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kylemcgee
Joined: 04 Nov 2009
Posts: 86
Location: Various..
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 Posted: Tue Apr 26, 2011 1:08 pm Post subject: SQU Salary |
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Hello -
I have been teaching in Oman this year at colleges in Barka and now in Muscat. I recently interviewed with SQU and received an offer which I found quite low. I have 9+years of teaching experience in various types of schools, however they only want to count my experience that occurred after my MA in ELT (Feb 2010) which is kinda lame.
The offer was for OR1002 (total package) and additionally, they said they would provide accommodation.
I make OR1400 now, so it'd actually be a pay cut.
Any experience with SQU? Can these things generally be negotiated? Or should I forget it and stay where I am teaching?
Thanks for the advice -
Kyle |
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veiledsentiments
Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA
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| Posted: Tue Apr 26, 2011 1:57 pm Post subject: |
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This has always been the system at SQU. They only count experience post-MA as far as your slot on the pay scale... the pre-MA experience may help to get you the offer, but not more pay.
Does the 1002 OR include the allowances? (transport and utilities)
How much are you paying for rent now?
Does your current 1400 number also include your annual tickets? They are normally provided at SQU along with medical. You would need to confirm that. I haven't heard of anyone negotiating a higher start amount, but you could try...
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kylemcgee
Joined: 04 Nov 2009
Posts: 86
Location: Various..
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| Posted: Tue Apr 26, 2011 2:05 pm Post subject: |
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Yes, I had heard they are strict about the post MA experience. The 1002 is a total package.
I pay 325 for rent in a nicer area then they are likely to place me. I could find something in Azaiba for 350-400 that would be much better I'm sure and still I'd be much closer to the beach and night life. My friend teaches at SQU and they put a lot of the teachers in Al Hail I think..
My 1400 salary includes one 1-way ticket a year, but I may be able to negotiate two. I have medical, but not dental or optical.
The odd thing is, my school is paying my agency OR400 a month (from what I've been told) in fees. I was expecting SQU to match the total package (OR1800) or at least something more as there are no recruiters involved.
I will talk to a few friends and see what they say regarding the SQU salaries. At this point, I'd rather stay at the college I'm at then deal with going all the way out to SQU every day.
We'll see. Thanks for the advice.
K
| veiledsentiments wrote: |
This has always been the system at SQU. They only count experience post-MA as far as your slot on the pay scale... the pre-MA experience may help to get you the offer, but not more pay.
Does the 1002 OR include the allowances? (transport and utilities)
How much are you paying for rent now?
Does your current 1400 number also include your annual tickets? They are normally provided at SQU along with medical. You would need to confirm that. I haven't heard of anyone negotiating a higher start amount, but you could try...
VS |
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veiledsentiments
Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA
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| Posted: Tue Apr 26, 2011 3:33 pm Post subject: |
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| kylemcgee wrote: |
| The odd thing is, my school is paying my agency OR400 a month (from what I've been told) in fees. I was expecting SQU to match the total package (OR1800) or at least something more as there are no recruiters involved. |
I think this would be an unreasonable expectation most anywhere. Non-recruiter driven employers will merely use the recruiter salaries to pay lower... basic economics.  Recruiters are always bad news for pay scales in a country.
I've never heard of employers in the Gulf providing dental and optical - at least none of mine did. (though in the past, you could get your teeth cleaned by the dental students at SQU... I preferred going to a private dentist)
I would be surprised if that 1002 number includes tickets and medical because ticket costs and medical coverage varies for each employee - single versus family - and location of your home. You might want to reconfirm that one. If this is true, they are dropping salaries.
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Sirens of Cyprus
Joined: 21 Mar 2007
Posts: 255
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| Posted: Tue Apr 26, 2011 4:48 pm Post subject: |
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| What college is in Barka? |
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lostdegaine
Joined: 16 May 2004
Posts: 35
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| Posted: Tue Apr 26, 2011 6:43 pm Post subject: |
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The SQU salary consists of base pay + university allowances. These depend on whether you are placed on an A,B,C or D contract, which in turn, is based on your degree and your teaching experience after the degree. SQU will also provide housing or pay an accommodation allowance of 200 rials a month for a C contract or 250 rials a month for a B contract. They will provide one return airfare a year from Muscat to your home and back. Teachers also get 60 vacation days a year.
Teachers on a B contract (Masters + significant teaching experience after the Masters) start at about 1300 + housing. Teachers on an C contract (Masters + less or no experience after the Masters ) start at about 1100 rials + housing. My figures are approximate because I don't know the exact numbers. D contracts I don't know about and A contracts are never given to my knowledge.
