Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Carldaddy]

Lets take the complication out of the matter and agree to do one simple thing:

Share information.

Work hours. Pay. Housing allowances. Job satisfaction.

Once we start sharing the wealth of information we already have and discouraging others from undercutting the system we will have all the leverage we need to negotiate with employers.

" We have seen the enemy and it are us" (who said it?)

And then we can call ourselves "The Really Smart People Association"

[Bulsajo]

Great idea. Why don't you get the ball rolling and go first.

[Lost Seoul]

I think many may be reluctant to post their earnings on the internet.

[Bulsajo]

Go figure, it appears Carldaddy may be one of those reluctant folks.

[hellofaniceguy]

Hell, it's common knowledge in korea about salaries! No secrets; koreans are nosey and want to know everything. My grip is why experienced teachers agree to work for 1.9 when a newbie, no experience teacher gets the same wage! Go figure! Why accept the same salary?!?
If won't get better in korea until we all stop signing bad contracts. School owners KNOW that someone will sign a bad contract! Sharing info is good; school owners do it all the time which is why salaried are low, etc... Don't agree to share housing! Never. No six day work week. Hours? Can't get around split shifts, etc... But we CAN get around on how many classes to teach. Don't ever agree to teach by the hours! 120 hours a month can equal 7 or 8 classes a day! Only agree to teach 4-6 50 minute classes a day. Period. If the school won't agree, walk. We all start doing that and things will start to look up. Never agree to work at a school if the owner does not speak English! You'll get burnt big time trusting a korean co-worker to interpert for you! They, koreans don't interpert verbatim.

[Carldaddy]

I think hellofaniceguy has the right point. Now I'm sorry to those who think I'm reluctant because I've been away from the board for a week on other business. But anyway... Here's a start:

My first Uni job: (my status at the time: newbie)

Uni: Top 5 rated (for students anyway)

Year: 2002

Hours per week: 22

Semester: 15 weeks (plus two, 2-week camps in summer and winter)

Pay: 1.8 per month

Housing: Shared (roomate "bleeped")

Staff attitude: Odd

Director: Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain

Job satisfaction (10 pt. scale with 10 tops): 5

Location: out of Seoul

Reason for leaving: Roomate. I left after 6 months

___________________________________________________________

My next job:

Uni: Not on the charts for ratings

Year: 2003

Hours per week: 16 + OT if desired

Semester: 15 weeks (4 months vacation or paid camps if desired)

Pay: 2m per month (with a little OT this is good)

Housing: Single, new, clean, 15 pyong

Staff attitude: Gracious

Director: Present and accounted for. Doesn't understand foreigners, but buys us many dinners and is happy as a lark if there are no problems.

Job satisfaction (10 pt. scale with 10 tops): 8

Location: out of Seoul

_________________________________________________________

So that's my contribution. It's not scientific but I think the Smiley scale is a simple workable one. Cheers!

[whatthefunk]

Ill play.

Hagwan job

Hours per week - I have to be in the hagwan for 30 hours but I only teach for 23 hours.

Vacation - yeah right...

Pay - 1.9.....1.8 after taxes

Housing - Good. Nice APT to myself.

Staff attitude - Extra odd with a splash of olive oil and a hint of basil.

Director - No English. Never says a word to me. Talks to me through my coworkers who feel horrible because they have to break all sorts of bad news to me. Yells constantly. Never tells anyone anything. Overcomplicates everything. Lazy. Always blames someone else for her mistakes. Never appologizes for the mistakes that she obviously makes. Thinks that money will make everything better. Bitter. Icy. No business sense at all. Doesn't care for the education of the kids in any way. 30 middle school kids in one class...sure! That would be great as long as they all pay. Spies on me. Asks the other teachers to listen in on my phone calls with the new teacher. B*tch. Can't always pay me on time but can buy computers like they grow on trees. Makes her children study for about 43 hours a day. Her 13 year old daughter sleeps 3 hours a night.

Job Satisfaction - Right now...-1,000,000 Over all...3.221198765

Location - The pleasant industrial park of Pohang.

Reason for leaving - Contract over, need to leave Korea to maintain sanity and a sense of reality. I hate my director.

[Carldaddy]

Just damn funny Whathefunk!

Sorry, don't want to have fun at your expense but thanks for playing! A free George Forman grill is waiting at Company Fullfillment Associates (Good flippin' luck!)

Anyways. You've done the right thing. Tell your friends.

To keep this straight, please use the format I have set up. Yes, it's simple, but decipherable. And the "Smiley Scale"(tm) gives it the wit and style we loose in statistics alone.

Keep your sanity dear or sir!

And come back to Korea when the jets cool and you can get what you're worth! This is a VERY fun country! Be the ball!

[Mr. Pink]

[Bulsajo]

Funny, I was thinking just the opposite- Carldaddy HAS put his money where his mouth is; I'd play along too except that my info is 2 years out of date.

[mgriffon]

I'll share.

University job
Incompetent staff (Director is as useful as a chocolate teapot.)
16 hours a week
3 months holiday
Shared housing in dorm
Good students, laid back atmosphere
Monthly paycheck $216
Location: Way outta Seoul, The Czech Republic
Reason for leaving: $216 a month is not cutting it.

Time to share some more...where do you work and are they hiring?

Cheers!

[hadeshorn]

Im at a Hagwon.

Hours 100 (I work 9
Kindy (Yes, 2 Kids WOOT)
Split Shifts (Yes, I work 9.20 till 10.25 then 2.40 till 7. But it gives me time to go to the gym)
Director, Little to no English. A little on the cheap side. But still ok.
Supervisor. She is great. Just dont get on her bad side or else you cop it.
Korean Co-workers. Excellent to get along with if not a little quiet.
Apartment. All to myself in not to bad a condition.
Pay 1.9mil a month.

Also here is the apple that shines tho. I came to work talking to my co-worker that my washing machine was making wierd noises and not washing. The supervisor overheard and sent someone out to have a look. Turns out it wasnt balanced right and now dont I look stupid.

Overall they care a great deal about the education of the kids.

AND THIS IS A WONDERLAND SCHOOL!! BUAWAHAHAHA

Oh and im in Seoul.

[Homer]

Job: Mixed (Hakwon and consulting)

Hours : 20 per week total

Pay: between 2.8 and 3.6 (varies)

Director: Salt of the Earth lady...got lucky having her as a boss

Coprorate employers: Varies but usually professional

Appartrment: shared...with my wife! But getting a housing allowance from school (450 000won/month). Its roomy, clean and in a nice building.

Korean Co-workers: Great for the most part

Kindy: nope

Notes: School cares about their students and requires they maintain a certain average in testing to remain in the school. The consulting is getting to be more and more important and largely depends on what kind of package I get.

Thats my story..

[Carldaddy]

Mr. Pink;

I did my best. Honest and a little humour to boot. I'd show more cards but they're all on the table except for exact names and locations.

[Mr. Pink]

Well I didn't say I would be one of those who would be sharing...just people would be more open to.

I work too many hours a week, don't get paid enough - because the taxman takes such a huge cut. I get more holidays than a hawgwon but less than a well known university. I dont work split shifts and like the 9-5 type hours better. I guess that's what I am comfortable sharing on the public domain.