Anyone dealt with Bahrain CSB before here?

Hello wazzamac and welcome to the forum.

I did not have any personal dealings with CSB but my recruitment process also took more than 6 months. I had my first phone interview in January and started working in July. I don't think this is anything specific to your case - this is just the Middle East. Things progress slow here.

If they are assuring you that you will get your revised offer soon, you will get it. Just keep regular contact with them to remind yourself - this also shows your enthusiasm about the position.

Hello Wazzamac

Like yourself I also have an offer from an educational institue and was interviewed back in October and offered a role in November.  I have still not had any offer.  The HR dept have reassured me it is "normal" for things to take long.  I am wondering whether there are problems with the contract and have since received 2 more offers from international organisations which seem more efficient at preparing documentation.

I am in a predicament as I would very much like the role and challenge that Bahrain is offering but have made a commitment to move this year and may have to accept another offer if nothing is forthcoming.

Have you had your second offer?  I hope things work out well for you.

Hi Bubbles12,

I've been away from this forum for a while, so just clocked your message. Funnily enough, I finally managed to get a response on my 2nd offer from the CSB almost three weeks ago, which I confirmed and all activity is happening in the background with the educational establishment I'll be joining soon. Just as of yesterday, I got sent through my work visa certificate. Just awaiting for flight tickets and details on accommodation, then its full steam ahead, expecting to board the flight to Bahrain on 12th May, hurrah!! :-)

It is hugely frustrating waiting on a response from the CSB, and the educational establishment apparently being almost powerless to chase them up on the process. In my case, I had to wait around four months for the first offer to come through, which I rejected, and waited an additional four months for the second offer to come - making a total wait time of 8 months. I am amazed at myself for being so patient for a self-admitted control freak! ;-)

So they say, patience is a virtue, and I'm sure that if they've offered you the role so far, in due course you will hear back from them with some news, hopefully any day now if following my lead-time example. Likewise, I also had a few other roles posed to me too during the long wait, but I was committed to going to Bahrain, and like yourself, the role itself is a great career move and challenge I'd liked to take on. Therefore, my simple advice would be that if the role is definitely what you are after, then hold tight and news should soon come your way. Experience already tells me that rushing into something else usually turns out to be the wrong move for me. Keep the faith, remain patient and in time you should definitely hear something soon.

. . . and yeah, apparently HR said the same thing to me too, it is "normal' for things to take long there.

Interested for you to keep me posted on events as they come - Good Luck!

I am so pleased it all turned out so well for you and wish you the best in your new position.  I contacted the employer early Feb and they told me they were still waiting on the CSB and still wanted me to join them.

I then contacted them late last week to see if there was an update and the advised me that the position had been filled.  You can appreciate I was very disappointed by their unprofessionalism as they failed to tell me that they were considering someone else.

While it's disappointing to be treated this way, perhaps it is a blessing as I would not want to work for an employer who has so little consideration and respect for individuals and thie career plans.


Best of luck and send some sunshine our way.

Hi all,

I guess we all can figure out which education institution we are talking about since there are few in Bahrain initially. I've actually been through several interviews with them and also waiting for the CSB to come back with an offer.

Just want to ask those who already got an offer, do you mind providing some info. about the contract, even in general terms; i.e. basic salary, health insurance, accommodation, car allowance, etc... just to make sure that they want offer me something in the low side.

Appreciate it in advance guys.

Hi Energawy,

Indeed, we all seem to have one educational institution in common here - just have that niggly idea in my head thinking that the thought police will be on my case if I utter the name here! :-)

Not just for privacy sake, but also I don't think it would be fair to offer any details, even as basic figures on my contract package, as I understand the CSB take into account every individual case based on the role, experience, age, dependents, etc. In my case, I'm over here as a young single guy, no dependents, having minimal prior experience as a tutor in education, but with several years professional work experience. I can understand that my contract package may not be as grandiose as any of my work colleagues here, but I fully accept that and came here on that basis, as it is still an upgrade in many respects than my previous role working in London.

What i can state for the record is that you would most likely be offered a contract package based as a lump sum salary paid each month for a 2 month contract. Again & most likely, this would be inclusive of housing allowance, travel expenses (flights to/from home country), spouse and up to three children educational expenses, end of service gratuity, other allowances (such as health insurance) and fringe benefits. Dependent on the role your'e after and other factors as mentioned above, yours may even be different to this.

One thing I would strongly advise (and if you are patient enough!), try not to accept the first offer. I rejected it under some advice, and albeit a several month wait, I did get an uplift in the salary offer but was non-negoitiable thereafter, so I accepted anyway. Always good to play a bit pokerface with what they initially offer you. :-)

Also, be prepared for a lot of reading of documentation once the offer comes through to you, especially teh document on Offences and Penalties by CSB Law - its a rather insightful and delightful read. . . .

Hope this info helps - Good Luck & keep me posted!
Wazzamac

Hi Wazzamac,

Appreciate your helpful reply.

