Job Discussion Forums

haopengyou · Joined: 02 Mar 2009 Posts: 197

Is this possible? I have been living in China and teaching for the past 13 years and do not have a boatload of money to hop on a plane and go to the ME every time someone wants to interview me. Is it possible to directly find a job with a school and interview online? Is there a list of schools somewhere with email addresses and phone numbers that I can use to contract schools directly? or is this going to be a bigger headache than using a recruiter? Am I better off using a recruiter to get there and than shopping around there for my next place?

DirtGuy · Joined: 28 Dec 2004 Posts: 529

haopengyou,

I wish there were some answers to your question as I have the same concerns. I keep reading postings about not working for this company or that one but no really good postings on how to get a job some other way. At some point I'm going to hold my nose and take an offer with the intention of just getting my foot in the door and shopping around once I get there.

DirtGuy

posh · Joined: 22 Oct 2010 Posts: 430

Direct hire can come from a direct approach, ie. from you. Look at all Government institutions and Aramco. The benefits are obvious - no middle-man (contractor) taking as-big-a-cut-as-possible from your salary. Plus: much more stable job; health care; decent holidays; airfares; annual pay increases; free and individual housing; end-of-service bonus, etc.

Also, 'shopping around' in Saudi is hindered by whoever you work for issuing a No Objection Certificate at the end of your period of employment. This means they can block you from returning to work in KSA for 2 years after you leave.

Mysterious · Joined: 24 Sep 2011 Posts: 170

posh · Joined: 22 Oct 2010 Posts: 430

An NOC is at the whim of the employer. Even if you have done a good job for them, they can still block you. It may well be out of spite or racism (inherent here) or a power trip. I worked for a contractor at Aramco 8 years ago and they blocked me for 2 years. Reason being, "You cost us a lot of money." Hehe Laughing

It's just another niggly little thing that is enjoyed in these parts. But, you can always get another passport and find more work that way.

Guttrah in a GMC Suburban · Posted: Wed Dec 14, 2011 12:39 pm Post subject:

I had a job at another school in KSA for 12 months before finding my current job at a university in Jeddah. I asked for a NOC and the owner of the school said no at first. I asked if there was a problem with my performance or any other aspect of my job. He said that I was a great instructor/ employee, but he didn't want to give me the letter because he didn't want me to work for a competitor. It�s like the feelings are that if you don�t want to work here, than I am going to burn you so that you can�t get another job in KSA for two years. After a lot of trouble, I managed to get one � although you don't officially need one, it helps to show the NOC when doing all the visa paperwork. Rolling Eyes

Mysterious · Joined: 24 Sep 2011 Posts: 170

Thanks for the replies on that.
Does this happen with or without an iqama, or both?

The thought of it is actually quite scary Sad

especially when you have children and need that income... Feels like there will always be that 'income security' risk.

Mysterious · Joined: 24 Sep 2011 Posts: 170

Whoops, double post!

johnslat · Posted: Wed Dec 14, 2011 2:45 pm Post subject:

Dear Mysterious,

Not being given an NOC can happen with/without an iqama. It all depends on the policy of the individual employer.

Even government agencies sometimes have policies that prevent the issuance of an NOC.

And there's not much (i.e. anything) one can do about that.

Regards,
John

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

Agents or recruiters are not common in KSA. What is common is the CONTRACTOR. This is sonme dude who hires you and then hires out your services to someone else. It is very fair..,................. He gets the same cut as you do. Half for him and half for you !

LEECHES !

strangerthanparadise · Joined: 12 Aug 2011 Posts: 35 Location: uk

dear scot47, it's 2/3 for the teacher and 1/3 for the the contractor rather than 50/50: leeches? perhaps, but not in capitals, the contractor pays for housing, medical insurance, flights, visa expense. that comes out the 1/3 he or she gets for pimping you out.

as for the shoppers among the posters: how naive can you get? do you really believe you are in some supermarket where you can pick and choose whatever is on the shelves? noc's are no longer required, you can leave and come back without any hassle, but visa/iqama transfers have been put on hold by the government, so no job hopping without getting out first. and if you don't finish the contract you'll pay for your flight out yourself.

johnslat · Posted: Thu Dec 15, 2011 8:05 pm Post subject:

Dear strangerithanparadise,

" . . . the contractor pays for housing, medical insurance, flights, visa expense. that comes out the 1/3 he or she gets for pimping you out."

All things that one's employer pays/used to pay separate from one's salary.

" . . . noc's are no longer required, , , ,)

except, of course, when they are.

Regards,
John

posh · Joined: 22 Oct 2010 Posts: 430

NOCs are still in existence.

johnslat · Posted: Fri Dec 16, 2011 3:12 pm Post subject:

Dear posh,

"NOCs are still in existence."

except, of course, when they're not Very Happy

Regards,
John

Susie · Joined: 02 Jul 2003 Posts: 390 Location: PRC

When I left Saudi, the employer told me that NOCs were not required to be issued any more due to new legislation or regulations. However, I got one just in case the rules of the game change later!!