Job Discussion Forums

jabberjaw · Joined: 09 Mar 2007 Posts: 57

Just wondering if anyone has any current info about the SDT/STA job. The job is working for SDT but STA takes care of the administrative work. Is the STA management responsive and effective? (They're based in Dubai but the job is in Saudi Arabia, so you have to wonder). What's the quality of the students like? Class size, etc.? Any problems with coworkers, e.g., any problems sharing company cars? Can you use your assigned company car on the weekend? Are there Saudi co-teachers there, too? What's the compound management like? What about the social life? Is the housing too small, etc.? By the way, the company provided housing is not on the BAE compound. Thanks.

English Language Teacher
Specialist Training Australia Location Throughout the country, Saudi Arabia
Experience 5 years
Positions 10
Details
Part of the Coffey International Group, Specialist Training Australia (STA) provides clients with access to the quality training and education services. STA is now offering exciting opportunities for English Language Trainers in Saudi Arabia who share our professionalism and commitment to service.

Positions will be largely based in Riyadh with some permanent and temporary assignments to regional centres as required. Instruction will be mostly for (but not restricted to) young adults in a technical and/or military environment. STA is committed to the long term provision of superior education and offers 12 month renewable contracts with an excellent remuneration package for the successful applicants.

Qualifications
Position Requirements and Qualifications

Employment is on a strictly unaccompanied basis for male native English speakers only and offers the following terms and conditions:
Essential Qualifications:
5+ years of experience as an ELT abroad
BA degree in TESOL or Language Acquisition required or experience++ with TESOL Certification or Diploma, including RSA, CELTA, or DELTA
Possession of excellent oral and written communication skills

Additional Requirements:
Experience teaching within the Middle East region
Ability to apply computer-assisted language learning (CALL) ability in the classroom
Experience with instructing students in military or technical programs
Experience in developing student communicative skills
Ability to provide creative classroom delivery.
Experience with IELTS
Applicants willing to deploy quickly from their home country will be viewed favorably.

Compensation
Salary 16000 Saudi Riyals p/m
Leave & Travel Allowance 1600 p/m
Accommodation & utilities provided
Work transport provided
Leave 1 1/3 days per 7 days service (approx 50+ days p/a)
Expatriate Accident and Medical Insurance
Multi entry work visa
Interested applicants are to forward a copy of their CV to [email protected]

Company/Organisation
Specialist Training Australia
Address PO Box 58074
Dubai, 12345 - United Arab Emirates
Click here to visit the Specialist Training Australia website

(MOD edit)

Never Ceased To Be Amazed · Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2008 1:33 pm Post subject:

You should check the "Sticky(s)" at the top of the UAE board. SAR 16000 for a first degree? Based in Dubai, but job opening in KSA? Is anyone else smelling the odour of fish here?

NCTBA

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

It does look a bit too good to be true. I wouldn't send passport details quite yet... and if they ask for money... RUN!! Laughing

VS

Longton · Joined: 17 Jul 2006 Posts: 148

Don't have any worries about STA. Look at thier website. 100% OK. Nothing wrong with having the main office in Dubai and operations in KSA. Some employers are more generous than others - it doesn't mean that they are dodgy.

jabberjaw · Joined: 09 Mar 2007 Posts: 57

I am convinced that it is legit. They're not some fly-by-night Nigerian operation. STA is contracted with SDT which is an affliate of BAE. When you consider that BAE pays 90,000 USD a year, then the 56,000 USD a year STA is offering actually doesn't seem like all that much. BAE is indirectly using STA to save some money.

As to why hardly no one had mentioned STA on this forum until this month I am perplexed. I figure that no news is good news, but you never can be too careful in this business which is the point of my starting this thread. It'd be great if one or more of the current STA teachers would chime in and let us know what it's like working for these folks.

Stephen Jones · Joined: 21 Feb 2003 Posts: 4124

It's a legit contractor like Haliburton.

Military contracts always pay well.

