dimk
Senior Member
Posts: 114
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Post by dimk on Jun 17, 2014 6:42:35 GMT
Good morning everyone,
I would like to make some questions.
1.First of all, how easy or a little bit difficult would be for a woman to find a job in KSA and especially in Aramco?.
My wife has actually a teaching degree (in Philosophy, Pedagogy and Phychology) from a European University and an MSc in Human Resources Administration. I suppose it would be great for her if she was given the chance to secure a job in aramco schools as a teacher.Would that be a possibility for her?.
2.Regarding non aramco compounds which are located close to other local communities eg in Al-Khobar.How difficult is for an expat woman living in a such compound eg in terms of driving or proper dressing?.
I have heard inside an aramco compound a woman can still have the right to drive and dress normally (without wearing the abaya or something).Is that also happening when living in non-aramco compounds in the local communities or things will be more strict for a family to live there?.
If an aramco employee lives in local communities compounds, will be still eligible to receive the EAP assistance and send their children at schools of Aramco`s compounds?.
3.My work location would be in Abqaiq so hopefully my residence location will be in Abqaiq too.The thing is that the offer does not mention the residence location.Is it due to the fact housing is provided based on availability?.Normally at which stage of my application i will be informed about my residence?.How difficult actually is for an employee to currently get an accomodation in an aramco compound?.
4.What is a normal budget per month for two?. (we dont have children yet).
We both have decided to save money but at the same time to do some activities as well, eg shopping, eating out, etc.
So typically how much we would need to spent each month for just the two of us?.Is the cost of living high? i.e prices on the supermarket, etc.
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Post by erdna_oaoj on Jun 17, 2014 8:42:31 GMT
Hi dimk,
A lot of the answers you're looking for are already in some forum topics look for them.
Regarding housing you only going to be informed of your house assignment after you get your visa stamped and have a travel date.
Regards
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Maursh
Senior Member
Posts: 169
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Post by Maursh on Jun 17, 2014 10:14:21 GMT
1. Your wife will not be able to find a teaching job within the Aramco Schools without a US teaching qualification. I believe that there are some conversion options, but suggest that you explore these before you arrive, so she has the "right" documentation. There also might be employment opportunities outside of teaching at Aramco or at ISG, DBGS, BISAK if you are in Khobar. At Abqaiq there is only the Aramco School. The advice widely given on the forum is not to come here as a women with the expectation you will find a job - great if you do, but many don't.
2. Dress and driving rules would vary from compound to compound. The driving issue is also a bit more complex since, as far as I am aware, you have no insurance if drive on camp as a woman.
3. I don't know what availability is like on Abqaiq. I haven't heard of anyone commuting from one of the other camps to Abqaiq though.
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Wutz
Senior Member
Posts: 143
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Post by Wutz on Jun 17, 2014 15:17:17 GMT
dimk,
4.What is a normal budget per month for two?. (we dont have children yet).
We both have decided to save money but at the same time to do some activities as well, eg shopping, eating out, etc.
So typically how much we would need to spent each month for just the two of us?.Is the cost of living high? i.e prices on the supermarket, etc.
*************
This really depends on you and your wife. If you are the sort that cooks your own meals from scratch using local ingredients (which can be of very high quality), meals are not expensive at all. If you just have to have all of the preprosessed and imported food from your home country, or like to eat out a lot, it can be very expensive. Same with other activities - if you want to go to Bahrain every weekend, stay in nice hotels and eat and drink in nice restaurants you can blow a big budget. If on the other hand you like to enjoy yourself at the beach or pool, you can be happy on a frugal budget. It's entirely up to you.
Wutz
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dimk
Senior Member
Posts: 114
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Post by dimk on Jun 18, 2014 7:35:42 GMT
Good morning Maursh,
Thank you for your reply.What are these conversion options you mentioned for teaching at Aramco Schools?.My wife holds a european degree with specialization in Philosophy,Pedagogy and Phychology and an MSc in Human Resources Administration.So what actions she needs to take in order to be eligible to teach in a school?.Does the procedure take a long time?.
thank you
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Maursh
Senior Member
Posts: 169
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Post by Maursh on Jun 18, 2014 8:14:46 GMT
Unfortunately, I am not a teacher so am not well placed to advise.
In the UK, you need QTS (qualified teacher status) in order to teach. If your wife has a qualification and experience teaching in the EU, she can probably just send this off to the teaching agency (or whatever it is called) and obtain it directly, but they may require an additional course or hours in the classroom in order to gain it. With QTS you might gain a teaching post in BISAK or DBGS.
In the US, I believe the QTS equivalent is a teaching license. Without this, you cannot teach in Aramco schools. Some ladies here have managed to convert their teaching qualifications by correspondence, others have not.
The point really is that for a professional teacher status (both UK and US) classroom hours are required and you cannot gain those hours once you are over here. So check whether her qualification can be converted and put in the fieldwork, if necessary, before you come.
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Post by azraeil on Jun 18, 2014 11:06:53 GMT
Dimk,
I don't think the size of those local compounds are big enough to allow for women to drive inside it. The Dhahran compound (or any of the Aramco compound for that matter) is close to a small city (7 mile radius for the Dhahran compound) so a lot of women drives in the compound to go from one place to another.
As for EAP, yes, you will be eligible for EAP .... BUT ... if you do not live in the Aramco compound (including Rakah) you will not be able to send you children to the Aramco schools.
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dimk
Senior Member
Posts: 114
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Post by dimk on Jun 18, 2014 12:25:51 GMT
Maursh,
But how her qualification could be converted? Does she need to communicate with the teaching agency in Saudi Arabia or in the country of origin in order to be adviced for getting this QTS or teaching license.
thank you
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Post by vpainter on Jun 18, 2014 22:25:15 GMT
Women are not allowed to drive in any local compound, no matter how large.
Women may only drive inside an Aramco compound.
2 can easily eat out and spend a little on $2500 USD/month. Food is mostly imported, so is usually your largest expense.
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Post by GroveWanderer on Jun 21, 2014 5:59:31 GMT
2. While I haven't been to every compound in Al Khobar, I've been to a lot of them and I can't think of any that are big enough that not being able to drive would be that much of an issue. On all of the compounds that I lived in (before I joined Aramco) dress codes were much as on Aramco, if not more relaxed.
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Maursh
Senior Member
Posts: 169
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Post by Maursh on Jun 21, 2014 6:12:41 GMT
Concerning the conversion requirements, I suggest that you look these up with the relevant agencies online.
Apparently the teaching license is on a state level (US). Anecdotally, one lady here applied through the state of Montana - she has advised that anyone with a masters qualification can apply to that state for a teaching license in the subject of their masters (eg if you have an MSc Maths, you can automatically obtain a teaching license for Maths from Montana).
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