Job Discussion Forums

colly64 · Joined: 18 Dec 2006 Posts: 12

Hello everyone

Does anyone know anything about this university? Conditions etc...

Thanking you for your help

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

The location (in Riyadh) might put people off. That is a seriously strange place.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_Saud_bin_Abdulaziz_University_for_Health_Sciences

DD3 · Joined: 28 Feb 2013 Posts: 9

I'm wondering about this place as well. I just got an email from them asking for an interview but I know nothing about the job. Hoping someone else will reply. If not, I should talk to them soon and I'll post the details.

Yorks Lad · Joined: 16 Aug 2009 Posts: 93 Location: England

I've applied for a job with the same group (but for Jeddah) via a recruiter in London. I was a bit surprised to be offered an interview very quickly but have asked the recruiter for more information on the job as the initial ad is VERY sketchy. She said she'd contact the employer and get back to me. I'll post if I find anything out!

DD3 · Joined: 28 Feb 2013 Posts: 9

I was just contacted through a recruiter for an interview as well - MD Talent. It appears to be a company that normally recruits medical personnel but I guess they find teachers in this case since this is a medical college. They haven't gotten back to me on when and I also have no details on the job but I'll post when I find out.

BajaLaJaula · Joined: 25 Jan 2007 Posts: 267

In an email response from MD-Talent recruiting company, they state that the work week is 44 hours which includes teaching and other administrative duties. Sounds like this is a bit high. This may be something the recruiter has been told to say but unlikely to be actual work load. I have never heard of those kinds of hours at a university. They have locations in Al-Ahsa, Ar-Riyadh, and Jeddah. Any new info on the job or the recruiter?

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

44 hours???? Yikes. How many contact hours?

VS

BajaLaJaula · Joined: 25 Jan 2007 Posts: 267

It sounds like the 44 hours is a number is being used by recruiter but that it is really never reached. Probably more like 40 including office hours with only 20 hours of actual teaching.

plumpy nut · Joined: 12 Mar 2011 Posts: 1652

As long as you work at the university you will work straight shifts. But if you are being hired by a Saudi company and not directly by the university, they do not necessarily have to put you at the university when you come to the KSA. Also between semesters they might likely put you to work somewhere else possibly on split shifts. It sounds to me like your job is not direct hire. Be prepared for some adversity, although most it's most likely you will at least be paid your promised salary.

BajaLaJaula · Joined: 25 Jan 2007 Posts: 267

The employer is KSAU-HS. MD Talent is just the recruiter. This is according to the MD Talent representative.

clyde · Joined: 13 Jul 2005 Posts: 52

I found them very dishonest. I took a day off and drove across town last year to interview with them. Everything went fine and they offered me the job. Unfortunately it was for several thousand riyals fewer than what was promised by the recruiter. After I mentioned this to them, they got down right hostile. I suggest avoiding them. The area where the uni is located is also a swirling mass of dust and traffic.

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

"a swirling mass of dust and traffic"

This sounds like most of KSA

rollingk · Joined: 23 Jul 2006 Posts: 212

Last year I also did a preliminary phone screening with the university, which was to be followed by an on site interview. However, during this screening conversation they refused to give even a range of salary, despite insisting that it was "very good". Instead, there was this cheerleader type who kept telling me how great the job was, how nice the people, how great the students, how wonderful the living arrangements. I refused the interview.

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

It is quite common for the interview to take place and for the salary offer only to be revealed at a later date. It happened to me at KFUPM and with other "pukkah" outfits in KSA.

cmp45 · Joined: 17 Aug 2004 Posts: 1475 Location: KSA

You would think that these human resource types that are recruiting realized by now that most teachers that come to KSA are mainly interested in the salary. That should be the first thing uttered from these HR's mouths... what you will making...then after, if the candidate is still interested, they can assess and see if the candidates are qualified. To try and entice candidates any other way and by with holding the salary amount until later in the interview process is a maneuver that is almost certain to backfire on them.