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

007 · Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2008 2:58 pm Post subject:

johnslat · Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2008 3:13 pm Post subject:

"Excess billing for postwar fuel imports to Iraq by the Halliburton Company totaled more than $108 million, according to a report by Pentagon auditors that was completed last fall but has never been officially released to the public or to Congress.

In one case, according to the report, the company claimed that it had paid more than $27 million to transport liquefied petroleum gas it had purchased in Kuwait for just $82,000 - a fee the auditors tartly dismissed as "illogical."

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/15/politics/15halliburton.html?hp&ex=1110862800&en=feb872e889fe5111&ei=5094&partner=homepage

"Among the contracts paid for out of the Iraqi fund was Halliburton's controversial no-bid contract to restore Iraq's oil infrastructure, worth $2.4 billion. The Pentagon's auditors found $263 million in excessive or unsubstantiated costs for importing gasoline into Iraq, but the Pentagon said in February that it had agreed to pay a Halliburton subsidiary all but $10 million of the contested charges."

http://www.commondreams.org/headlines06/0416-02.htm

007 · Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2008 3:31 pm Post subject:

Well, in this case, VS is right and Uncle Sam is wrong! Laughing

johnslat · Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2008 4:06 pm Post subject:

Dear 007,

Personally, I'd always bet on VS rather than on Uncle Sam.

Regards,
John

qatarwatch · Joined: 03 Dec 2007 Posts: 24

STA recently offered me employment in SDT/BAe training facilities in and around Riyadh. Below are a few observations I made while comparing this offer with the typical uni contract in one of the KSA's Gulf neighbours:

While the salary offered by STA is respectable, it should be considered in light of related factors:

(a) STA Contracted Instructors (SAR 16 000) VS. BAe Contracted Instructors (SAR 26 500 approx). I wonder what it would be like to know that some of the guys you work with, who do the exact same job as you, are getting paid almost twice as much. Expectations are relative.

(b) STA Contracts are STRICTLY unaccompanied. Obviously, these opportunities target hard bachelor types with a high tolerance for life without female companionship. At least the BAe contracts provide some comfort in this regard. University contracts in the neighbouring Gulf countries generally provide travel allowances, medical coverage and generous housing to accommodate accompanying spouses. It goes without saying that these benefits have monetary value.

(c) STA contracts are 1-year contracts only. This might appeal to the rolling stone types out there, but it could be quite unsettling for someone who likes a slower pace of change. One-year contracts are particularly onerous given the exhausting visa/residence permit process typically associated with work in the KSA. Of course, contracts and programs can be cancelled anywhere, even where longer-term contracts prevail.

jabberjaw · Joined: 09 Mar 2007 Posts: 57

Obviously, BAE is using STA to save money as I mentioned before. However, STA does provide "expatriate accident and medical insurance" according to the ad they put up on tefl.com today. What that means exactly, I'm not sure. Does the insurance company pay 100% of dental and doctor costs or is it 80% or what? And, what percentage do they pay for prescription drugs? Can you go to many hospitals/doctors/dentists, or does the insurance restrict you to only a few?

What you pointed out about the one year contract creating visa bureacracy problems is a point well taken. They are advertising now that they are only hiring UK nationals who can deploy from their home country. If that's not problematic enough, they told me the visa process would take two months.

Did you get any info about the housing conditions? Size of the housing? Social life on the compound?

Do you feel like the STA HR person/people you talked to were being candid with you?

And, by the way, did you choose to take the job? Did you talk to any of their current teachers who I wish would post here or send me a palm Question

HCEG1 · Joined: 20 Oct 2008 Posts: 36

STA is offering SR 20,800 per month for a 2 month contract in Riyadh. Thereafter, there's the possibility of joining them full time, albeit for a lower salary. As a one-off contract, it's quite well paid.....? Does anyone know people working for this outfit?
Thanks,

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

They are the poorer relalives of BAe. Deffo legit - just the salary is lower than BAe ops.