Job Discussion Forums

[cdmbrennan]

Hello! I'm brand-spanking new to the Cafe, though I've lurked for awhile. I can't seem to find the answer to a very basic question, though.

Should all postings on the Cafe site be considered legit, and if not, how best to determine if the "offer" (as it were) is bogus?

For example, I'm very interested in the following position:
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Teachers Needed: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

"Posted By: ELS Language Centers - Riyadh <[email protected]>
Date: Monday, 28 May 2007, at 12:12 p.m.

Male American or Canadian English Teachers needed in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Applicants must be available to start in or before Aug 2007.
Bachelor degree is required
Only native speakers will be hired.
Previous teaching experience is essential.
Overseas experience is a plus.
Selected candidates will be interviewed by phone.

Four (4) documents are required (sent to [email protected] )
1. Up-to-date resume
2. Bachelor�s degree
3. Recent photo
4. Passport copy

We will only respond to qualified applicants who send all (4) four documents.

About ELS Language Center in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

We teach general English to Saudi males. The vast majority of our students are adults and most are beginners or intermediate-level language learners.
In addition, we offer some classes for teenagers and children.
Contracts are for one year and are renewable if both parties agree.

A tax-free salary of $30,000 per year
Free accommodation: private bedroom and bath, satellite TV, Internet, and shared lounge, kitchen, washer, dryer, swimming pool, and parking
Free airfare to Riyadh and return ticket at end of contract
Free medical insurance
A five-day week with between 25-30 contact hours
Easy weekend travel to Dubai, Bahrain, Qatar, and neighboring countries

If you are in the U.S. or Canada, the visa process is quicker.

Founded in 1961, ELS Language Centers (www.els.edu) has locations throughout the world.
ELS Riyadh opened since 1995.
Email: [email protected]"
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This seems legit, but I'm concerned about sending documents (even copies of official documents). Is this concern warranted?

Thanks very kindly for any help!

Chris.

[Stephen Jones]

Sending scanned copies of the documents requested is standard procedure for jobs in the Gulf. Plenty of people send them out automatically with every job application.

ELS is legit, though whether you would want to work there is a different matter.

Just send the stuff off; the employer needs it at some stage in the hiring process and it is much easier to ask for it all at once.

[scot47]

ELS Jeddah were okay when I did some moonlighhting for them a few years ago. The one in Riyadh is PROBABLY okay but it IS in Riyadh. Not for everyone !

[cdmbrennan]

Thanks for the help.

In general, is it common procedure to request copies of these documents? I've read several posts which indicate that identify theft is possible (and prevalent) based solely on these copies- I'd prefer to not fall victim but am generally trusting.

Is the Middle East an exception where sensitive material is requested often?

[veiledsentiments]

They all request it and I have never heard of anyone who had any problems. I don't know what anyone could steal of use.

VS

[Cleopatra]

[trapezius]

[cdmbrennan]

[sweet 'n sour]

ELS Dammam is okay. About 9500 riyals per month. Should have f/t position open as most work is contracted out p/t.

[cmp45]

If they ask you for money to process your application then I would say it is a scam, other wise it seems ligit.

It is normal to send scanned copies of your documents. If they ask for credit card info then it's definitely a scam

I would be wary of shared accommodation; unless you are cool with it, but my experience has never been good with sharing; always end up with some weirdo. Some people may appear okay at work, but they show their true colors at home!

25-30 hours a week is high, 20-22 is the norm. You may also want to inquire what, if any overtime is allocated after the max. 30 hours.

If you have a Bachelor and TESOL or a Masters why not apply at a university or college institution; conditions and overall packages are 'usually' better. Just my opinion.

[biffinbridge]

30,000 US:( is that all?
Simply dreadful.

[Balzac]

[scot47]

For a first job in the M.E. that is about the going rate. Most of the people I saw coming to ELS in Jeddah in the 1990's were newcomers to TESOL and newcomers to the Region.

[MIKEBUCHAN]

As far as security of documents is concerned, no problem. I have had my CV and everything else on the net for years and sometimes schools contact me to ask if I will come to them. It is flattery, of course!

The one main problem I have found is the English/Irish Lottery and African scammers now go to the educational job web sites and harvest names and email addresses of all of us. I hit the jackpot the last couple of months with 5 to 10 offers a day that I won zillions of BPS in the Irish or British lotteries or some poor soul in Africa needs my personal bank data so 'we' can collect 874 quadrazillion in USD!

I have learned to get the full header to send to the ISP's to get them banned. However, I know that they just get a new address and start over.

[Bebsi]

I might as well be upfront here and admit I have a problem.

My brother's wife's cousin's brother in law, a citizen of Cote d'Ivoire, recently died in a plane crash along with most of his living relatives, who happened to be travelling to Ireland at the time in order for five of the women to have babies in an Irish hospital, Sister Mary of the Heartfelt Angels of the Skies, for religious reasons (they are devout Catholics), including my brother, his wife, her cousin and her cousin's sister. As the said gentleman's estate devolves to me, through my deceased brother, it is now up to me to extract probate.

His estate, mainly in cash and bearer bonds, is worth in the region of USD $5,000,000,000,000,000,000. However, in order to avoid the penal taxes (200% of the estate value) in Cote d'Ivoire, I am now humbly requesting that some of you good people may be able to assist me. I need precise details of your foreign bank accounts (preferably Channel Islands or Cayman Islands), including PIN numbers, so that I can discreetly transfer the money to my own bank account in Switzerland. This money is clean money, that the deceased made from donations received as a result of a lifetime of good works.

In return for your assistance and a small loan of 20,000 dollars, which is necessary for some administrative expenses, I will happily give you 40% of the estate.

I await your eager offers of assistance.

Jean Jacques Bebsi, Abidjan.