Finding a job in Saudi Arabia when you don’t speak Arabic can be tricky. The problem is most employers want you to speak at least some Arabic. This article outlines 5 strategies to help find English teaching jobs in Saudi Arabia without any fluency in the local language.
Know the necessary qualifications
The first thing you need to know is what qualifications are required to teach in Saudi Arabia. There is no single answer to this question. Different schools look for slightly different things, but there are some general guidelines that all schools follow.
The only requirement that all schools have is teaching experience. The amount of experience varies from school to school, but most require at least two years of teaching experience. Most teachers who come here have at least three or four years of experience.
The second requirement is a college degree. It doesn’t matter what your degree is in, as long as you have one. Most teachers hold degrees in education, but others have degrees in English, history, or even science. As long as you have a degree from an accredited university, you’re good to go.
The third requirement is a teaching certificate such as the TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) or CELTA (Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages). Many employers require that this certificate have at least 120 hours of classroom time and at least 6 hours of observation to qualify for a work visa from Saudi Arabia.
Prepare your documents
Saudi Arabia requires that you have a bachelor’s degree, and many schools ask for teacher certifications as well. You’ll need to have a TEFL certification, which provides you with the training and experience necessary to teach English in a classroom setting. It’s not required, but it is recommended that you get a TESOL certification as well since it is more advanced than TEFL, and will give you an advantage over other candidates.
You’ll also need to get a criminal background check done by the FBI and an apostille done on the documents, both of which are required by the Saudi Arabian government. These are not difficult to obtain, but they can take some time (for example, getting an apostille can take up to 3 months).
Look for job openings online
Look for job openings online. Try using reputable job boards like Dave’s ESL Cafe or Teach Away to find postings by schools looking for teachers. You can also use Google to search for “teaching jobs in Saudi Arabia.” You may also want to look into recruitment agencies that specialize in finding jobs for teaching English in Saudi Arabia.
Contact friends in Saudi Arabia through social media
Ask around to see if your friends have contacts in Saudi Arabia who can help you get a job teaching English. Use Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn to find people you know who live in Saudi Arabia or ask for recommendations from your current students.
Update your resume and cover letter
Applying for a job in Saudi Arabia is different from applying for a job in the United States, Canada, or Europe. If you want to teach English in Saudi Arabia, you’ll need to take a few extra steps to secure your employment.
Two of the most important things you can do before you apply for jobs are:
Update your resume and cover letter. Tailor them to the needs of the position, but emphasize the experience that makes you stand out from other teachers. (The more experience you have, the better.)
Consider getting TESOL or TEFL certified. Many schools will not consider applicants without certification.
Finding a job in Saudi Arabia when you don’t speak Arabic can be tricky. The problem is most employers want you to speak at least some Arabic. This article outlines 5 strategies to help find English teaching jobs in Saudi Arabia without any fluency in the local language.
Know the necessary qualifications
The first thing you need to know is what qualifications are required to teach in Saudi Arabia. There is no single answer to this question. Different schools look for slightly different things, but there are some general guidelines that all schools follow.
The only requirement that all schools have is teaching experience. The amount of experience varies from school to school, but most require at least two years of teaching experience. Most teachers who come here have at least three or four years of experience.
The second requirement is a college degree. It doesn’t matter what your degree is in, as long as you have one. Most teachers hold degrees in education, but others have degrees in English, history, or even science. As long as you have a degree from an accredited university, you’re good to go.
The third requirement is a teaching certificate such as the TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) or CELTA (Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages). Many employers require that this certificate have at least 120 hours of classroom time and at least 6 hours of observation to qualify for a work visa from Saudi Arabia.
Prepare your documents
Saudi Arabia requires that you have a bachelor’s degree, and many schools ask for teacher certifications as well. You’ll need to have a TEFL certification, which provides you with the training and experience necessary to teach English in a classroom setting. It’s not required, but it is recommended that you get a TESOL certification as well since it is more advanced than TEFL, and will give you an advantage over other candidates.
You’ll also need to get a criminal background check done by the FBI and an apostille done on the documents, both of which are required by the Saudi Arabian government. These are not difficult to obtain, but they can take some time (for example, getting an apostille can take up to 3 months).
Look for job openings online
Look for job openings online. Try using reputable job boards like Dave’s ESL Cafe or Teach Away to find postings by schools looking for teachers. You can also use Google to search for “teaching jobs in Saudi Arabia.” You may also want to look into recruitment agencies that specialize in finding jobs for teaching English in Saudi Arabia.
Contact friends in Saudi Arabia through social media
Ask around to see if your friends have contacts in Saudi Arabia who can help you get a job teaching English. Use Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn to find people you know who live in Saudi Arabia or ask for recommendations from your current students.
Update your resume and cover letter
Applying for a job in Saudi Arabia is different from applying for a job in the United States, Canada, or Europe. If you want to teach English in Saudi Arabia, you’ll need to take a few extra steps to secure your employment.
Two of the most important things you can do before you apply for jobs are:
Update your resume and cover letter. Tailor them to the needs of the position, but emphasize the experience that makes you stand out from other teachers. (The more experience you have, the better.)
Consider getting TESOL or TEFL certified. Many schools will not consider applicants without certification.