Job Discussion Forums

[Helpmefindausername]

Can someone provide a list of the so-called "bottom feeders" so I can avoid them? It seems as if there is a lot of mention of them, but no list. Also, it seems that whenever I get an opportunity to interview, the company is clearly on the bottom feeder list. Is there any good companies or schools in Saudi that one might apply to?

[nomad soul]

It pretty much depends on your qualifications/experience. But generally, the stronger your qualifications, the better the employer. That is, higher qualifications put you in the running for the better, direct-hire positions. Otherwise, you're pretty much limited to contracting companies, which, as you're finding, tend to be sketchy.

[AbeCross]

This has some useful ideas:

http://www.bridgetefl.com/vetting-tefl-employers-abroad-tips-to-avoid-scams-and-land-the-teaching-job-you-want/

But there are many, many cowboy schools.

[nomad soul]

I don't see how that article offers much in the way avoiding sketchy Saudi employers. Not to knock the author, but her teaching experience has been in typical language schools in Costa Rica and Morocco and not universities or government contracts in the Gulf. Her bio also states that she enjoys volunteer work which included rescuing donkeys in Spain. Hmm...

That said, she is on point about researching the employer as thoroughly as possible, especially taking advantage of info posted on the numerous TEFL forums on the Net, including this one. But for applicants who have to deal with the limited, third-hand knowledge of a contracted recruiter, getting useful info about curriculum, classroom management, and assessments isn't likely to happen. It's doubtful if even the many contracting companies have real knowledge of teaching. Anyway, her final point about trusting one's gut seems to get ignored by the many job seekers to this region who focus solely on the money, money, money, money. (Makes me think of that song, "For the Love of Money," by the O'Jays. )

[lcanupp1964]

"Money, Money, Money" by ABBA is a much better choice.

[fledex]

Unfortunately, over the years I've found that you need to have one or two years of experience in Saudi before you can get a decent job there, even if you have good qualifications. By a decent job, I mean a job with a good compound, in a good city (like Jeddah, Riyadh, or near Bahrain), with a car (if male), and for a minimum of US$5,000 per month. Anything less hardly justifies the pain of being in KSA for longer than an academic year. So the first year, you ought to go with the ones that are some place in the middle, like a university direct hire, IPA, etc. Try to stay away from the ones you see with bad reps on the forum, like Edex, Interlink, and ICEAT if you can. They aren't even very good first jobs. They won't help much on your resume anyway.

Basically, stay away from the ones that are consistently knocked throughout this forum, and don't expect a good one until you have experience in Saudi and have left Saudi for a while. I don't know of any decent jobs in Saudi for women EFL teachers. Maybe someone else could elaborate on that.

[AbeCross]

Add Shabaka, Tabuk University, and anything connected to Saad Group to the list of ill repute.

[rollingk]

[nomad soul]

[Anton Chigurh]

[nomad soul]

[nickelgoat]

.....

[veiledsentiments]

I looked at the schedule on the website and they seem to be constantly testing... teach 4 days... test... teach 4 days... test... right up to the Final Exam. Sounds like Sabis!! LOL

VS

[Helpmefindausername]

So is there a list of the best places to work in KSA? The bad ones come up over and over. Also, why does a teacher have to leave and then come back to get on with the better employers? How long does one need to be gone?

[nomad soul]