Job offer from the AETG

0POSTS

15 years ago

Hello everyone,

Ive been offered a teaching english post in Riyadh from a company called the AETG, the arabian education and training group. The pakage they're offering is pretty good but I wnat to know more about them. Does anyone work for this company? if so what are they like? some of the things I've read about them online on other sites are quite negative. Does anyone know if are they are good to work for?

Thanks very much,

See also

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AETG Recruitment - 7 Replies

Yud ViP

7031POSTS

15 years ago

Hello SimaH

I have introduced your message in a new thread (in Riyadh forum) for more visibility! I hope that you will get some feedback soon about this company!

Regards

slyshooter Serial expat

863POSTS

15 years ago

Hi Sima welcome to the blog

It's a good thing that you asked first, as this group has been quite notorious in terms of employment and warnings have been issued earlier.

Read this for better understandinghttp://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article37206.ece

Perhap's that's why they are offering very attractive packages.

rierok5786 Guest

0POSTS

15 years ago

Thanks slyshooter,

I think I'm going to turn down the offer, I'm a single female and would rather go with a company with a good reputuation even if I have to wait longer for an offer than take a risk with AETG, that article is pretty awful.

Do you know any companies that are good to work for? I'm looking to teach English. I've heard Jeddah is good for teaching but I don't know which companies to trust.

Thanks very much for your help.

sheyma123 Member

1POSTS

15 years ago

eslcafe.com/joblist/

u might find it useful

MisterStretch ViP

805POSTS

15 years ago

I've read all the terrible things about AETG, and most seem to be located at PNU or World in Riyadh and seem to involve female teachers.

I expect an offer any day for either Dammam/Dharhan, Jubail or Jeddah, through a recruiter in the UK, m2r.

Does anyone have any experience working with AETG OUTSIDE of Riyadh?

leecart1961 Member

1POSTS

14 years ago

I have also been offered a job at aetg, does anyone work for them now that can give me some advise. Thanks

wooo Member

1POSTS

14 years ago

Hello sane people seeking slef respectable work with decent upright human beings. Keep your sanity and avoid going anywhere near this AETG. There are amongst them some NOT ALL, crazy people!

saudi culture is controlling and non sensical (im a muslim male), but whats worse is that the westerners that come to AETG for work and remain are normally of three categories: 1. those who are western muslims and want to live a life in which practising their religion is easy. 2. those who are non muslim and are passing by on their travels around the world. 3. Those who wouldnt have a chance in the world of getting a job anyhwere else in the world because of reasons like there emotitonal or physical conditions.

We have managers from the west who have left there western morals. principles and values and have become just as dictators themselves.

Im happy im out of this nonesense! Stay away from RAFI AND JIM! Management has changed in the academy and its become worse than ever before!

There currently recruiting like crazy because the majority of the staff would leave if they found another opportunity elsewhere.

shmally Active member

46POSTS

14 years ago

read this before accept any offer from this company
http://www.expatexchange.com/expat/inde … id=3348294

Alliecat ViP

8790POSTS

14 years ago

#10

Good link, shmally. Let's hope that the people who are working with recruiters (who are popping up like mushrooms, enticed by easy money) have searched out everything they can find before making a commitment.

Umut_teacher Contributor

117POSTS

14 years ago

#11

Wow the comments reveal everything about this company. I have als been offered a teaching position there, but didnot accept it as the offer seemed ridiculous. Split shift and moving to other cities time to time when needed.

saudiman Member

2POSTS

14 years ago

#12

I want to tell you of my own experience at AETG. I was placed there by World Education Group and they are no longer working with AETG.

