Job Discussion Forums

nwtefl · Joined: 20 May 2015 Posts: 148 Location: England

I've got a telephone interview with the above and wondered if anyone has any recent teaching experience there. I understand that no institution is perfect e.g. my current college in the UK is being run down, private companies like Kaplan who are onsite at universities are pretty tough organisations to work for, and a school I worked at in Portugal had a strange regime etc, so I'm familiar with the state that education is in nowadays. So would CCQ be any worse ?

(BTW, before anyone starts, I was going to post this on the other Community College forum but it is locked !

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

There's a community college forum? Or do you mean thread? There are lots of CCQ threads, but no problem starting a new one with this years latest info.

An update on the place would be good to have.

VS

nomad soul · Joined: 31 Jan 2010 Posts: 11454 Location: The real world

FYI: CCQ's job ad states the following:

aliasrachel · Joined: 04 Aug 2014 Posts: 44

Does anyone know the current situation at CCQ? Or what the pay scale is?

currentaffairs · Joined: 22 Aug 2012 Posts: 828

Is this the job where you are working from 4pm to 10pm?

nomad soul · Joined: 31 Jan 2010 Posts: 11454 Location: The real world

Londonlover · Joined: 09 Mar 2006 Posts: 90 Location: London

aliasrachel · Joined: 04 Aug 2014 Posts: 44

I applied to CCQ a few months ago and had a Skype interview recently. I had not yet heard back, though it's still within the response time frame.

I've been to Doha and liked it, especially being near the water.

Hemlock32 · Joined: 14 Apr 2017 Posts: 69

I just got an offer from community College of Qatar. I really don't know about it. Has anyone worked there? Does anyone have any information regarding it?

My offer was QR 15,000.
Transportation allowance of QR 1,500 per month.
Housing included (don't know where).
End of service benefit (1 month of salary).
Etc.

First, I am assuming that my salary will be tax-free.
I am very up in the air regarding the housing. I've just read that some people were in shanty towns, while others were living in resorts. Yikes.

Any ideas?

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

I'm in a similar situation as I'm waiting for details of a job offer from another HE institution in Qatar. I have worked in Doha before but not for CCQ.

I think 15,000 is an OK salary for an MA and some experience but you probably shouldn't accept any less. I'm going to ask my employer about where the accommodation is and I think you'd be wise to do the same (though if you're willing to drive there, it's maybe less of an issue). At the moment there's virtually no public transport but taxis are plentiful in some areas. That said, if you're even half an hour drive, often in manic traffic, from any half decent shops, cafes etc and you have to drive everytime you want to do anything, it can get very old very quickly. If you're paying for taxis every time, it can add up.

The salary is tax free in Qatar but you may have to pay tax if you're classed as resident in your own country. For the UK, you have to be out of the country for one full tax year April-April, though you are allowed about 90 days for holidays at home). If you're away for less, HMRC taxes you as if you'd earned it at home.

Hemlock32 · Joined: 14 Apr 2017 Posts: 69

Yorks,

What's Doha like?

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

Hemlock,

It's a cliche - but largely true - that Doha is dull but liveable. Lots of glitzy malls, international bars, fancy hotels and good restaurants - and generally good services such as healthcare - but not a great deal of Arabic culture or sights to see. The corniche and souq are charming, as are some of the parks but there's not much else and outside Doha very little. (The desert is mostly scrubland rather than the archetypical rolling dunes with oases and palm trees). Overall, it's a pleasant enough place to earn good money and of course it's a good base for travel with Sri Lanka, India, Jordan and many other places being relatively close.

The issue at the moment is the blocakade of course. I left just before it started but friends who are there say it hasn't impacted on daily life at all (other than you can no longer go to Dubai for the weekend).

Ask if you have any other questions,

YL.

Hemlock32 · Joined: 14 Apr 2017 Posts: 69

Yorks,

I was looking at some statistics somewhere and it mentioned that in Qatar, over 50 percent of the population are foreign nationals. Does that mean, with English, we can get around pretty comfortably over there?

Could you describe how a foreign national, especially a non-Muslim national, would get on well with the locals?

I imagine there are five prayers per day and things close down. And Ramadan? If everyone else is fasting how can we still get food?

When it comes to housing, do you know what is typical over there? Do they give you an apartment or are you put on a compound?

nomad soul · Joined: 31 Jan 2010 Posts: 11454 Location: The real world

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

Hi Hemlock,

You actually tend not to come across all that many Qataris except in the classroom. Your waiter, taxi driver, shop assistant, bank clerk etc is likely to be from overseas. Everyone uses English and it's actually quite hard to learn or practise any Arabic you might have.

During Ramadan you can't eat, drink or smoke in public during day light hours but sometimes workplaces will allow a room for non-Muslims to indulge. Restaurants etc are closed but open in the early evening adn workong hours are generally shorter then anyway - some colleges actually clsoe for Ramadan.

Interm of accommodation, you should ask your employer as it does vary. Typically a batchelor will get a one bedroom furnished place but the key is the location. Usually the employer assigns you a flat but a few places are giving allowances and letting you choose.

Good luck!