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 !