Job Discussion Forums

[Ummalhadiqah]

Hi all,

I have an offer for employment at in Riyadh, I am an American currently residing in Dubai. The university needs for me to fly back to NY in order to apply for the work visa. They said they have a work visa at the consulate there. This is not possible for me at this time. Does anyone know if it is possible to have the visa transferred to another country?

I have a BS with TESOL Cert with previous experience teaching elementary students and this is a university position and they are offering SR 4860 + SR600 transportation and SR 14,600 housing allowance. They also mentioned that they could raise the salary and I could negotiate after the first term.
Do you guys think this is a good deal?

[scot47]

Salary is way too low. 8000 would be a minimum plus transport plus housing.

As for issuing visas they call the shots. If they say you have to go to NYC then go.

But for this money - DON'T DO IT !

[gxcaplio]

Scot is right. It is way too low for a university position. Don't even bother.

[Van Norden]

SR 4860! How sad.

Have you had a look at some other jobs on offer in Saudi Arabia? You should be able to get something paying the standard SR 10,000 - double the miserable sum you're looking at now.

[Stephen Jones]

It is theoretically possible for you to get your visa from Dubai if you are a legal resident there but the process is long-winded (it takes about three months longer) and the employer won't like it because if you don't come he's going to have to transfer the visa all the way back to New York again.

But why do you want to come to Riyadh for such a ridiculously low salary if you are an American citizen?

[Ummalhadiqah]

Thanks all,

I also deemed this rather low, especially since I do have previous experience teaching in Saudi some years ago, albeit a secondary school. After much prayer and thought I am going to decline this offer. I know I can get a better offer if I am a bit more patient.
I thought that perhaps because I do not have an MA, and only a BS and TEFL Cert, this might be the norm for a university position, thanks for opening my eyes!

One of the reasons I even considered the offer was because I thought it would be good experience to put on my resume, having a BS and TEFL Cert and having taught university level students...possibly setting myself up for a better (higher paying) position down the road.

So anyway back to the drawing board with applications....
Any leads for female ESL teachers? I have over 10 years experience teaching ESL to secondary students.

Thanks again all,

Umm al Hadiqah

[GabeKessel]

You forgot to mention one thing- your citizenship. What they are offering is a standard salary for Jordanians, Sudanses, Egyptians, etc.

The 8000+ salaries are for Westerners.

Which one are you?

[scot47]

The original poster did say thst she is American BUT the package is more like one for someone from the Arab World.

Could it be that the employer thought you were so keen, as a Muslim, to come to KSA that they could offer you a Third World package ?

[Ummalhadiqah]

American....born an raised in Upstate New York. I will ask the University to raise the offer. If they dont, then forget it.

Do you guys know of anyone holding just a Bachelors and TEFL cert whose landed a university position?

[Ummalhadiqah]

[ootii]

[scot47]

So why are they offering an American citizen a Third World package ? So that she can display solidarity ?

[ootii]

[Stephen Jones]

To the best of my knowledge there are no 'Western' pay scales in Saudi Universities, with the exception of KFUPM. There are just Saudi pay scales and expat pay scales. The result of course is that there aren't any westerners at the Universities.

I have known people get a 'western' salary at the teacher training colleges, but it had to be negotiated individually.

[ootii]