Korean Job Discussion Forums

ptarmigan · Joined: 01 Mar 2007

I have an offer from a public school, but I don't have all my documents in hand. The semester began March 2, and the recruiter wants me to come out on a tourist visa, start teaching, and then do a visa run when I get the rest of my documents. Waiting for my docs and processing the visa could take a few weeks, or more, if I am not mistaken.

I gather this is not entirely kosher, and would be a bad idea with a hagwon, but would it be OK with a public school?

One advantage is it would get me in synch with the public school calendar.

But I wonder whether I would get the 12-month benefits, specifically the one month severance pay and the return airfare, if I start late?

Theoretically, the school could hire someone else sooner. But they seem to like me, either that or they can't find anyone else.

Any thoughts?

kat2 · Joined: 25 Oct 2005 Location: Busan, South Korea

You should get the twelve month benefits. Your conract would just start and end mid-late March. I wouldn't teach before you get your visa though. Thats a bad aidea. Istarted my public school job 3 weeks before summer vacation began. Now that was sweet.

yingwenlaoshi · Joined: 12 Feb 2007 Location: ... location, location!

Sounds like they're desperate. If you decided to do it, up the salary by at least 200,000.

Kimchieluver · Joined: 02 Mar 2005

yingwenlaoshi · Joined: 12 Feb 2007 Location: ... location, location!

cruisemonkey · Posted: Mon Mar 05, 2007 9:10 pm Post subject:

It's not legal to work before you get your visa.

spliff · Joined: 19 Jan 2004 Location: Khon Kaen, Thailand

I'm sure they're not gonna arrest ya at a public school job, go for it if it's really what you want. And, it wouldn't hurt trying to up the salary either, IMHO... Very Happy

yingwenlaoshi · Joined: 12 Feb 2007 Location: ... location, location!

Why can't the salary be upped, by the way? What are they going to pay you, OP? 2, 2.1, 2.2 million? Or close to that? That's pretty low.

ptarmigan · Joined: 01 Mar 2007

OP, is that me?

The salary is 2.

The contract specifies that it ends on the normal schedule at the end of Feb. So it leaves me wondering about those year end benefits.

One recruiter for another public school thinks he can start me at the level 2 rate, but I don't have anything definite.

It looks like there are still some public school jobs, eh?

Pak Yu Man · Joined: 02 Jun 2005 Location: The Ida galaxy

ttompatz · Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Location: Kwangju, South Korea

lover.asian · Joined: 30 Jan 2006

Kimchieluver · Joined: 02 Mar 2005

Kimchieluver · Joined: 02 Mar 2005

I retract the above statement because there are, of course, exceptions to every rule.

ptarmigan · Joined: 01 Mar 2007

OK, Kimchieluver, I am inclined to agree with you. That was what I assumed before I asked.

However, there are two possible issues:

Is there some flexibility when considering quallifications beyond the teacher certification, TESOL credentials that might allow them to up the level for a beginner?

And the other posters do make an interesting point that if they are desperate, with school having started, that might make them inclined to negotiate.

However, it seems to me that being government entities, they might not be allowed to negotiate on salary. With civil service jobs in the US, that would be against the rules. Indeed, the public school jobs seem to have very consistent pay scales. It is their benefits, specifically vacation time, that seem to vary.

And I would assume that these public schools would all be able to fill their openings eventually. However, as they are having trouble, perhaps they might realize they need to increase their pay scale.