Korean Job Discussion Forums

[buffygrrl1]

i'm getting job offers and they all seem to be exactly 2.0 or under. is that really low? I have a tesol!

[blaseblasphemener]

That is low, and is a typical amount your average academy would offer someone who has never been to Korea before. If you shop around, you can get more. If you're using a recruiter, set the bar high. Ask for 2.4 and work down.

Consider public schools, more pay, more vacation, less worries.

In the end, you'll get what you settle for. Don't settle, and don't take split shifts, especially in Seoul.

Research your school by googling the name and read as much as you can.

Good luck.

[normalcyispasse]

Where are you applying (geographically)? Public? Private? It's been my experience that Korean academies/schools don't really worry about TEFL/TESOL.

I would ask for roughly 2.1 if you've never been here before.

[darkhorse_NZ]

If you really are Russian, you could make s*itloads more if you wanted


neh just playing

[TiGrBaLm]

As much as you like, just make sure you buy a really good colour printer

[jinju]

Ask for 2.2
You should NOT, under any circumstances take less than 2.1
And in 2007 getting less than 2.0 is a JOKE.
2.0 would be something Id expect to see paid in 2001, not 2007. Not in Seoul anyway.

[buffygrrl1]

[darkhorse_NZ]

i'm actually in Gyeonggi Do myself, so if you're dead set on going to Seoul I can't really help ya. but there's loads of people here that will.

but yeh, dont let the bastards offer you anything less than 2.1 with a certificate. I took 2.1 gladly with my certificate and no experience because people were having a hard time with my accent.

[buffygrrl1]

yeah i will def not take less than 2.1 now. I want to be in Seoul because its easier to meet people there. Honestly I don't really mind towns that are not super huge (seeing as how I live in San Francisco and really wouldn't mind a change), but I don't want to get stuck in the middle of nowhere.

[darkhorse_NZ]

there's a number of good sized satellite towns around Seoul, good if you can find a job in them. Bundang and Ilsan seem to be the most highly rated. You'd have to get well acquainted with the public transport system though. they've definitly got enough happening in them to hold your interest for a little while, but inevitably you'll end up in Seoul.

[esetters21]

[ryanbonner]

Many recruiters will still insist that 1.9 is a standard wage, this is because, well, they are idiots. If the job was perfect, great hours, central location in Seoul, I'd take 2.0 in a heartbeat. Of course, there are very few perfect teaching jobs in Korea, so I agree that you should start at least at 2.3 and don't settle for less than 2.1

[jellobean]

I'd say don't settle for less than 2.2.... You might have to wait a bit longer, but it's worth it.... I may know a job opening in September near Cheongyangni that will probably pay that.... It's not the best job but its not horrible either (1:30-8:30pm). If you can get them to let you keep the apt the current teacher has in Itaewon it's pretty sweet (she has to kick in an extra $150/mo, but it's a big two bedroom place with a shared courtyard -- you might be able to bargain them down on how much you kick in too)... You can pm me if you might be interested....

[buffygrrl1]

what i found amusing was one of my recruiters told me there are tons and tons of certified teachers in korea that have degrees in education therefore they can ask for more money and i cant.

[VirginIslander]

Starting salaryfor inexperienced teachers at my large franchise in Busan is now 2.2. They have been raising it 100,000 a year for the past two years.