Job Discussion Forums

heavie · Joined: 28 Jun 2009 Posts: 8

I have been offered work with the European Centre in Jubail. I was hoping somebody could give me some information about this company. I have read some posts about other employers, but nothing about European Centre and realise I must proceed with caution with employers in Saudi Arabia. They seem to be some kind of agency and have contracts in Yanbu also. Any information would be appreciated.

Stephen Jones · Joined: 21 Feb 2003 Posts: 4124

Do a search; there should be plenty of posts, though some have been sanitized beyond recognition.

Middle East Beast · Joined: 05 Mar 2008 Posts: 836 Location: Up a tree

When I worked in Jubail in the early part of this century I had a friend there who worked for them. At the time they loaned their teachers to other schools that needed short-term help. So the working conditions depended on your assignment.

However, I did see his living conditions first-hand. He lived in a villa with three other teachers. Except for separate bedrooms, everything was shared. The place was dirty, and there's no way I would have shared with some of those guys he was stuck with. He had no car, but I did, so I took him where he needed to go.

His salary wasn't very good, around 10,000 riyals per month if I remember correctly. I know it was substantially less than mine.

Nice guy, I felt sorry for him working there.

I liked Jubail, except for the polluted air.

heavie · Joined: 28 Jun 2009 Posts: 8

My thanks to both of you, Mr. Jones and the beast. I did a search and found some posts, Sorry it was laziness on my part not to look at the other pages. They seem to corroborate what you say Mr. Beast, not a very nice place to work. The guy seemed a little casual about the interview also. He never asked for references or asked me too much about my teaching experience or qualifications, I could be anyone. I suspected a degree of unprofessionalism from him at the very least and that is why I posted on here. Glad I did, Thanks guys.

Middle East Beast · Joined: 05 Mar 2008 Posts: 836 Location: Up a tree

You're welcome. I'm glad I could be of assistance.

All the best, whatever your choice regarding this offer.

Markemark · Joined: 08 Jun 2009 Posts: 82 Location: ksa

The European Center started in 1997 I believe and trains students from the Industrial City. Salaries range up to SR 12,000 and the British manager is a gentelman with 13 years management experience in KSA.
The EC has state of the art facilities and is pleasantly located on Fanateer's lovely corniche.
If you're a first timer, then you could do much worse than work for the EC.
You would not want to work for S AL Q of the nearby International House which is a third world sweat shop on a blacklist due to the Saudi owner's creepy, psychotic behavior. No reputable company in Jubail or Yanbu will now deal with International House.
I would say go for the European Center, in all honesty.

Pikgitina · Joined: 09 Jan 2006 Posts: 420 Location: KSA

Stephen Jones · Joined: 21 Feb 2003 Posts: 4124

Pikgitina · Joined: 09 Jan 2006 Posts: 420 Location: KSA

So we're in agreement then, Stephen Jones! Take up employment with the European Centre if you have no alternative or when your alternatives closely resemble a nightmare from Hell. Laughing

(BTW, what I know of SBC and IH in KSA comes from this forum. However, I have some 1st-hand experience with the European Centre.)

Middle East Beast · Joined: 05 Mar 2008 Posts: 836 Location: Up a tree

heavie · Joined: 28 Jun 2009 Posts: 8

Hmmm. I am perhaps a suspicious person, but reading the above markemark makes me a little suspicious. Good management and state of the art facilities. Then I read the other negative posts about European Centre and also pigkitima's post and I think something is afoot. I'll have to go with my gut feeling on this one as it is strange to see the management and the companies' praises being sung about on a forum. Also I'm not that desperate for work, yet, but thank you for your reply nonetheless. I've made my decision anyhow gents, so thank you all for you input and I wont be joining you in wonderful KSA, there are simply too many unknowns and nothing that appeals to me beyond the money. Why do they pay so much more in Saudi?????? I think I know now.

bonhomme · Joined: 18 Jun 2009 Posts: 9 Location: In the garden

Yes, I agree with your decision Heavie...please go to some other place - ANY other place - rather than the European Centre in KSA because it is run like it's something from a 1950's Ealing comedy. Markemark's comments here are obviously just a plant, full stop. And as for the manager being a 'gentleman'...that's like saying King Kong is a monkey. He's a megalomaniacal buffoon swatting at imaginary planes that he thinks are out to do him harm.

(MOD edit)

Markemark · Joined: 08 Jun 2009 Posts: 82 Location: ksa

Really sad that because I happen to say something middle of the roadish about the EC- it's a plant.
No, I haven't worked at the EC, I was in Jubail though, so please bear with me.
The EC has been around for years; almost anyone who's at JIC, JUC, the Navy, anywhere else like the great little school known as "Elite," knows of the European Center. Heavens above, Stephen Jones who himself was at JIC many moons back, once worked for the European Center.
So folks around Jubail know plenty about the EC. I admit, I didn't actually work for them, though I did meet a chap called T***, who was extremely positive about the school and yes, described the MD as a gentleman.
Now is that such a bad thing?

SCHUBERT · Joined: 01 Oct 2006 Posts: 71

i have to concur with Markemark here. The said MD is indeed a gentleman. I have not worked in the place myself but have met the MD on several occasions. A gentleman at the helm is not bad for openers. I have not met too many gentlemen at the helm in my various adventures in saudi.

As for the place being run like an Ealing comedy. Well, why not. What have you got running at your place - Hamlet ?

realt · Joined: 18 Jun 2009 Posts: 6

Meeting a guy for coffee or drinks is a very different story than having him as a manager. I have first hand experience of the latter, I can easily see where you have been misguided. A calm and polite person on first impressions, "a gentleman, perhaps", but mutates into a very different beast within his management duties. I would describe him as a man with very disfunctional social skills to be mild, a "meglomaniac" would be more appropriate. A man with a very polarised personality would be another.