Job Discussion Forums

[Anacita]

I have recently heard that when newly contracted ESL teachers arrive in Riyadh, on the first day at Princess Nora Uni, there is an individual interview with PYP supervisors.
While an interview is the regular practice for new ESL teachers at many foundation programs, in the case of the PNU PYP, it appears that the interviewing supervisors have evidently concluded some of the interviews by telling the teacher that they lack the requisite experience to teach in the PYP (despite the fact that the teacher was hired by a company that sponsored their visa and paid their flight and is paying their housing and salary).
Can any new PYP teachers at PNU say more about this news? Has there been a change in job requirements? And/or are hiring companies not thoroughly interviewing candidates?

[cairanya]

[rdobbs98]

This is why even with a recruiter the department head or someone appointed should conduct the interviews. I was interviewed at my university by the department head and his second in command, even though I was put forward by a recruiter. Seems like they have had problems with the recruiters just throwing numbers at them and having problems later.

[nomad soul]

[scot47]

So this recruiter is interviewing people and sending then to KSA, where they are told that they are "not suitable" ?

Unheard of !

[lynnknows]

I have to say, last year when I was at PNU, there were many teachers there that had no idea what they were doing. Some of the recruiters hired people with NO experience, fake CELTAs and TEFLS. Some people had their CELTA or TEFL for a little more than a month before going to work at PNU. Like I said before I worked with ladies with degrees from pottery, to drama, to PE; some of them had NEVER worked in a classroom.

The old management seemed to be willing to train the new teachers. This is why we had weekly PD sessions. The new management team does not want to be bothered. They cut out the PD sessions. They want trained/experienced teachers.

Just because you make it to KSA does NOT mean you belong in Saudi.

[scot47]

lynnknows says
"Just because you make it to KSA does NOT mean you belong in Saudi."

I quite agree but think that PNU's system is NOT the way to proceed !

[cairanya]

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[giovanni]

I just had my second Skype interview with IEG/University of Auckland. They seemed especially interested in my TEFL certificate which is funny because I'm a certified ESL teacher in public schools in my state and have a master's in TESL and comparatively a TEFL or CELTA certificate is a total joke. Hope they don't judge me for only having a 60 hour ESL clown certificate instead of a 100 hour one

How far along are you in the PNU process? I'm pretty excited about maybe working there in January

[veiledsentiments]

What you have is a situation where interviewers in one country don't understand the system in another. The fact that they look at someone with your qualifications and focus on the most insignificant part of your bits of paper... reflects much of the problem.

You are, in fact, likely overqualified in comparison to the majority of their teachers.

VS

[giovanni]

[cairanya]

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[lynnknows]

Yes, they had fake everything last year. I am sure they want to make sure people are WHO they say they are and have what they claim they have. Those recruiters, mainly Adwaa, made up all kinds of paper work. Thats the things about getting those work and business visas, the diplomas do not have to be attested. Its easy to send in fake papers.

[giovanni]

I got this email from my recruiter today:

[cairanya]

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