Job Discussion Forums

[alter ego]

Last week it was the English Language Institute at King Abdulaziz University and now it's the Saudi British Center. Two crappy job leads in a row, and more of the same last year when I sent my cover letter, CV, and a recent photo to schools and recruiters in the KSA.

It's no conundrum, I'm in the same boat as a lot of KSA wannabes who just don't have the credential chops: B.A., 120-hour on-site TESOL, 7+ years in the TEFL trenches. Maybe I should do that teaching fellows program next year and get my real credential. Yeah, that's the ticket.

Here's the job offer from SBC. After reading some former threads here I'm once again looking at another year at my current Polytechnic with 12-week corporate trainer gigs on the side.

The offer letter pending a phone interview:

We appreciate your interest to work with us and look forward to welcoming you here at the Saudi British Center. Based on a careful review of your CV, here's our offer to you:
Basic salary: SR 8000
Accommodation: SR 2000
Transportation: SR 800
Monthly total salary with all benefits: SR 10800
Full medical insurance for applicant, spouse, & all children
Annual tickets to country of residence. Can be reimbursed for cash if applicant decide not to travel
21 days paid annual leave & 21 days off during national holidays
End of contract allowance: (total salary: basic+ housing + transportation)
Flexible working hours: 35 max + 2 hours on Thursdays for professional development for language and computer skills.

No housing and split shifts? How bad a deal is this? Why so tough to break into the KSA, the high salaries waiting at the end of the paying your dues blues?

[Never Ceased To Be Amazed]

If it were truly the "Saudi British Center, it would be the "Saudi British Centre"!

NCTBA

[eclectic]

Thats a bit low, frankly. Forget about spl;it shifts, you better het used to them if youre a newbie like me.

But 8000 is def. a bit low, like 2000-3000 low! 2000 housing allowance PER MONTH? Thats 24,000 per annum, which is way better than my 17,000. YOu shouldnt complain about that!

[freesoul]

At KAU, you are expected to deliver a total of about 20 hrs of classroom contacts, where in a dodgy language school like the Saudi British centre, it seems they haven't made it clear to you that you will be working 35 contact hours on split shifts, it's killing.

If you want to price it up, see how much an hour is at both places. Moreover, try to ask how many teachers have done a runner at Saudi British centre so far. They have got a record.

[freesoul]

I would like one day to start a thread called EFL/ESL blacklist to rate dodgy language schools

[tillymd]

Alterego,

I'm in the same boat as far as qualifications are concerned. It's one thing to work a split shift and get paid a low salary in Japan because it's a fun place. I wouldn't relocate to ME unless the pay was considerably higher than what you posted.

Tillymd

[rigel]

[eclectic]

as for the forecasted cab fare big-time payout, see my last post under the KAU thread Rigel.

I estimate $150 US buckaroos PER WEEK for a split-shift scenario requiring 4 taxi rides daily at a very conservative $7.50 US dollars per ride, and that doesnt even factor in a TIP!

500 SAR monthly transport stipend will be sucked up and spat out like a bad milk shake, within one week's time.

and as 007 has stated, a bike is out. Why I can guess, bcuz u'll b livin 12 miles from campus!!!!

[rigel]

I was doing that calculation and came up with about the same figures. That taxi stipend ain't gonna cut it, my friend. Your apartment won't be right around the block from campus, I'll bet. It'll be a long, sweaty walk each day or an expensive cab ride. If you do the walk, you'll eat up all your off-hours. If you take the cab, you'll eat up all your stipend within ten days.

I'm done with KSA, unless I get a very cherry contract within a few days. And we don't get cherry contracts if we're going to the KSA.

You guys who are going that way, keep us posted here on how life in the Saudi gulag turns out.

[Cleopatra]