Job Discussion Forums

[Peter B]

none

[jdl]

Ask Bahwan for clarification. The greatest problems between employers and employees arise from the employee not understanding the nature of his/her contract, usually as a result of failure to seek clarification.

Contractors are paid a set amount for each position then configure the contract to a desired clientele (instructor) while ensuring maximum profit. For example a particular contractor may wish to attract families ( a supposed indicator of stability) and therefore include family travel allowances etc., while cutting back on the base salary. One contractor may actually book the passage while another may expect the employee to front the cost given experience with 'no shows'. The contracts from various contractors generally are equivalent; just configured differently.

Best get your clarification directly from the contractor. If you can not do that it may be best to go with a contractor who will/can explain the contract to you.

In addition each contractor is given a quota pf positions to fill, at least with the Ministry of Manpower and I assume in the other Ministries as well since this is a Treasury controlled expenditure, so there is some competition between the contractors which could be to your advantage, perhaps, maybe,...... could happen.

[tatsuo1]

Also, no interview to get this job offer.

I don't mean to offend here, but seriously, how valid could this offer be if the contractor has not bothered to determine your abilities? At least not beyond the paper proof.
Perhaps this is why the offered contract seems like "crap"?

[veiledsentiments]

Oh it's a "valid" offer... welcome to recruiterville in Oman. Not all of them are this slipshod, but they aren't the only one. Supposedly this year Oman is tightening credentials requirements and they won't get a work visa/labor card without at least a BA+TEFL CERT+3years exp. And anyone who can't get the labor card can't stay.

VS
(BTW... Peter B... The salary for this job is not $3500, it is $2500. Air travel allowance isn't really salary and your housing allowance is not considered salary. Also, for comparability with other posts, it is best to use OR... because it will be paid in OR and not everyone uses US$.

And... if you are bringing two kids, the school fees will be high enough to eat up a big chunk of your income... and many of the towns covered by their contract may not have proper schools available.)

[tatsuo1]

Oh it's a "valid" offer... welcome to recruiterville in Oman. Not all of them are this slipshod, but they aren't the only one. Supposedly this year Oman is tightening credentials requirements and they won't get a work visa/labor card without at least a BA+TEFL CERT+3years exp. And anyone who can't get the labor card can't stay.

Hello VS,
My reference was to the OP's comment about crap. He suspects this is not a good offer and sounds like a potential problem.

[nickelgoat]

.....

[veiledsentiments]

They are not known for efficiency even when it is not Ramadhan. How long ago did you send these papers and have they told you when they expect you to arrive?

Will they not answer an email?

VS

[WellRoundedSquare]

I got an almost identical offer from CECN which is apparently another recruiting agency, and theoretically I have the job working for the College of Technology in Shinas.

Same deal, I did everything by scanning and e-mailing it back to them.

What I've read is that Oman for some reason has been really far behind in their recruiting this year, I don't know if this is the norm every year, but it seems to be why nobody is even bothering with interviews if your credentials are locked up. I have my BA-TESOL-MA and 3 years experience.

My flight should come sometime next week, which is upsetting because that's a little while after classes officially start so it'll be an awkward first impression, but I'm excited to go.

Best of luck with your school.

[veiledsentiments]

[WellRoundedSquare]

It seems the assumption is that the skills that would make one good in an interview are the same skills that would make someone a good teacher. I believe the two are probably mutually exclusive in many cases.

For good or ill I'd take an office full of energetic nut-jobs over the somber variety of tried and true academics. From what I've gathered most of the esl work is geared toward a freshman foundation type of program - bring in the oddballs for the kids it will balance out with all the other types of professors they're likely to have for the rest of their college experience.

Granted all nuts are not created equal - but as long as their diplomas are real and they're not pulling a Roman Polanski - I say roll em in.

[veiledsentiments]

[Pikgitina]