Korean Job Discussion Forums

[viva]

I am currenly negotiating with a school and am wondering if I should sign or not. Everything seems alright, but there are a few things that get my guard up:

1. I have been offered the job by a current foriegn teacher. I have not had contact with the director or supervisor at all.

2. They will not pay my flight. They promised to remimburse me as soon as I arrive. The two current teachers claim that they were reimbursed.

3. I am being paid 1.8 million won per month, for 120 teaching hours. I am expected to be at the school for prep time, which is not included in the 120 teaching hours.

4. 10 days paid vacation, but no more than a few days consecutively.

5. All shifts are at night, ending at 11pm.

Does anybody else think I may be being scammed by this hogwan?

[syclick]

edit:CO has brought up a good point about mandatory unpaid prep periods, so I retract my earlier comment.

However, I would read the contract carefully to make sure that you are not being required to agree to unpaid time doing miscellaneous unrelated jobs.

Whether or not you like those late hours is up to you, I guess.

No direct contact with the director would bug me, though.

[Derrek]

Not scammed, but is a really bad deal, in my opinion.

Hold out for better. You're working too much for too little. AND you should talk to the owner.

11pm is awful. I work until 10pm three nights a week, and it is not fun. Kills the social life! If you're in Seoul, if you plan to go out at night, you'll have to pay taxi fare on the way back or wait until the subway re-opens at 5:30am. That gets expensive. Of course, you could stay close to home, but that gets boring (where I live anyway). Subway closes around 12-ish depending.

Definately look for something better -- DO NOT take this!

[hellofaniceguy]

You can do better elsewhere. Follow your instincts. Then run! ALL businesses in korea who hire foreigners must sign a sponsor form with immigration BEFORE immigration will issue a visa. This sponsor form states that the business WILL be responsible for housing and airfare. If the school owner does not speak English, DO NOT work for them. Never agree to share housing, teach by the classes, NOT by the hours. 5/6 40-50 minute classes a day is fine for hokwons. Don't agree to 120 hours a month! Pay? Whatever you feel comfortable with. But no less than 2.1 per month. Schools are paying 2.2, 2.3 and some even 2.5. Get the best deal you can and don't worry about what others are getting.

[Captain Obvious 2.0]

[syclick]

[keguri]

[katydid]

3. I am being paid 1.8 million won per month, for 120 teaching hours. I am expected to be at the school for prep time, which is not included in the 120 teaching hours.

** This always cracks me up when someone complains about the "extra work" they have to do but aren't paid for. It's one thing to do extra things, like projects for your director and not get paid, and it's certainly another to work a bazillion hours before seeing your first paycheck. But complaining about prep time?

I would love to take a poll to see the demographics of the people who think unpaid "prep time" is unfair: those used to working $6/hour jobs vs. those who have worked in a salaried environment. Lots of jobs (in America, in Canada, wherever) that are salaried pay you by the year, not by the hour. Working at a hagwan or a uni is pretty much considered a salaried job. So, prep time is included in your salary.

Besides. I would hope you would want to prep for your classes anyways!!

4. 10 days paid vacation, but no more than a few days consecutively.

** You should also be getting Korean holidays off. Unfortunately, this year, many holidays are on a weekend.

5. All shifts are at night, ending at 11pm.

**That's usually the nature of the hagwan beast, to work a late shift. But if I had to get up for 7 a.m., and also work until 11 p.m., I might look elsewhere!

Does anybody else think I may be being scammed by this hogwan?

Maybe not **scammed** but definitely, if you don't like this offer, then don't take it. There are plenty of hagwans who are looking for people, and you shouldn't feel like this is the only job in Korea.

[The Great Wall of Whiner]

[chi-chi]

Why would you even think of doing this? I would say no just on the flight alone. There are a billion schools that will pay your flight over, but hey man, it's your money, you know?
Good luck, hope you do some more research before you come over.

[tomwaits]

THIS IS BAD!!! I just left Korea and I was working 15 hours a week. OK 16. That is 64 hours a month. You will be run off your feet at 130. And you know what??? They still wont be happy. I have seen these situations before. A normal job is overtime at 120 hours a month and that is still bad. Tell them politely that you decline their offer. Tell them to drop the 130 down to 80 and you will think about it. Or 100 but I think that is too hihgh--but 130 is a joke. 80 hours a month for the same cash would be easy to get so they are playing you for a chump . Cant be any clearer than that so heed the advice of people on this board and DONT DO IT> My present job I get overtime after 14 hours(a week ) I am not making this up so do NOT accept this offer. If you do you are dissing all on this board. Please hold out for more they are taking advantage of you. Now I will lighten up and let you decide what to do...8-ball in the corner pocket HAHAAAAH

[igotthisguitar]

[mysteriousdeltarays]

Never take a job offerd from another teacher, they are usually bailing.