Third paragraph, I guess you mean 2 years contract? Have you seen personally or with any of your colleagues problems with renewing it?

Another thing, if you reject the first offer, how could you be so sure that you'll get the chance to have a second one? I think if they're in a rush to fill that vacancy and someone else accepts the offer, you might just lose the chance (maybe this is what happened to Bubbles12).

Thanks and good luck to us all.

Hi there,

Apologies, but yes indeed, I was meant to mean 2 years not 2 months! :-)

I don't think many of my fellow colleagues here have had a problem with renewing their contracts. I know a good number being here for four-five years consistent. I think its more a case of if there's a need to keep someone onboard that has a particular knowledge/skillset that they can't find elsewhere, they will keep them on. As far as I have got to understand in this institution, they take on expats to establish and maintain the courses, administration, etc here until there are enough Bahraini's to take over and have in place with the same acquired knowledge/skillset. But this is not likely to happen for some time yet I believe, so the interest in taking on expats here is still at work. So in that case, it's always worthwhile in acknowledging from the outset that being here is not likely to be a long-term move, especially with certain signs and undercurrents of a tenuous political situation here stemming from what happened two years ago.

I took the advice of rejecting the first offer after researching expat forums where other people were in similar situations negotiating contracts in Bahrain. I knew this institution were eager for skilled expat tutors in my field of work, so used this as leverage in negotiating the contract. I believed that if they invested so much time and attention in attracting my interest, they would up their offer, so took the opportunity based on that. In the case of Bubbles12, that is a very unfortunate and disrespectful way the institution handled that situation. I can't answer for that case, but it's the first case of its kind I've heard of here, and sadly could see happening if there is a huge interest of applications for a particular tutor post here. There is an evident sense of superiority for many Bahraini's here, so I could expect some considering expats as expendable in their roles, hence my words of not expecting to see yourself being here long-term, as a Bahraini-born candidate will usually take preference. I can only imagine this was the unfortunate case for Bubbles12. Sad but very true, and is just the reality of living here as an expat.

On the plus side though, it is a small but well defined country with a large expat community to socialise with, and loads to do and see in your personal interests. I enjoy being here, and glad that I did make the move and all worked out well. Hope trust that my words here does still encourage your interest in being here.

If you need any further advice, Im happy to help where possible.

Cheers and all the best
Wazzamac

Thanks Wazzamac. Hope to get the chance to meet you in person sometime soon.

Dear ALL

I cleared my first stage telephonic interview, what is the process of the second stage interview ie: Civil service bureau. What do they ask and expect during this interview.

Will there be chances of dropping during this round. Seek your advice.

Thanks

Regards

Cyril

cyrilant wrote:

Dear ALL

I cleared my first stage telephonic interview, what is the process of the second stage interview ie: Civil service bureau. What do they ask and expect during this interview.

Will there be chances of dropping during this round. Seek your advice.

Thanks

Regards

Cyril

Hi Cyril. Do not rejoice until you are here. Recently we saw a gentleman who had his job offer withdrawn in the last minute - after he had signed up and even left his current job. Don't be alarmed with what I write, but all I am saying is "clearing" one stage of the process is not an indicator of what could happen next. Even after "clearing" all stages things could go wrong.

My sincere advise to you, take each stage as it comes. Don't worry your self too much. Be calm, confident and collected at each stage. And before you know it you will be here in Bahrain.

Usually the Civil Service Bureau interview are more procedural and not technical. It deals with things like pay, perks, entitlements, documentation, etc. Good luck!

Thanks as always for your info on this. Check with you will be there any more interview stage after CSB interview.
Secondly do I need to be prepared for the CSB interview, if so what specific??

You will need to know how much to ask for and what perks and facilities you require to make your move to Bahrain worthwhile. Be ready to negotiate terms - housing, school fees, medical, transport, air tickets, leaving indemnity, etc., - these are the general areas of discussion.

Thanks a lot man. Check with you do you think 1500 Bahrain Dinar, should be fine for a family of two children, age 12 and age 9. Housing, children school fees , transportation etc. for pretty descent living.
Appreciate your idea on this.

It will be. But better to read our post on cost of living to get a complete idea.

Hi,

In my second interview nobody asked me about salary, benefit or evern any type of perk......however, they informed me that they will write to CSB to produce an offer letter to me. I sent all of my documents on their request.

any comments.

Sami

Hi Farhaz,
                       Thanks for your contribution as you always here to answer .
                       PLease let me know
                       My employer has submitted my documents to CSB..
                       How long they take ?

Regards,
Kiyoonk

Hello Kiyoonk,

Kindly note that this discussion is not active since December 2014.

You can start a new topic if you want on the forum Formalities and procedures in Bahrain.

Thank you
Yuveshen

Thanks Yuveshen.

Kiyoonk wrote:

Hi Farhaz,
                       Thanks for your contribution as you always here to answer .
                       PLease let me know
                       My employer has submitted my documents to CSB..
                       How long they take ?

Regards,
Kiyoonk

I have replied to your other post.