Korean Job Discussion Forums

[mack the knife]

If you browse the myriad Korean job boards these days, you might notice all the job offers specifically seeking F visa holders. You might also notice that the pay rate is nearly identical to what similar recruiters/businesses are offering to ANYONE, including E-2 holders and whoever else.

The reason why all of these F visa ads are suddenly popping up all over the place boils down to this: Koreans want their cake, and they want to eat it, too. If you have an F visa, you are a Korean business's white knight. Literally, in most cases. Here's why:

MONEY

1. You don't need to make a visa run, EVER. Congratulations, you just saved your boss $2,000 a year, and that's just for starters.

2. You aren't as likely to need housing as an E-2. Congratulations, you just saved your boss thousands of $$$ more. Maybe he'll buy you a beer and some galbi!

TIME

1. F visa holders can work whenever, wherever. Under the new rules, it's going to take a lot longer to get noobs over here, and even those who are living here and switching jobs will have to go home. We're talking months, not weeks, as in the good old days.

2. Even if an E-2 gets permission to work a second job, it takes time to process the paperwork.

RESPONSIBILITY

1. Generally speaking, F visa holders are a more disciplined lot because, by default, we have more invested in this country. This typically carries over into the workplace.

2. Again, by default, we've typically been here longer and therefore have more experience with Korean people and their culture. We adapt quickly and more easily to a new [Korean] work environment.

In short, I'm trying to convince all of you F guys not to sell yourselves short. Here's how to avoid doing that:

1. NEVER, EVER take the first offer. You have the beautiful ability [read: POWER] to simply walk away from a bad deal and immediately hook up with the next GOOD THING. Double whatever offer they put on the table and then work down from there to a reasonable agreement. Trust me, this is the norm here (for Koreans as well).

2. Ten years ago I was making W30,000 an hour. They still offer this rate on the job boards!! Do the math. I never accept anything less than W50,000 for a private and most of my F visa friends call ME a chump for going that low!

3. Don't work a morning job for small money simply because it fits in with your afternoon [private] schedule. I've been there and all that sh*t. It ain't worth it.

4. Don't lower the bar for the rest of us. That's exactly what a CHUMP does. A CHUMP goes a bit apesh*t when he or she first gets the F visa and jumps on the first part-time job offered simply because he can. Do that, and you're playing right into their hands.

Frankly, I haven't had a Korean boss yet who deserved me. What that means is, they haven't fully appreciated how much MONEY and TIME I have saved them, not to mention the HEADACHES they have prevented by employing me over the usual E2 guys. In the last three years alone I figure I've saved my bosses upwards of 15 million WON. That ain't no CHUMP change.

At this time, Korean business owners appear to be simply trying to take advantage of a good thing (read: YOU and ME, the F VISA HOLDERS). We can change this simply by passing over the bullsh*t jobs until they simply have to up the ante.

[The Perfect Cup of Coffee]

Wise words. I remember jumping at the first 30-35k / hour jobs when I first got the F-2, just happy to pick up some extra work. But yeah now, it's pretty much shooting yourself in the foot. I mean my first E-2 job almost paid that in legal OT.

[Cheonmunka]

We just went through all this a few weeks ago which ended in five or six pages. Nevertheless, good advice.

[The Perfect Cup of Coffee]

[babtangee]

I'll go as low as 40k p/h for a guaranteed 3+ consecutive hours of work. 50k minimum + travel/time expenses for single hours.

I see most of the single hour F2/4 jobs are offering an average of 35 p/h. I can't imagine who would be taking these jobs. Good luck to 'em though. Plenty other jobs out there.

[mack the knife]

[OiGirl]

[Ilsanman]

I also posted something on the other thread.

I would love to force rates up, but I think it needs to be more gradual. The kneejerk reaction of many recruiters will be just not to sign teachers for jobs, or continue to do illegal business. And you know how good the Korean authorities are at punishing recruiters. In other words, they don't.

My current opinion is, I will work for 40,000 an hour if it's near my place and convenient time. If it's further, I want 45,000 or 50,000.

My personal minimum is 40,000 and it will become 45,000 next year. Like I said, gradual.

If we can get a large majority of F-2 holders on the same wavelength, we can force the wages up.

But Mack, I have a question then. If, for example, a hagwon job will offer a teacher 2.5 for an E-2 holder, how much do you figure an F-2 holder should ask for?

[Cheonmunka]

[SuperHero]

I can't even believe that an E2 holder would take p/t work at 30,000 an hour. It just isn't worth the effort especially once you add in prep and travel time.

[TheDude]

Topic was more than covered a few weeks ago in a 6-7 page thread about F visa teachers forming a group.

Go there to discuss it or read up on the topic:

http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?t=102186&highlight=