I lasted five months, late April to the end of September 2011. When I started they placed me down at King Faisal Hospital, supposedly to teach TOEFL. But I was given no timetable (when would they take the test?) and was supposed to teach the same students a total of 20 hours a week - very disorganized. There was no text to use, and the students themselves had no idea what they wanted - but they did want me to teach them ways to pass the test itself. For ten weeks I struggled with no help at all from the administration and finally I was pulled back to the AETG office by Kahkany who was his all-smiles self, saying the students didn't like me, no explanation given. For the next couple of months, I taught two classes without incident. Then they wanted me to go teach for them down in Kharj, a very small city south of Riyadh. I insisted on going there first to see it and Kahkany said I was not under obligation to accept the assignment if I didn't feel comfortable with it. This never happened because of Ramadan, and one afternoon a driver showed up at my room and started taking my things out to drive me down there, with no warning and he spoke no English at all. I sent him away. And then Mr. RAFI ABDULLAH showed up and started threatening my job with AETG! Kahkany said it was OK, however, in his calming voice, but a few days later he quit, and RAFI took over his position. Then JIM (forgot his last name, Irish guy) suggested I write an apology letter for not taking the job and "disrespecting Saudi culture" saying it would help me with the management. Before I knew it, they had fired me and sent that letter to World Education Group as a "resignation" which was not the case. WEG later told me that AETG stated I was "incompetent" as a teacher and that's why they fired me. But they have fired a LOT of people recently because they have lost contracts and to save face, say that the teacher is always at fault. Also, be warned that there is a director there named ESSA IBRAHIM BARAKATI that also treats Western teachers with disdain and works closely with RAFI and JIM to "weed out" Western teschers that don't do his bidding.

Do yourself a favor and STAY AWAY from these awful people! They are ignorant and rude, and really don't care about people at all.

taseem rasheed New member

5POSTS

14 years ago

#13

hi,,, me from pakistan searching job in saudia arabia.. my qualification is MBA M.SC (ECONOMICS).. KINDLY HELP ME... I HAVE 5YEARS TEACHING EXPERIENCE.

mesfin184 Member

1POSTS

14 years ago

#14

hello every one, I have five years banking experience and 9 months sales experience. I'm 29 and married, living in Ethiopia, Addis Ababa. I have BA degree in economics graduated five years ago. i speaks local languages and English too. I want to leave my country only because of low payment.
I hope my experiences and skill is an asset for companies going to hire me. so, could you help me in searching jog in Saudi Arabia?, on what job positions, when and where? Thank you very much.

with best regar

Alliecat ViP

8790POSTS

14 years ago

#15

I'm trying to figure out at what point this forum became an employment site!

But, to try to help you, I suggest you go to the following websites to look for jobs and to post your cv's:

www.bayt.com/en/saudi-arabia/jobs http://www.naukrigulf.com/ni/nijobsearc … obs-saudi/www.allsaudiarabiajobs.com www.saudijobs.com

Best of luck.

don1 Member

1POSTS

14 years ago

#16

hey everyone,
i was at AETG for over a year and the only positive out of it is that i now have something to put on my CV.
they are a bunch of unprofessional, inconsiderate and ridiculously bad liars.

i agree with cat.1 and 3...i come under category one and only met people from category 3....didnt meet anybody from category 2.

My advice to everyone is dont take the job at AETG or any teaching company in saudi unless you really MUST. if you fall in cat 1 then definitely take the job for their rubbish is certainly worth taking if you a practising muslim wants to live in an islamic land. and if you cat3 take the job you should be grateful someone gave you a job mate.

Expect nothing and you should be fine

mado_ Member

2POSTS

14 years ago

#17

It is a fact that they are losing so many contracts according to the unskilled marketing team or so.... but really they fired so many recently and Mr. Kahkany who was a really nice man quieted and the policy of administration has changed radically ...

polkadot3 Active member

26POSTS

14 years ago

#18

Hi all ,

My husband and I have both been offered posts as ESOL teachers with AETG at the Riyadh campus. After the initial excitement ofthe offer , we went on line to do our investigations on the company.

We are being place by World Staff Recruitment, based in the UK (consultant is Paul Myers of the Resource Team). The comments on the company are not good, only one positive review.
I would like to know from teachers currently employed by AETG, if the conditions are still bad, and particularly ,experience from married teaching couples based with the group.

Our contract will commence in September 2012, we are really keen for this opportunity , so I do not want this to cloud our judgement.

Any and all comments are welcome.

Aminstar2 Serial expat

252POSTS

14 years ago

#19

SimaH wrote:
Thanks slyshooter,

Do you know any companies that are good to work for? I'm looking to teach English. I've heard Jeddah is good for teaching but I don't know which companies to trust.
.

I know some English teachers working for Education Experets and they are fine with it.

