Job Discussion Forums

[hellsbells]

Sorry to put this message on this board, but I can't register for the Korea board...so I'm hoping someone here can help.

I'm looking to go out to Korea and have been offered a job, but the pay is 1.9 and that seems a little low (although I am English and not American, so maybe this is what I can expect? Although I have experience and a Trinity TESOL for what that's worth). I'm hesitant to take this job although it all looks very standard, and I have spoken to a teacher at the school, because it is the first job I've been offered.

I've also spoken to Huntesl whop have offered to help me find a job, although they take your documents off you to do this - so in essence I wuld be completely handing over my job-hunting to them, which again I'm not 100% happy about although they seem to have a good reputation.

Part of me thinks it must be more sensible just to fly over there and job hunt on the ground. But this obviously comes with its own problems.

How does anyone who flies out to Korea with a contract already signed know what they're really getting into?

If anyone can give me some advice, that'd be great. As I said - I would post this on the Korea board if I could!

Thanks...

[valley_girl]

I don't know what the going rate is now for South Korea. Check the job listings on the Korea job forum and take a look at what is being offered at the various schools. Someone living and working in Korea right now could give you a good idea of what is considered a "good" salary these days.

That said, I want to suggest that you do your job search without a recruiter. Most likely, they don't know any more about the schools they work with than you do. Contact potential employers directly. Most of them speak English moderately well. If they don't, they'll certainly have a local teacher who does and who will communicate with you on their behalf. Make sure you also get to talk to a foreign English teacher - preferably one teaching there right now - who can give you the foreigner perspective. All hagwon owners and local teachers will give you the same sunshine-and-roses song and dance. You need to find out what it's like to be a *foreigner* at this school.

[waygukgaijinhaole]

I've been in Korea for 2 years.

1.9 mil is ok for, what, 6 hours a day teaching kids with housing provided? What city is it in? That's another issue. Small town Korea is very "small town".

Do not give your papers over to a recruiter.

You're right. No one knows what they're getting into before they get here. You just have to hope and if it sux, you get out of it or you stick it out.

Obviously better to come here and check out the schools, but even then you don't know. Could seem fine and then the director changes and everything goes to you-know-where. Or the outgoing teacher could be desperate to get their job covered so they can get out and they could tell you all kinds of bs about how awsome the job and the director and the students are.

Anyway, PM me if you have specific ques. Tell me more about the position offered(& location) and I'll give you my 2 cents. I'm in Seoul, teaching adults.

[rolander]

valley_girl,

We're hoping to take the plunge soon, too. Thought your post informative. I've read your point about recruiters often enough on Dave's to think them almost uniformly unscrupulous. You said that the contracts in Korea aren't binding the way they are here. But that wouldn't that work both ways? meaning, wouldn't that also give the teacher greater lassitude if dissatisfied with the job? I don't think I've read--or can't now recall--reading anything about the consequences to breaking a contract in Korea. Do you know? Deportation? Fine? Inability to get hired by another school/institute?

An aside to hellsbells: I sympathise with you. It would be nice if Dave's had more encouraging posts about going in blind. Whatever you find, good luck.

Rol

[valley_girl]

[rolander]

Valley_girl, thank you for the information. That's brutal. Methinks that we'll forego using a recruiter, on the basis of this and other, similar posts I've read.

Good stuff. Thanks again.

Rol

[waygukgaijinhaole]

Right, if you pull a runner...

-you cannot get another legal job, until you settle with the first job
-you are supposed to leave, as you don't have a sponsor and will probably get deported if caught
-may have to pay fines
-will have hassles at the airport getting out, if your passport doesn't have the proper "permission to leave permanently" stamps
-cannot come back until settled with job

Yes, I realize some of that is in opposition to each other..."you must leave" but "you get hassled trying to get out"...however, both have been know to happen.

[Spinoza]

Rolander,

Don't totally dismiss using a recruiter because of what people on message boards say, with all due respect to those people. The worst thing about such advice is that it says or suggests that only recruiters are dodgy, when really the same ought to be said of the entire English-teaching private sector in Korea (employers too, not just recruiters). What happens if you ignore the recruiters, liase directly with a school and still end up screwed (and not in a good way), when you might've got a better deal using the recruiter after all? With the private sector in Korea, landing a decent position isn't even 50/50, recruiter or not. Indeed, I would imagine it can be beneficial to have a 3rd party involved...if their English is good. The second worst thing about such advice (and again no personal offence to the people who say it) is that it puts recruiters in English-speaking countries into the same pot. Effort is rarely made to distinguish between a recruiter in, say, England or Canada or New Zealand vs a recruiter in Korea. Reputable employers and the Korean government employ recruiters based in English-speaking countries to do a good professional job at recruiting people. I fear you could be talking yourself out of a really good position if you simply dismiss all manner of recruiter.

Take all advice on message boards with a pinch of salt, as much I loath that phrase. That includes my advice. I've never worked in the private sector, thank goodness - that's why my view of Korea is entirely positive.

[Mr. Kalgukshi]

Please post Korea related topics only on the Korean Job Forum. A Sticky at the top of this forum explains how to register for the Korean Job Forum.