Korean Job Discussion Forums

ella · Joined: 17 Apr 2006

Do employers negotiate or not? The only times I've asked for something changed in the contract, like a 1.9MIL salary increased to 2.1MIL, I never hear from them again. I've talked with other teachers who ask for changes and get them. Is there a formula or a specific way of asking that you're supposed to use?

Captain Courageous · Joined: 16 Jul 2006 Location: Bundang and loving it

Join the club. Although I have had two come back with "sorry, we cannot change the contract in any way."

ella · Joined: 17 Apr 2006

This is what comes from 21yos fresh out of college agreeing to any contact that's thrown at them. So how do you get a good gig? You just wait and hope to be lucky?

Captain Courageous · Joined: 16 Jul 2006 Location: Bundang and loving it

I'm still in Florida, so I'm not the right person to ask. From reading these boards as much as I do (which is very, very often), it's either mostly luck, or a year of paying your dues in hagwon hell, and then easy (well, easier) street.

Captain Courageous · Joined: 16 Jul 2006 Location: Bundang and loving it

Also, I'm 24 and right out of college, so I'm just as bright-eyed and bushy-tailed as you; only difference is I wasted four years and grad school.

Crowzone · Joined: 31 Jul 2006

When my GF and I were looking, we went through EASILY 25 offers before we found one suitable after a few changes.. So its probably just being patient and finding a good one..

In the end, we got what we wanted and are working at a relatively decent job for our first experience in English teaching.

ella · Joined: 17 Apr 2006

How did you approach making the changes you wanted?

albazalba · Joined: 27 Dec 2006 Location: Hongdae

When you are a newbie, with no teaching experience, negotiating is next to impossible because you really don't have anything to offer that anyone else doesn't. So there is no reason they would offer you more when someone else will do it for less.

After you get at least one year experience (and I do mean at least), negotiating becomes more reasonable and gets easier the more experience and qualifications you have.

That being said, of course you don't have to take the first offer that's thrown at you. Waiting and doing your research will ensure you get a teaching gig that is satisfactory. But also don't get expectations too high. Just because people on this board post that they get 3 mil with 5 months paid vacation doesn't mean there are jobs out there like that for everyone. As a newbie, you're gonna get the same offer, give or take 100,000 and a couple vacation days from almost everywhere. What should be more of a concern is if the school will treat you right, and if it is in an area that you will be happy with.

I'm sure you guys have already heard this before, but let me just reassure you that what you hear on this board does not always reflect the reality of the teaching market here. (although the majority of it does.)

ella · Joined: 17 Apr 2006

I have three years of experience. I'm just curious as to how others are handling neogtiating.

Matt_22 · Joined: 22 Nov 2006

ELLA - I'm sorry to hear that you're still having problems finding a good school. Do you mind me asking where you're looking? Are you using any recruiters? I don't understand why a school wouldn't negotiate up to 2.1 with a teacher that has three years of experience. If they didn't bother responding, it sounds as if they're just another terrible hagwon looking for a more inexperienced sucker that they might have an easier time taking advantage of. Just my opinion. Anyway, I hope you have a greet weekend and find better luck next week!

Crowzone · Joined: 31 Jul 2006

Basically we would just say what we expected, and why.. If they didn't want to change things then we moved on. There are more jobs then teachers (it seems) and eventually we found what I consider to be an excellent 1st time in Korea position.

There are somethings that definitely won't change -- hours of work, vacation allotment, etc etc, but we found flexibility on things like pay, and wording about taxes, health plan, and the apartment that made us feel comfortable in signing the contract.

More serious changes probably would have required us to have more experience teaching IN Korea. I get the impression that the only experience that REALLY matters is Korean experience, but I may be mistaken. (Outside of serious University work and whatnot)

The biggest key was patience -- and finding a school thats a bit on the desperate side also helps....