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C-Girl
Joined: 13 May 2005 Posts: 2 Location: Korea
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Posted: Sun May 15, 2005 6:03 pm Post subject: Advice Please |
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Hi,
I need some advice or information from anyone who can offer it about finding a teaching job in the U.A.E. (most preferrably, Dubai). I am specifically seeking information on how to find a reputable recruiter. I'm a 25 year old single female from Canada, currently teaching in Korea. I have a BEd degree (Secondary route), TESOL, and one year of overseas teaching experience.
I realize that so many of the U.A.E jobs require a Masters, but I am sure there must be other decent positions for a qualified teacher in the U.A.E. The thing is that coming to Korea to teach is so easy, because recruiters are so easy to find. I have been searching endlessly on the internet for recruiters (that don't sound seedy) for the Middle East, and I can't find ANYTHING!
If anyone can offer me advice on finding a recruiter, I would really appreciate it!  |
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turtlepi1
Joined: 15 Jun 2004 Posts: 94
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Posted: Sun May 15, 2005 6:53 pm Post subject: Re: Advice Please |
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C-Girl wrote: |
Hi,
I'm a 25 year old single female from Canada,
currently teaching in Korea.
I have a BEd degree (Secondary route),
TESOL, and one year of overseas teaching experience.
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These 4 things will work against you. (Doesn't mean you CAN'T find a job, but the prospects are likely slim.) The Middle East isn't really like Korea in that aspect. Schools do a lot of their own interviewing. I would suggest applying directly to the schools.
The problem is a lot of the colleges will want 3 years teaching experience at the same age level.
Many of the highschool teaching jobs are filled by subcontinent expats, who make quite a bit less than their western counterparts. Or many of the spouses of people who came here. (somehow teachers often end up with teachers)
And the Korea thing doesn't work against you because it is Korea (lots of people I have met here worked in Korea) but the problem is TESLers from Asia are often teaching conversation style classes and here they are interested in academic teaching experience.
I'm not trying to discourage you, but don't get sucked into a recruiter that is going to promise you something they can't deliver.
Maybe someone will have something more helpful to share.
(and you are young...after a little more experience you will be able to come here for sure. Assuming the oil doesn't run out or the US dollar sink any lower.)
There are a lot of international schools you should be applying to. Not only in the middle east, but Korea, hong kong, singapore...etc.. Try to get a list of the Dubai area, and like I said...contact them directly. |
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veiledsentiments

Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA
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Posted: Sun May 15, 2005 11:34 pm Post subject: Re: Advice Please |
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C-Girl wrote: |
Hi,
seeking information on how to find a reputable recruiter.
If anyone can offer me advice on finding a recruiter, I would really appreciate it!  |
For the Middle East, excluding Saudi Arabia, 'reputable recruiter' is an oxymoron.
Avoid them like the plague... if you can not find a job by being directly hired by the institution that you will be working for, don't even consider it.
Personally I agree with Turtle... the Gulf jobs for people with your credentials and limited experience are low pay and high aggravation. Try North Africa or the Levant, and if you really want to work in the Gulf, consider getting an MA.
Sorry... not very optimistic...
VS |
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C-Girl
Joined: 13 May 2005 Posts: 2 Location: Korea
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Posted: Mon May 16, 2005 3:52 am Post subject: |
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Thanks for the advice. I don't mind pessimistic as long as it's realistic! I wonder why, though, are people of the opinion that recruiters to the Middle East are not (generally) to be trusted? Why would they be any different than the millions of recruiters to other regions in the world? When you say that it would be difficult, given my credentials, to find a decent job, what are you considering a "decent job"?
I really do appreciate any advice I can get on this topic! Thanks so much! |
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younggeorge
Joined: 15 Apr 2005 Posts: 350 Location: UAE
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Posted: Mon May 16, 2005 4:19 am Post subject: |
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The point is that very few employers here actually use recruiters. They do their own recruiting. A "decent job" is one that pays you a living wage, pays it on time, makes sure you have somewhere to live and makes sure your legal documentation is taken care of correctly.
Government employers, like HCT, ZU and UAEU will do this but need more qualifications and experience than you have. Private employers will almost all fall short on the first two points and many of them on the last two as well: as has been mentioned before, most teachers in private schools are from South Asia and paid low salaries. They're also largely locally recruited.
The better international schools might be an option: there's a list here, though it includes a lot that are not "better":-
http://www.theemiratesnetwork.com/dir/Education/Schools/ |
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blues clues
Joined: 28 Jul 2004 Posts: 61
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Posted: Mon May 16, 2005 7:30 am Post subject: uae jobs |
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Hi there,
You have a B Ed which is a good thing. Try Sheikh Zayed Private School for Girls, Abu Dhabi....Canadian curriculum and hear the money is quite good.....
Seems a lot of "teachers" are leaving this part of the world these days though. With the Canadian dollar having gone up, hardly worth being here any more.
good luck though. |
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younggeorge
Joined: 15 Apr 2005 Posts: 350 Location: UAE
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grand fromage
Joined: 16 Jun 2003 Posts: 131
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Posted: Thu May 19, 2005 6:11 am Post subject: |
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C-girl, best of luck with your quest. However I would take everyone's advice here and contact the individual schools. Despite being here for many moons (a few too many some might say ) , I have never met a recruiter personally. Oh yes, I've heard of one but he hires for the oil jobs. When in Rome... |
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megs
Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 37 Location: Dubai, UAE
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Posted: Fri May 20, 2005 5:39 am Post subject: |
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Try DAA, www.dubaiacademy.org. They are still looking for teachers. They are building a new school and are expecting an increase in the student body, thus the need for a lot of new teachers. |
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