Job Discussion Forums

[Justin Trullinger]

Gotta agree with Gregor on this one.

There are schools in this world who probably deserve to have contracts broken. For example, if they don't honour the terms themselves. Or if they treat teachers badly. Or if...there are many "ifs" here. But so far, the school you've signed with has done none of them. Offering a slightly lower than average salary, up front and before the contract was signed, is not an offence. And you agreed to the terms offered. You could reasonably be expected to have done your research of the market before signing. So I don't see why you have a gripe that justifies screwing the school. (And having a teacher back out at the last minute screws a school. Sometimes badly.)

And anyway, a slightly lower salary does not necessarily mean that the other job is better. There are a lot of intangibles in this business that are hard to put in a contract. I don't feel that you're much more likely to have a good experience in a second school than in your first, because there are too many factors involved which you may not yet know enough about to evaluate.

If I were in a your situation, I would probably be tempted if the salary and benefits in the second job were A LOT better. But it sounds like they're really pretty close. So that makes it easier to do the right thing. Which is, in the absence of compelling wrongdoing on the part of your employer, to keep your word.

And make the best of it. If you have a good, productive, year, the offers will be even better this time next year. And I'll bet next time you do your shopping around before you sign.

Let us know how it goes,
Justin

[ls650]

[guangho]

Hiya:

You know, over at the Korea board we spend much of our time discussing the many creative ways we have been/are being/will inevitably be shafted by our bosses. However, if we do the same to them, I don't think we can expect much better.

[some waygug-in]

Unless you have some direct evidence that the school is untrustworthy,
I would say your should honor the contract you have signed.

The thing with so-called "better offers" is who knows how honest that better offer will be? Perhaps it's all a pack of lies to lure you away from what might turn out to be a "not too bad" position.

There are so many scams and dis-honest job ads in Korea that it's really hard to take any of them seriously.......until you talk to someone who has worked there and knows.

Korea is a crap shoot, you may get lucky and find an acceptable position, but without doing some background checking, the odds are not in your favor.

Anyhooooooo, I hope you have good luck, whatever you decide.

[hamel]

my advice would be to try the job in daegu for at least six months. next time do not send original documents but authorized copies from the korean embassy.
best of luck with teaching in korea.