Lou Well Member

2POSTS

14 years ago

#20

Hi polkadot,

I am in exactly the same position...this guy Paul says these reports on blogs etc are all old news and management has been reshuffled and he's been hearing good things from teachers there now. But...who knows? it's always hard to tell whether- as he said- teachers have a problem with Saudi generally- or that particular school. Where are people coming from, in terms of expectations? I was thinking of going there with my wife and son- well, for them to join me later. Also was very keen on the idea before, but likewise having definite second thoughts on seeing this article and blog posts...didn't find the positive one yet! Would love to hear if you come across any more recent information!
By the way, I was also told that the September start date is a formality thing and one could start whenever. I imagine the same would apply to you, in case you didn't know.

Alliecat ViP

8790POSTS

14 years ago

#21

Lou Well wrote:
By the way, I was also told that the September start date is a formality thing and one could start whenever.

That should tell you something right there. If they are continually hiring, it means people are continually leaving.

polkadot3 Active member

26POSTS

14 years ago

#22

Or that the company is doing well and requires staff to take on new projects.

Alliecat ViP

8790POSTS

14 years ago

#23

polkadot3 wrote:
Or that the company is doing well and requires staff to take on new projects.

You know, that's an excellent 'glass-half-full' way to look at it, but this is a post from a couple days ago that I found interesting:

sallyann08 wrote:
Ed Ex don't take your passport away if you come on the 90 day Business work visit visa. Also, it began from the date I arrived & was renewed 90 days from then. Consequently, many people since I've been here have chosen to book a ticket & go home. They've had no problems. They usually go just after pay day,so it's always interesting to see who hasn't turned up for work at that time.

Sounds like continually leaving to me and this from somebody who is currently working for them.

polkadot3 Active member

26POSTS

13 years ago

#24

Hi all

We have accepted the offers with AETG and arrive d in the kingdom on the 15 /05, So far so good, We were collected at the airport, nice Driver , Delawar. They put us up into a hotel with long stay apartments, decor needs some help, but it is big and clean.

I have to go and buy some pots and pans , but the place came with a fridge, Mic and gas stove. You have to ask for some of the stuff not provided.

I have not started teaching as yet. My only gripe is that I will not be based at a Uni but at the academy teaching all levels of English. The staff at the ladies academy all seem professional and I kep my fingers crossed that all continues well.

We are enjoying Saudi so far. Good luck to all.

Saudi's are irrational , so everybody needs to have "Wasta" - influence with some body :-)

Alliecat ViP

8790POSTS

13 years ago

#25

Best of luck, polkadot!

polkadot3 Active member

26POSTS

13 years ago

#26

Fingers and toes crossed

hanmac Member

3POSTS

13 years ago

#27

Hi polkadot3,

I've also been offered a job with AETG and having read the reviews am apprehensive to say the least. I've gone through World Staff and they are telling me that everything is fine now and they've had a big change-up. I know you haven't been there long, but what's your initial reaction and what advice would you give?

Thanks

polkadot3 Active member

26POSTS

13 years ago

#28

THe crap thing with the company is that they have most teachers working a split shift as it is nearly the end of the year and there projects at the universities have ended. Split shift hours are 8 - 12, then you go home and the guys go back to the mens academy for a 5-9 shift.

We are having to get used to the hours but it can be a killer and not advisable.

Jim at the mens Academy is the Head of English and is Irish and is an amazing guy. He has helped us move apartments andd facilitates when and where he can.

I personally do not think irt is a bad company to work for, but I am an easy going person. I have had my issues with the way that HR slow at doing their job at the womans campus , but I think that it is the culture of HR at all companies. Some say it is best if you apply directly to a Uni and not through an English Academy.

Good Luck

Good Luck

Alliecat ViP

8790POSTS

13 years ago

#29

Lanara_27 wrote:
Save yourself and find a different recruiting agency. I have recently been screwed over by them. They promise you reimbursement for expenses like visas and they never to; they promise ppl to bring their families over and never do. They owe me 18000SR. They messed up my visa renewal and I was stuck in Bahrain and they wouldn't help me get an important document from Saudi Immigration to get me out of Bahrain. I had to have my friends drive over to break into my apartment to look for the document in my files. The compound they put you in to live on is barely maintained- holes in ceiling, our refrigerator broke 3 times in 3 months and we lost food each time. You don't have a key to the gate at the compound and men security guards have to let you in. You don't have a key to your front door only your bedroom so anybody can walk in at anytime. I HIGHLY DON'T recommend AETG. They simply don't care about you and see you as a number.

Jeeze. What a nightmare! You still in the Kingdom?

