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desert_traveller
Joined: 28 Nov 2006
Posts: 335
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 Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2012 3:04 pm Post subject: the checklist to go through before you accept the offer |
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here is what i think the absolute minimum that i would accept as employment conditions:
1. direct hire (ie no contractors/recruiters/agents)
2a. proper work visa from the very beginning (ie no fishy business with entering on a visitor visa which may allegedly get converted to a work visa later - which is IMPOSSIBLE and ILLEGAL and WILL NEVER HAPPEN)
OR
2b. clear communication that it is a visitor visa without false promises that it would get converted into this or that. in this case, it absolutely must be a multiple entry visitor visa valid for at least 6 months (option 2b is only if i would not want to stay in saudi for more than 1 year)
3. clearly written in the contract that housing allowance is an option (ie as an alternative to company housing)
4. housing allowance 25% of monthly basic salary, transport allowance 10% of monthly basic salary (as stipulated in saudi labour law)
5. THURSDAY FRIDAY OFF (may not be the case)
6. paid leave holidays DURING the academic year
7. NEVER EVER WORK FOR A NEW COMPANY/PROJECT/OUTFIT etc in saudi arabia - and least of all for a new project of or managed by or staffed by a western company in saudi arabia - they and all their employees will get screwed by the saudis so hard they will neither believe nor admit (and this latter is the problem for the job seeker) what is happening to them is true
Last edited by desert_traveller on Sun Mar 18, 2012 7:59 am; edited 6 times in total |
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JerkyBoy
Joined: 12 Jan 2012
Posts: 485
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| Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2012 3:54 pm Post subject: |
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Are you trying to tell me something?  |
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cmp45
Joined: 17 Aug 2004
Posts: 1475
Location: KSA
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| Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2012 3:56 pm Post subject: |
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Thumbs up! desert_traveller
Good sound common sense advice about working in KSA
Clear, simple...and to the point for those that have difficulty understanding  |
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JerkyBoy
Joined: 12 Jan 2012
Posts: 485
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| Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2012 5:14 pm Post subject: |
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Ever heard the expression "beggars can't be choosers"?
You take what you can get or you don't have a job. If you have options, only then can you pick and choose.
I have only had two offers and they both sucked - one sucked less than the other. |
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johnslat
Joined: 21 Jan 2003
Posts: 13859
Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
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| Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2012 5:19 pm Post subject: |
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Dear JerkyBoy,
Well, hope you do fine and don't find out that money can sometimes be too expensive.
Regards,
John |
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JerkyBoy
Joined: 12 Jan 2012
Posts: 485
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| Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2012 5:38 pm Post subject: |
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| johnslat wrote: |
Dear JerkyBoy,
Well, hope you do fine and don't find out that money can sometimes be too expensive.
Regards,
John |
So do I John, so do I.
Of course, there are lots of Tefl jobs available in "fun" countries but as you get older you realise that money is a necessity and so you have to make choices.
I certainly don't like being treated like cattle, however. I am very conscious that I do not have enough control over my destiny. You will have noticed my attempts at plotting my course from my near-constant daily interactions on this board. In these circumstances I feel it necessary to pray. No joke. I will have the whole church praying for me on Sunday.
I'm in a tight spot due to my mother falling ill, which I had to sort out. She made a remarkable recovery so that is good. However, I am now very much limited to jobs that will provide everything up front.
So it's do or die. It would be tragic if it didn't pan out the way I want as you only go there for a certain purpose, unless you're a Muslim, of course. Time is so precious and I have had to sacrifice 6 months of my life already, so I could do with a smooth ride from here on in ... although they cocked my visa up before I even started the job!
I think it could be tough at my age as I am still relatively young. I'd rather go to Dubai but I don't have a Masters.
One thing is for sure, it will be an experience.
But I need to get paid - damn! |
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coratheexplorer
Joined: 17 Feb 2012
Posts: 32
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| Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2012 1:15 pm Post subject: |
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Sorry to hear about your mom, jerkyboy. I hope she's better now. And if you have a whole church praying for you, that is good!!
