Korean Job Discussion Forums

[mirage]

Thanks for everyone's input! I've made my decision.

[xCustomx]

If you go on the monthly plan then you'll most likely be working 30 hours a week. I think CDI is only a good deal if you can get above 30,000W per hour, 33-35,000 would be ideal.

If you're going hourly and you don't meet their teaching expectations then you probably going to be kept at 24 hours per week, or less when students have exams. At that rate you'll only be getting about 2.8 per month, but then you'll have to spend about 400-600,000W per month on housing, plus taxes (which you have to pay the full amount) and medical insurance (if you want any). Keep in mind you also won't be getting pension, which is a 200,000W per month bonus for most people, severance (which is another 100,000W/month bonus at the end of the contract), or a plane ticket back to your home country. The only way CDI can work in your favor is if you get at least 27-30 hours a week, but even then I wouldn't bother working there unless I was getting at least 35,000/hour.

[mirage]

Thanks for everyone's input! I've made my decision.

[xCustomx]

If you're on an F4 visa and want to maximize your earnings then I wouldn't bother teaching at CDI. With an F4 visa you have much more control over where you work, so if you work for CDI but end up hating it or you find a better job you can quit. You should be looking to work at company classes where you can make at least 40,000/hour. I'm not sure if they would want to hire a gyopo for those though.

Check out this ad if you want to make 35-40,000 per hour at a hagwon:
http://www.eslcafe.com/jobs/korea/index.cgi?read=27371

[mirage]

Thanks for everyone's input! I've made my decision.

[xCustomx]

[mirage]

Thanks for everyone's input! I've made my decision.

[mirage]

Thanks for everyone's input! I've made my decision.

[mirage]

Thanks for everyone's input! I've made my decision.

[cazador83]

i think gyopo is pretty much a full korean, but i have a friend who's half-white half-korean and she considers herself gyopo. she also has the f4 visa and works at POLY. maybe that have deals for f4 visa holders?

[Pak Yu Man]

[xCustomx]

[biggpoppa]

aim high and they won't low ball you as much...70k, he won't get, but you can always ask for it...who knows...he may get a return offer of 50k....which still kicks CDI all the way to the bank...

[rjrs0510]

JLS pays kyopos who are bi-lingual a starting salary of around 7 or 8 mil a month (plus there is a commission element) however, of course, you need experience. That is the major drawback for you. CDI will get you 'appropriate' experience. If you are only here for a year then do CDI and lots of private teaching. If you are going to be here longer do a year at CDI and privates and then move onto a smaller elite hagwon that favors kyopos and get over 40 an hour. There are lots of those places out there. You need to gain experience and network! I always find it strange when people state that Kyopos have a hard time, if they get some connections they are generally much better (financially) off that the other native speakers.

[mirage]

Thank you everyone for your replies. So it seems like the consensus is I should aim high, but not too high because of my lack of teaching experience. My current plan is to take the CDI offer, pick up some privates, and continue looking at other job postings. Maybe I will get lucky?

Hopefully I can find a second job that goes from morning to early afternoon to supplement the CDI job. If anyone has any other suggestions or advice, I'd love to hear them!