iqamas after they worked for a few months and saved their asses from potentially losing the contract because they didn't have anywhere near the number of teachers they promised they would have. After the academic year was over and IGIT has gotten paid, they told all of them to get lost, except one, they kept him. We are talking about 12-15 people, majority of them with families living inside the kingdom. The rest of us westerners, they shipped to Arar or Jeddah because they had just lost the second contract. Yep, thats right. The first two contracts they got they lost in the first year. How is that for professional people and professional mangers? Then the next year they told a bunch of lies and lost the contract in Arar. I know they had contracts at the Navy and from what I heard the situation there is very rude and the management is still treating people like trash. You have to scream and yell just to get your rights, the stuff that is written in your contract. Here is a short list of things that happened to me and why I would not reccomend working for this company because there are so many better jobs/employers in KSA. I know teachers who were shuttled between four different cities before their one year contract ended. Once you get in KSA you are their property and they certainly make that clear. You have to call their bluffs but be prepared to pack your bags because I have seen them serve final exit visas quickly if they don't like something you have said.

<b>STAY AWAY FROM THIS COMPANY AND THE PEOPLE REPRESENTING THEM.<b>

[scot47]

Are you a teacher of English Composition ?

I hope not.

[Lord Commander]

Regarding IGIT and work in Dammam my recent comments are here:

http://igitandtins.wordpress.com

That link appears in a different thread as well so my apologies for repetition.

IGIT are contractors who see teachers as commodities. There is little to be gained from taking employment with them - you would be giving yourself a hard time. There are now many warnings about IGIT, not only on this forum.

Direct hire is so much better and most universities in KSA are constantly recruiting.

[FarGone]

Occam's Razor applies to "the IGIT and its high turnover question":

The company is corrupt and abusive of its hires. End story.

[baa_baa]

hmm after reading all this i still would like their email, number, anything pls but you never know when you ll need it.. thanks