The first message here was very helpful to me. I have just started a job search in Saudi Arabia. What strikes me is I don't understand why they can't pre-arrange apartments for teachers, like the offers in some countries. I dread the idea of looking for a place. And I can't imagine a landlord would give a fair price to an American just off the boat quite frankly. What are apartments like there? Apartment buildings? More info please, if anyone feels like it. |
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JerkyBoy
Joined: 12 Jan 2012
Posts: 485
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| Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2012 1:53 pm Post subject: |
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I love teaching so much. But all too often us teachers get treated like crap or we have some many hoops to jump through.
Most of all, I like meeting other teachers. It's something special.
One fond memory I have is of the Teachers Day celebrations and party at SEAMEO in HCMC. Fantastic food, as much Heineken as you could handle and some great cabaret provided by the teachers themselves. And this haunting, moving rendition of a song about being a teacher and the chorus about "chalk dust" falling on your head and your hair becoming grey. All the teachers sang along. Brilliant! |
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JerkyBoy
Joined: 12 Jan 2012
Posts: 485
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| Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2012 1:59 pm Post subject: |
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| coratheexplorer wrote: |
| Sorry to hear about your mom, jerkyboy. I hope she's better now. And if you have a whole church praying for you, that is good!! |
Thank you kindly. Her recovery has been nothing short of miraculous and I have seen at first hand the power of JC through prayer. I've even seen someone's hearing healed on the spot in church. Sometimes though I like not to start thinking about the meaning of life as I can't switch my mind off and it becomes intensely aggravating.
I think you need to achieve a balance between concentrating on the here and now and planning for what comes after that.
That said, I'm more into "taste and see" than wait and see, if you know what I mean  |
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Grendal
Joined: 13 Aug 2009
Posts: 861
Location: Lurking in the depths of the Faisaliah Tower underground parking.
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| Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2012 11:32 pm Post subject: |
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| johnslat wrote: |
Dear JerkyBoy,
Well, hope you do fine and don't find out that money can sometimes be too expensive.
Regards,
John |
Hi John,
I have some money for sale at a good price.
Grendal |
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johnslat
Joined: 21 Jan 2003
Posts: 13859
Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
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| Posted: Sun Mar 18, 2012 12:51 am Post subject: |
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Dear Grendal,
Welcome back - I'll tell you what. Why don't you use that money to buy some beautiful ocean-front property here in New Mexico that I have for sale.
For you - a great price, habibi.
Regards,
John |
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desert_traveller
Joined: 28 Nov 2006
Posts: 335
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| Posted: Sun Mar 18, 2012 7:45 am Post subject: |
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| johnslat wrote: |
| money can sometimes be too expensive |
this is so true
ps original post slightly modified |
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JerkyBoy
Joined: 12 Jan 2012
Posts: 485
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| Posted: Sun Mar 18, 2012 12:38 pm Post subject: |
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Fun can also be too expensive. It's not so clear cut.
When the woman you want to marry can't consider you because you've amounted to nothing in low-paid Tefl jobs, living a life of adventure, you are exposed to one of life's harsh truths.
As an erstwhile esteemed colleague once told me: "Yes, but at the end, there will be a bill."
(And he had 6 degrees from the world's top schools and spoke 15 languages, so there.) |
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JerkyBoy
Joined: 12 Jan 2012
Posts: 485
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| Posted: Sun Mar 18, 2012 12:41 pm Post subject: Re: the checklist to go through before you accept the offer |
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| desert_traveller wrote: |
| 6. paid leave holidays DURING the academic year |
Oh please God make it so. |
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Grendal
Joined: 13 Aug 2009
Posts: 861
Location: Lurking in the depths of the Faisaliah Tower underground parking.
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| Posted: Sun Mar 18, 2012 6:15 pm Post subject: |
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| johnslat wrote: |
Dear Grendal,
Welcome back - I'll tell you what. Why don't you use that money to buy some beautiful ocean-front property here in New Mexico that I have for sale.
For you - a great price, habibi.
Regards,
John |
You know John, I used to collect the little electric trains and I had a Santa Fe track switcher and ever since then I became fascinated with the steam engine, H. G. Wells and the Rail Barrons of the US. In that order.
Regards.
Grendal |
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