Job Discussion Forums

[tweaka]

Hi everyone (Again)

I posted THEN started reading everyone else's posts. I'm wondering if it would be worth it for me to attempt to work in Saudi. The thought was to make some extra money (like everyone else) but....

Right now I'm in school administration. I have a masters degree but it's not in ESL although I'm certified in it. I have 11 years in Education but only 5 of them in direct ESL (classroom). With a family and a house.. I'm thinking that I might actually take a hit on going and then have to worry about the house.

What type of salary would I be looking at? And other than Saudi Aramco where else would one look? I would need housing and it's looking like they are the only ones offering it. I could be completely wrong.
That's why I'm here asking the sages of Mid-East ESL.

Thanks ya'll
T

[The_Prodiigy]

Depends what your expectations and needs are.
The country offers little and comparable salaries can be attained in other, much saner countries.
Things that don't go down well are music, politics, religion and comedy.
The most bizarre place to live and work, especially for Westerners as the culture and lifestyle values are so incompatible.

[qas419]

If it is your first Middle East experience, then I certainly advise you to quit the idea of going to Saudi. The best place for Westerners/Americans is Bahrain. The teaching enviorment there together with the social freedom help expats. to be less nostalgic. I know many Westerners/Americans who have taken Bahrain their second home. Try it

[thrifty]

Of course they have taken to it as their second home but there are few job opportunities for TEFLers and the pay is poor when you take into account the cost of living and pay and benefits elsewhere in the Gulf.

[tweaka]

Hmmmmm.. I was really taken by the package offered online by Aramco. It's the only way I can pay my mortage here and still live abroad.

I'm not worried about the culture issue in the least. I can understand where many are coming from but we're pretty prepared for it. As far as Bahrain goes...I have looked an applied at one location. I've heard it's pretty expensive to live and the pay isn't what I'm making now after taxes.

I guess I need to do some more digging on here to find some links of schools to apply to that offer a good package.

BTW.. what is considered a good package? Flight for teacher and family, health insurance, housing, utilities, tickets for annual vacation? Am I close?

Thanks ya'll

[veiledsentiments]

You are really VERY late in the hiring season for this year. Aramco hasn't been doing direct hires for some years, so I don't know about this site. The jobs in Bahrain are few and far between. There is the Emirates and Oman, but again... it is very late for this year. The visa process takes forever.

The normal ME package for someone with an MA + experience is furnished accomodations or an allowance - tickets to and from for family plus summer leave tickets - health coverage - gratuity - school fees for at least 2 kids (a significant expense). Utilities are your responsibility in most of the countries... not a big deal.

But, like I said... the best employers with the best packages do their hiring from January through March for the next academic year. The employers looking now are the ones whose reputations make it hard for them to hire... or the rare good place that has had people back out for some reason. And even for those, they may not be able to get you there until 2nd semester.

VS

[tweaka]

I was a little concerned about being late in the year looking for employment. I do have a good paying job here in the states but I had always heard of how much you can make and save overseas. And plus, I'm REALLY sick of my school.

The site that I went to was the actual Saudi Aramco webpage. It looked recent.. but I'm new to this anyway.

I guess I'll tough it out for this year, keep applying and maybe next year. I've been looking through the threads and picking up names here and there.. are there any good places that I can start looking for next year?

Doesn't have to be Saudi.

Thanks
T

[scot47]

As far as I know Aramco do not now hire EFL teachers/instructors. They meet their neds through outside companies like Hothy.

When looking at salaries in Saudi you have to rmemeber that this CAN be a cheap place to live and you are not paying income tax, other payroill taxes or housing costs.

Jobs in Bahrain are hard to find. It is more expensive than Saudi Arabia too. Salaries are often lower.

[veiledsentiments]

tweaka,

What makes ME jobs attractive is that you pay no taxes, so keep that in mind when you are comparing the packages in the Gulf vs the US. You get free housing... then you rent your place out in the US and let the renters pay the lion share, if not all, of the mortgage. (keep in mind that you will likely come home to a place in need of repairs - after 10 years of renting my house had been trashed... but still fixed it up and sold it for a nice profit...)