Why did you want to move from where you're teaching now? If it's only for more money then you are probably better off where you are. |
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arslonga
Joined: 21 Apr 2011
Posts: 19
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| Posted: Wed Apr 27, 2011 12:33 am Post subject: |
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| So, what are the advantages of working at SQU other than the money? The salaries quoted by you seem low for a place as expensive as Muscat. |
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veiledsentiments
Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA
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| Posted: Wed Apr 27, 2011 2:42 am Post subject: |
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Another advantage of SQU is that it is an organized, quite well-managed system that has been ticking along since the mid-80's with few problems and issues. Granted anyone can go to a new place and end up having a personality clash with an individual manager, but SQU is big enough that one can usually transfer to another department and start again. The curriculum has pretty much been hammered out and texts are set... and usually arrive by the time classes begin. It is not a place that re-invents the wheel every year.
It is definitely one of the most pleasant jobs in Oman and if you have an MA plus 5-10 years of experience, your salary will outrun all of the various recruiter based Ministry jobs.
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kylemcgee
Joined: 04 Nov 2009
Posts: 86
Location: Various..
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| Posted: Wed Apr 27, 2011 3:21 am Post subject: SQU Salary |
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Looks like I'm better off staying where I'm at. It's just disappointing as I was really excited about the school.
But, I can't take a pay cut like that for a job which I know will be more work and more responsibilities. It just doesn't make sense.
The college I'm at is not bad at all. The people are nice and it is pretty well organized. It looks like I'll have to stay! 
Take care and thanks for the advice!
Kyle |
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kylemcgee
Joined: 04 Nov 2009
Posts: 86
Location: Various..
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| Posted: Wed Apr 27, 2011 3:24 am Post subject: |
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| Sirens of Cyprus wrote: |
| What college is in Barka? |
The college in Barka is a small private one called "The Oman College of Management & Technology" (http://www.omancollege.edu.om/).
I taught for them for 3 months before I was offered a new job for more money/better situation. The college is actually looking for native speaker teachers now if you're interested and they have decided to pay more since I left.
Take care -
Kyle |
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kylemcgee
Joined: 04 Nov 2009
Posts: 86
Location: Various..
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| Posted: Wed Apr 27, 2011 3:25 am Post subject: |
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| arslonga wrote: |
| So, what are the advantages of working at SQU other than the money? The salaries quoted by you seem low for a place as expensive as Muscat. |
I don't know that I see any advantages at this point besides their name on my resume. My current college is better in most other ways as far as I can see.
Kyle |
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kylemcgee
Joined: 04 Nov 2009
Posts: 86
Location: Various..
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| Posted: Wed Apr 27, 2011 3:28 am Post subject: |
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| lostdegaine wrote: |
The SQU salary consists of base pay + university allowances. These depend on whether you are placed on an A,B,C or D contract, which in turn, is based on your degree and your teaching experience after the degree. SQU will also provide housing or pay an accommodation allowance of 200 rials a month for a C contract or 250 rials a month for a B contract. They will provide one return airfare a year from Muscat to your home and back. Teachers also get 60 vacation days a year.
Teachers on a B contract (Masters + significant teaching experience after the Masters) start at about 1300 + housing. Teachers on an C contract (Masters + less or no experience after the Masters ) start at about 1100 rials + housing. My figures are approximate because I don't know the exact numbers. D contracts I don't know about and A contracts are never given to my knowledge.
Why did you want to move from where you're teaching now? If it's only for more money then you are probably better off where you are. |
I was offered a 'D' contract. The housing allowances you quoted are laughable in most parts of Muscat. Perhaps you can find decent places close to the college, but not in the good areas.
Kyle |
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lostdegaine
Joined: 16 May 2004
Posts: 35
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| Posted: Wed Apr 27, 2011 4:58 am Post subject: |
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A �D� contract is an insult to anyone with a Masters and teaching experience.
I think the pay scale of the Higher Colleges of Technology is actually higher than SQU now for all contract levels. Perhaps teachers from some of the other colleges in Oman could tell us about the pay scales and benefits at their colleges? |
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kylemcgee
Joined: 04 Nov 2009
Posts: 86
Location: Various..
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| Posted: Wed Apr 27, 2011 5:13 am Post subject: |
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| lostdegaine wrote: |
A �D� contract is an insult to anyone with a Masters and teaching experience.
I think the pay scale of the Higher Colleges of Technology is actually higher than SQU now for all contract levels. Perhaps teachers from some of the other colleges in Oman could tell us about the pay scales and benefits at their colleges? |
Yes, insulting indeed. I will email them back and let them know that's it's too low for me. I am teaching at the Higher College of Technology in Muscat now for OR1400.
Kyle |
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arslonga
Joined: 21 Apr 2011
Posts: 19
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| Posted: Wed Apr 27, 2011 1:21 pm Post subject: |
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| Would you say that SQU is THE university to teach at in Oman? |
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