Job Discussion Forums

Captain Willard · Joined: 11 Sep 2010 Posts: 251

I have an offer for a year contract, but it is not yet completely in writing. I only really want about a 9-10 month contract as I should be getting a higher degree in December.

Without the final written offer yet, I don't know what the cancellation procedure or penalties will be. However, the present job market may not be the best to negotiate contracts.

Is there much room to negotiate terms, or am I better off accepting something and then canceling it before the probation period ends?

How do employers in the M.E. view ending a contract in the first 90 days?

Any advice on how to handle this?

helenl · Joined: 04 Jan 2006 Posts: 1202

Negatively, they have paid a not insigificant amount to recruit you, fly you in, place you in accomodation, jump through hoops at immigration not to mention the visa, security and medical fees/checks - and you want to leave.

Almost all contracts have some sort of financial clawback for at least some of these costs if you decide you want to leave.

That said, you could do a runner - not much for your conscience (but that's your problem) and you'll probably have a life ban and if you leave any debts - pray you don't have a stopover of any kind in the country in question.

Captain Willard · Joined: 11 Sep 2010 Posts: 251

Thanks,

Really I don't have problem paying for my own airfare if needed. I have read of penalties of two months pay for terminating the contract early, which I want to avoid. I would prefer to simply negotiate a shorter contract, but that doesn't sound very promising right now.

I can appreciate that from an employers point of view they want people to stay, and renew, but they don't appear to be very flexible about things like vacation. That has been my experience. I suspect that if more employers hired directly rather than paying recruiter's fees, things might be more flexible. It looks like the employer has a fixed contract and the recruiter simply finds people to take it or leave it. A little bit of flexibility makes things easier.

helenl · Joined: 04 Jan 2006 Posts: 1202

The better employers don't use recruiters - they hire direct from applicants to jobs posted on their websites (usually).

Unless your quals are something special/out of the ordinary and they really need you badly there won't be any negotiation on length of contract - I've never seen or heard about it happening anyways.

Most educational institutions anywhere are pretty inflexible about vacation timings - so I'm not sure what you're talking about there? It would seem to be something to be expected?

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

I agree with Helen... everything that you are complaining about is rather standard in the Gulf. Perhaps you should be searching in a different part of the world for temporary work? Salaries in this part of the world are pretty high, as are the costs to employers to bring people in... they don't want a bunch of part-timers.

VS

sheikh yer money-maker · Joined: 23 Aug 2010 Posts: 79 Location: Saudi Arabia

Maybe you can get, yet another, passport.

Captain Willard · Joined: 11 Sep 2010 Posts: 251

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

helenl · Joined: 04 Jan 2006 Posts: 1202

Most educational institutions have a specific calendar they work to. Unless you have a death in the immediate family or you require medical care not available in country - you're probably not going to encounter too much "flexibility" UNLESS you try to negotiate that BEFORE you come. Not likely to happen IMHO unless your skill set is spectacularly unique and desirable