Personally, I would put Saudi at the bottom of my list, but that is a personal choice. Spend the summer reading the sections on the UAE and Oman - which would be my first choices - and start watching the ads in October or so. Many of the best universities have web pages that list their openings and they rarely advertise. There is also Kuwait which has a couple of new American based universities. Start applying at the places that look good to you by December/January for the following September.

But there are a number of very bad employers in the Gulf, so you need to do your research.

VS

[tweaka]

Thanks. I applied with some company called al Hoty. They had an establishment and listed a teaching position with a package that wasnt's specified.

I guess I'll let this run "in the background" of my life and see what happens across the next several months, gearing up for next year. Meanwhile, I'm going to explore American companies and other schols to avoid my principal. Strangely enough she and I are friends but she has a very odd way of viewing my job and others, which has made turn over about 50% or more for the past 8 years.

I've just had enough.

Again thanks for the info.... I'll keep on it for the following year!

[tweaka]

WOW.. someone contacted me about Saudi Aramco! I can't believe it. The email came in LATE last night and they are interviewing in Houston for the next 4 days.

I left messages with the interviewers for them to set up a time with me. I CAN"T believe it. If it's not the ESL positions, then I wonder if it's for the other positions I applied for. The email didn't say. I guess I'll find out shortly.

WOW!

[veiledsentiments]

That would be good, considering the package. Come back and tell us what happens!!

Good Luck!!

VS

[scot47]

All employers in Saudi provide accommodation. I am not familiar with the package provided by Al Hothy.

If you have never been in the Middle East or Saudi before this place may surprise you. Have you travelled, lived or worked outside the US at all ?
The Middle East ?

[tweaka]

HI,

Well, I guess I'll find out everything tomorrow at the interview. This is a new deal for me but we're a Muslim family so I don't think it's going to be a huge shocker. Although today when I asked a lady at an Islamic boutique to show me what the "Average" Saudi woman wears .... I was... well... IT's WAY more than I would have EVER thought to wear. Scarf and abaya (which made me look like Batman's mom). She even mentioned socks and, to blend in, a face veil. I was like.... ok. She was like.. you don't want to get pegged as the foreigner. Alllll righty then.

My husband is a Turk... so you can imagine it'll be something of a shocker for him. His family, although religious, almost passed out. The only thing that I'm worried about is the clothing issue. We don't drink, go clubbing or any of that. The driving.. well that's on the compound but I don't think I'll have a car. And right now it's 105 in Riyadh so.. who's going out.

As for he actual job, I'm looking forward to teaching. Administration is a bit of a hassle. Right now we have the Hurricane Katrina families and it's NO picnic. Even a large class would be fine.. just no gangs (at 2nd and 3rd grade) and students trying to kick your behind. (Would you believe our school actually has great academic scores. It's just the new arrivals).

Scot.... do you know of any great websites that "tell it like it is". I can find plenty of religious ones but I would like one that is "From an American or Western point of view"

Thanks ya'll
Tweaka

[tweaka]

Hi everyone!


So I had the interview yesterday. There were two interviewers and they seemed really positive. The program that they are interviewing for is fairly new and the things that they are lacking I have training and/or experience in. Then the Brit of the two started talking about "single" accomdations.

The Saudi gentleman asked if I was married. When I replied that I was he then said something about knowing it would be appropriate for me to travel alone and so forth, which I knew. So....it's up in the air. I haven't the slightest idea. I was told to contact my sub-contractor and let him know that I had interviewed and to look for my paperwork from Aramco. Then the sub-contractor was going to then make an offer.

I'm guessing that means that they liked me but I have NO idea what the package exactly is AND this process will take 2 weeks. I'll be back at work in 3. I doubt that I will get out of my contract at the school district.

Maybe a faster turn around than two weeks but.... I doubt it.

So that's what happens.

Does anyone know what SRACO offers?

Tweaka