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bafw26
Joined: 01 Jan 2007
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 Posted: Sat Mar 31, 2007 7:01 pm Post subject: Recommendations for inexpensive accommodations in Seoul? |
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| I am getting really tired of recruiters so I am thinking about going to Korea to have a look around before signing away my life for a year. Does anyone know of good yet inexpensive lodging in the Seoul area? Your insight would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance. |
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Neil
Joined: 02 Jan 2004
Location: Tokyo
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Sun Apr 01, 2007 12:55 am Post subject: Re: Recommendations for inexpensive accommodations in Seoul? |
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| bafw26 wrote: |
| I am getting really tired of recruiters so I am thinking about going to Korea to have a look around before signing away my life for a year. Does anyone know of good yet inexpensive lodging in the Seoul area? Your insight would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance. |
Unless you have some network of people here AND you can speak Korean you will still need to use a recruiter to find a job after you get here.
The only differences are:
a) you can check the school out in person
b) you can check out the housing in person
c) you can ask the staff in person instead of trying to check it out long distance
d) you will pay your own airfare to korea instead of the school paying
e) you will get to make a visa run ( not always a fun thing)
f) you may have to pay some of the costs associated with the visa run (hotel, food, trains, etc. Most places only pay airfare).
g) you get to foot your own accomodation costs while you are looking.
1) Pick a few recruiters and try with them.
2) Don't be in a rush to sign anything.
3) If they don't send you what you are looking for, change recruiters.
There are just about as many recruiters as there are hakwons.
4) when you get an offer that looks good, CHECK IT OUT...
+Look CLOSELY at the contract they send you.
+Post it here in the contract thread for a review.
Talk to MORE THAN ONE of the foreign staff and ask POINTED AND SPECIFIC QUESTIONS (*via e-mail when the boss is NOT listening over their shoulder).
-What are the hours? (start time / stop time / breaks).
-How many classes per day, week, month? NOT hour many hours per month. 30 classroom hours can mean anything from 1350 -1800 minutes per week standing in front of the class. The difference can be up to 7.5 HOURS in front of the class EACH WEEK.
-Do they ALWAYS pay on time?
-Do they pay at the end of your month or do they have a hold back period (5-10 days after your month end) to prevent runners? (no=red flag 1)
-Do they really pay overtime or avoid it with creative book keeping?
-Do you get credit for classes on the national holidays or do you get the day off but still have to work your 120 hours before you get overtime? (no=red flag 2)
-Do they have national medical (with the little booklet)? (no=red flag 3)
-Do they pay into pension? (no=red flag 4)
-What about the holidays? 10 or more WORKING days? (legal requirement here) (no=red flag 5)
-When and how do you get your holidays?
-What extra stuff do you really have to do - mentioned or not in the contract.
-Then consider the quality of life issues - things that are important to you that aren't mentioned here (housing, furnishings, THE BATHROOM, access to recreational facilities, shopping, banking).
Do they take additional deposits in addition to the delay in payday? (yes=red flag 6) |
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bafw26
Joined: 01 Jan 2007
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| Posted: Sun Apr 01, 2007 3:31 am Post subject: |
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Thanks ttompatz. I am going to print out what you wrote to use as a reference, seriously. Applying for jobs feels a bit like walking through a minefield  |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Sun Apr 01, 2007 3:59 am Post subject: |
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| bafw26 wrote: |
| Thanks ttompatz. I am going to print out what you wrote to use as a reference, seriously. Applying for jobs feels a bit like walking through a minefield |
It can be a minefield.
Take your time and do it right.
Your recruiter and school will try to rush the process for a lot of reasons and some of them are not good for you.
Mostly they have 2 concerns.
1) you will discover something bad about them and change your mind.
2) you will get a better/different offer and change your mind.
Most newbies get all starry eyed when they get their first contract and sign it before they get it all checked out.
Take your time, check things out, THEN sign the contract and begin the visa process.
In spite of the rush, rush by the recruiter or school, there is no panic to do anything. There are literally thousands of jobs here, thousands more than there are applicants for.
Take your time, pick a good one, check it out and have a great year. |
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