Alliecat ViP

8790POSTS

13 years ago

#30

Lanara_27 wrote:
It was stressfully and emotionally draining!!!

I'm in Dubai at the moment. I have a job lined up in Riyadh for the fall.

Where are you working?

I'm in Riyadh. Why would you leave Dubai to come back here?!?

rierok5786 Guest

0POSTS

13 years ago

#31

Yes. I know someone who knows them inside out.

yaser79 Member

1POSTS

13 years ago

#32

I am absolutely stunned and terrified about AETG now !!!!!!!!!!!!!! i have already signed the contract and am supposed to join next month. I want some real advise from somebody there............plz plz tell me about the latest..............anyone..........

tvaddict Member

1POSTS

13 years ago

#33

Yes I too have been given a job offer by AETG but havent accepted. All the above seems quite self-explanatory... ie it's not really worth it.... I guess it's just the money.... it really seemed like a fantastic opportunity:( I would like to hear a bit more from polkadot.... but i guess im just in denial.... i shouldnt be thinking about this:(

Lou Well Member

2POSTS

13 years ago

#34

get your contact in the agency to put you in touch with someone who is actually there. I am in a similar situation. No disrespect to anyone but you never know the whole picture through the internet and experiences of particular people whose back story and details of their particular experience you don't know. I simply cannot believe the woman above is owed 18000 SR. What is that about? One definite impression I am getting from the various scare stories on here is that if you are a woman, you will definitely find it harder. But there are a lot of people working for them I believe who are by other accounts quite happy with it. I feel one needs to be positive as possible and highly adaptable.. Send me a mail if you want, ghoufran[at]yahoo.co.uk ..I would also love to hear more, especially from anyone now working there, though it is possible that they might not be on such a forum since now not looking for work or out of it and feeling bitter. You have to remember your experience will be unique and not let your impression be coloured by someone elses account of their unique experience. People also like to make a drama getting into putting places down and discouraging people... That's how it seems to me anyway. Good luck...

in2deep New member

4POSTS

13 years ago

#35

I have been offered a job, can anyone tell me what it is like working for AETG please.

polkadot3 Active member

26POSTS

13 years ago

#36

I have not worked at another company in the Kingdom, so do not know what the admin and management is like elsewhere. AETG seems to pay the lowest salary, Unless u negotiate hard with them.

If you are new to the Kingdom, the apathy of management will drive u to tears, but the teachers and students are lovely.

Look around before u accept any offers.

polkadot3 Active member

26POSTS

13 years ago

#37

Im on an employment visa and refused to accept the Iqama. The company is telling me that I have to accept the Iqama in order for them to grant me a final exit visa.

Also im resigning during my probation period which is 3 months. I have only been here a month and a half and I am being told that i need to pay 2000 SAR for visa costs, a months salary and purchase my own ticket home. This is just not right!!!!

Can anyone shed some light on this...?

Alliecat ViP

8790POSTS

13 years ago

#38

polkadot3 wrote:
Im on an employment visa and refused to accept the Iqama. The company is telling me that I have to accept the Iqama in order for them to grant me a final exit visa.

Also im resigning during my probation period which is 3 months. I have only been here a month and a half and I am being told that i need to pay 2000 SAR for visa costs, a months salary and purchase my own ticket home. This is just not right!!!!

Can anyone shed some light on this...?

Yeah, this is what happens. You're free to leave during your probationary period but if YOU resign, you have to foot the bills and repay them for their expenses.

I've seen people who want to leave do really bizzare, crazy things so that they are FIRED. That way, they don't have to pay for anything!

rierok5786 Guest

0POSTS

13 years ago

#39

Alliecat wrote:
I've seen people who want to leave do really bizzare, crazy things so that they are FIRED. That way, they don't have to pay for anything!

I completely agree with you, In our company one of the guy went on emergency paid leave and eventually never returned back, that too after taking the salary for that month !!!

MAGIC KINGDOM

Alliecat ViP

8790POSTS

13 years ago

#40

BTW, do you remember way back when I said hiring every month meant people were leaving and there was a reason for all the turn-over. You replied that perhaps they were doing so well they needed to keep adding new hires.

Can you share with us the details of what has driven you out? As you know, this forum is constantly being questioned about teaching jobs and it's good to have up-to-date information on the situation to refer them to.

Thanks, polkadot, and the best of luck to you.

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