I graduated from university about 20 years ago with a bachelor’s degree in English literature. I applied to an American company to work as a translator. My application was immediately accepted.
I was given the job of translating syllabuses with a monthly salary close to SR8,000, which was paid to us every fortnight.
Within less than a year I had to quit because I became sick of the American arrogance which manifested itself in many ways, including a 6 a.m. meeting with Mr. Jack, who would stretch his legs on the meeting table while we, the Saudi staff, would be standing.
Before the day ended, he would pass through our sections hitting our tables hard with his hands in an obvious attempt to scare us and to prove the supremacy of an ex-American soldier.
He would eventually go too far by asking us to help in carrying down gallons of potable water from a truck, a job which involved a great deal of physical exertion.
I became sick of this kind of treatment and decided to apply for a job at the Department of Civil Service, which was then located on Tahlia Street. I was carrying only three papers in my hand, a copy of my university certificate, a copy of my secondary school certificate and my identity card.
A staff member registered my name and qualifications, and kept my file with him. Next day, the department called all my contact numbers asking about me. Everyone at the building told me that the civil service was asking about me. I got scared because I had left a gallon of water in the car of Mr. Jack.
Anyway, I went to the department and there the same employee who took my papers asked me to choose between three jobs — a translator at the National Guard, an English language teacher at a secondary school or a translator at the electricity company. He gave me the letter confirming my appointment and asked me to go to any of these places.
I started with the National Guard. When I entered with my confirmation letter, I found an old Egyptian translator who had been holding this job for a long time. I hated the thought of taking his place and politely apologized to the officer. I promised him that I would call but I never did.
I went to the electricity company and they asked me to assume my duties immediately but I turned down their offer when I found out their job was on the sixth grade of the pay scale.
From there, I went to the Ministry of Education where I was appointed a teacher on the third grade. Though it was less than half of my salary at the American company, I readily accepted for patriotic reasons.
Years passed. I obtained my Master's degree in English literature after I left my government job. I passed through a difficult phase of unemployment. I decided to go again to the Civil Service Department, which had by then become a ministry where all actions were computerized except the breakfast of employees. I gave them my heavy file containing educational qualifications, experience certificates and others.
The employee asked me if I had applied online and I answered in the affirmative, adding that many weeks had passed but nobody called me.
He answered: “We have not announced any vacancy. Go and rest. We will ask you to come to us next year.”
