Job Discussion Forums

matador · Joined: 07 Mar 2003 Posts: 281

We all want one, right?

I guess it shouldnt be beyond the means of this message board to come up with four or five tips. Lets put our minds together and see what we can do. Nothing major just a rise from, say, 300k a month to 320k.

I have always negotiated the best package I could before joining a school so dont really have the experience of asking for more money whilst in the job.

Can we make it to five tips? Maybe by collaborating on this we can all afford to buy some better presents this Christmas! Razz

alexcase · Joined: 26 Jul 2007 Posts: 215 Location: Seoul

Offer to take on new responsibilites and make yourself so vital that they have to give you a payrise just to keep you

Sneakier version of the same thing: start a major reorganisation of something and then tell your boss you've been offered a job elsewhere that starts before you can finish it

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

I think whatever tips people come up with, they are all going to be mere suggestions, not guarantees. Keep that in mind. ESID.

markle · Joined: 17 Jan 2003 Posts: 1316 Location: Out of Japan

I got a pay rise I didn't ask for about two months after I started I guess, I can only imagine, for being a good employee.

Does that qualify as a tip?

Sherri · Posted: Sun Aug 12, 2007 7:56 pm Post subject:

Do some research first and be able to answers questions like these...

1. When you were hired did they explain to you how they evaluated you? Have you been evaluated? Who evaluates you? Students, teacher-administrators, office-administrators? What factors go into your evaluation?

2. What happens when your contract comes up for renewal? Is there a built in system for pay rises? Is your contract coming up for renewal? Are you asking for a rise in the middle of a contract? Why?

3. Have other people doing the same job as you had pay rises? Why did they get it?

It comes down to why are you asking for the pay rise and why they should give it to you. If they don't--what are you going to do? Leave? Can you say that another school is willing to pay you more?

Where I worked in Tokyo, we gave a pay rise whenever someone renewed their contract, and the contract renewal itself was based on the teacher's evaluations (which was a transparent system created by the teachers). Other ways to increase your pay could be done by taking on extra responsibilities with the curriculum or with teacher development.

If you can't see your way to getting a straight pay rise and your school has no system for awarding pay rises, why don't you suggest one and work together with the other teachers to come up with one?

Sherri

alexcase · Joined: 26 Jul 2007 Posts: 215 Location: Seoul

I would recommend listening to Sherri rather than me on this one- I work for a big chain where there is little chance of getting a payrise unless you get a promotion.

Hoser · Joined: 19 Mar 2005 Posts: 694 Location: Toronto, Canada

1. Don't work for NOVA

matador · Joined: 07 Mar 2003 Posts: 281

Good answers; many thanks.

AndyH · Joined: 30 Sep 2004 Posts: 417

1. Work hard and be professional.
2. Don't complain about petty things.

alexcase · Joined: 26 Jul 2007 Posts: 215 Location: Seoul

If only it were that simple, Andy. Like any industry, if they think for a second that you are the kind of professional that will stick around and never complain they will pay you as little as they can get away with. If you think you are worth more, sooner or later you are going to have to tell someone.

markle · Joined: 17 Jan 2003 Posts: 1316 Location: Out of Japan

AndyH · Joined: 30 Sep 2004 Posts: 417

alex, You are correct to some degree. My first eikaiwa was a place that really exploited its teachers, BUT, I did get a raise my second month, whereas my co-worker didn't. Was I paid what I was worth? Hell, no! But, at least I made some extra cash by displaying a solid work ethic, showing enthusiasm, limiting my biyatching to the bar after work, and trying to give the students what they paid for, knowing they weren't to blame for my boss's shortcomings.
Same thing with the second place I worked. There were countless teachers who b*tched and complained about everything, and when it came time to renew their contracts, were shown the door.
By all means, complain about legitimate stuff. But if you gripe about every preceived slight, you will quickly earn a reputation as "the nail that sticks up", and your employer will see no incentive to have you stay.

alexcase · Joined: 26 Jul 2007 Posts: 215 Location: Seoul

Agreed and agreed. And then tell them that you would love to stay but you have been offered a better paid job somewhere else...

BradS · Joined: 05 Sep 2004 Posts: 173 Location: Tokyo, Japan

AndyH · Joined: 30 Sep 2004 Posts: 417

It got me a raise.