Job Discussion Forums

[busengteacher]

Hello all,

long story short, I am waiting to be shortlisted for a job as an ITC English Teacher when someone from HAKA HR emailed me.. This is what the email read: (I edited out names and emails)

HAKA Group; we are one of the leading manpower contracting companies in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Apart from recruiting for HAK Group alone, we have clients like SAUDI ARAMCO, PETRO RABIGH, SATORP,SABIC, SCECO, MARAFIQ, MA\'ADEN, KAUST, JWAP, McDermott Arabia, etc spread out across the Kingdom. We specialize in contracting human resources in the field of Oil & Gas, Petroleum, Engineering, Drilling, Inspection, Training, Teaching, IT, Management and Administration. Our services include Recruitment, Compensation & Benefits Development, Legal formalities, Accommodation and Transportation arrangements and Expatriation and Repatriation of foreign workers. Employees coming under us will be working for HAK for its projects at various locations across Kingdom.

One of Our Prestigious Client one of the world’s largest Oil company in Saudi Arabia is looking for “English Teachers “ to work under HAKA supplemental contract. Details as follows

Position & Job Role: ITC English Teacher & you will be Teaching English Language to Saudi national Students for higher Grade levels

Minimum Requirements to apply:

· Education Req: Bachelor’s Degree (preferable in Education, English Language or Modern Languages)
· Experience Req: Minimum 8 years of total work experience in which min 4 years full time Teaching experience as English Language Teacher
· Certification Req: Any one of the certification such as (CELTA / DELTA / TESOL / TEFL) is must

Recruitment Campaign in UK:

· They are planning to conduct a recruitment campaign (Face to Face interview) for selective candidates in London, UK during end of Jan or March 2017 and candidates who can attend the face to face interview in London are only required to apply. Others please ignore.

· Up to USD $ 500 / GBP 400 will be reimbursed as interview travel allowance upon submitting the original receipts of plane tickets to HAKA representative on the day of interview during the campaign. There will be no Telephone / Skype / or any Video conference interview

· If you are offered a position , it will be on the day of the interview and you will know your salary and job location in Saudi Arabia. HAKA representative will also be there in campaign to address any contract questions after the interview has been held. HAKA will arrange for visa and Air tickets for deployment

Contract Terms:

· Attractive Salary package with Min 1 year renewable contract with increment up to 10 %
· in USD $ : Basic Salary (Decided by Client during interview) + 65% of basic salary as allowances for Housing, Food and Transportation
· Work schedule would be 40 hours per week / 5 days a week. Friday and Saturday are off
· There will be 1 interim field leave of 16 days+ 2 travel days with return tickets to London between 6th & 8th Month and 1 end of contract leave with 20 days +2 Travel days with return tickets to point of origin after completing 12 months of contract
· Medical Insurance as per company policy
· It will be a single status employment contract while if the employee wish to bring his family on his own expenses then HAKA will support on the visa process and documentation
· Other Benefits as per Saudi labor Law
· Please note this is NOT a rotational contract but a 12 month renewable contract.



I've got a few questions..
1- What should I expect at the interview.. i.e assessments..

2- What kind of salary should I expect or be aiming for.. I've been searching this forum found a few old posts, I don't know if it's relevant to the 2017 .

3- Most importantly.. How can I prepare for the interview, what/where shall I read up and research, seen the curriculum that one of you guys posted on a thread but not sure how relevant that is to the ITC..

Thanks in advance!!!

[sicklyman]

to answer your questions

1. An interview with a couple of Aramco employees who will grill you about your teaching experience. Expect to be asked how to deal with behaviour and have a watertight response to this (i.e. zero tolerance, reliance on procedures, administrative support, blah de blah). They might give you a bunch of scenarios and ask how you would cope/prepare for them.

2. Aim for US$8K or above when your 65% is included although how much bargaining power will depend on your quals and teaching experience, particularly ME experience.

3. Read up about functional curricula because that's standard ITC fare now. Be prepared to ask a follow up question about how ITCs tackle weaknesses of them e.g. the teaching of structured grammar/vocabulary will show some awareness... but try not to be too critical. You'll also do well if you are iPad savvy and can show any experience of using this in teaching. If not, any other tech to show that you are innovative in this area.

[sicklyman]

[danshengou]

[ALEX.J]

You really don't want to take less than 9K. If you do, you most likely won't last. The BS is very extreme. Lots of awful, condescending and vindictive managers, as well as tons of rules. They will send people to spy on you in class. They will sneak up along walls and even listen outside your door. They are not trying to catch the students but catch the teachers. Small things become big things and threats are constant as is the phrase "well you like the money right." Most people, even those on the top end of the salary range leave on their own. Aramcons are making 11K or more, and enjoy a lot more job security.

This hiring for Jubail is going to be run by one of the worst managers ever, severe chip on his shoulder about the pay discrepancies (by nationality) as well as exceptionally rude in tone.

[danshengou]

[scot47]

I am not sure why dandhengou feels that he is qualified to comment on jobs and work in Saudi Arabia. He has not been there.

[BritishTeacher1985]

Hi there,

I've also got the same interview this weekend, also with Haka. It's difficult to know what is going to happen at the interview but certainly worth a visit. Travel fees reimbursed etc. My suggestion is also to not accept any lower than $9k. IMHO it's a 'sit and save' place mainly and I'm planning on travelling with a family, so needs to be either a good location, close to compound accommodation where amenities are readily accessible. These are all questions to consider if an offer is made. I need to focus on brushing up on the grammar as that is where I may fall short. It's difficult to think of examples on the spot without any resources. I'll have to make an effort to have an example sentence ready for each tense and also other associated pieces of grammar up to intermediate level.

It would be good to meet up, where are you travelling from Busengteacher? Feel free to PM me if you like, I'm taking the train on Saturday 4th in case you're travelling on the same day.

Sicklyman, thanks for the information, I'm fairly confident in terms of answering behavioral related questions as I've taught Saudi Nationals before so have some related experience. I think it'll be the grammar questions that'll be the tough cookie to crack!

Regards,
Nicks

[dragonpiwo]

I had an interview with the HAK group years ago and it was a doddle. The Saudi knew a Palestinian friend of mine. Asked me how I would teach the Present Perfect.

Don't sweat.

I went to North Africa instead on rotation.

[BritishTeacher1985]

Thanks Dragonpiwo!

I've been looking at those comparative grammar questions and yes present perfect is always on the agenda by the looks of things!

[busengteacher]

Thank you for your messages guys they're extremely helpful.
I have found out today that I was not shortlisted for the interview, HAKA said that it's because I do not have an MA in TESOL, I've got an MBA and a CELTA... do you reckon Aramco might consider me if I was to approach them directly??

Thanks guys.. very informative responses

[danshengou]

[veiledsentiments]

[sicklyman]

[BritishTeacher1985]

Hi all,
I had the interview yesterday, all went well and the grammar questions were covered. However, I wasn't selected although they took their time deciding. As I hadn't finished the PhD (submitted in the summer), this seemed to be an issue for them even though I am now writing up and able to work remotely. Still a good experience as this was my first interview and it was good to meet with the Aramco staff. I will continue applying for any direct hire positions and through decent contracting companies.