Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Stormy]

I have a phone interview tomorrow concerning these possies:

Elementary � Middle School Position

Salary: 2.0-2.4M KRW per month for 120 teaching hours
Locations: Busan, Seoul, Daejeon, Ansan, Daegu, Ilsan
Airfare: reimbursed (maximum up to 1,000,000 KRW each way)
Housing: free furnished single apartment
Schedule: block schedule of 6-7 hours per day starting from 2:30 pm, Monday to Friday, NO WEEKEND work
Vacation: 15 days of paid vacation, 5 days in summer, 5 days in winter and 5 at the end of the contract
Bonus: one month salary at completion of contract, Relocation bonus of 200,000-500,000 KRW depending on location
Health Insurance: 50/50 health insurance and pension
Other Benefits: E2 visa sponsorship and visa run to Japan (if necessary)
Strong English faculty support system
Pre-developed curriculum (including tests, quizzes, and teaching materials)

Middle � High School Position

Monthly Remuneration Package:
- Pay: 2.0 Mil ~ 2.8 Mil KRW per month (based on qualifications)
- Airfare reimbursement 　
- 7 days PAID vacation 　 　 　
- Free single housing accommodations (Refrigerator, stove, A/C, Bed, washing machine) 　
- 50/50 Medical Insurance and Pension　 　 　
- Severance (one month pay)
- Visa Sponsorship 　 　 　
- Signing Bonus of up to 500,000 KRW Depending on Location
- one week paid training

Hourly Remuneration Package:
- Pay: 23,000 ~ 40,000 KRW per hour (based on qualifications)
- Airfare reimbursement 　
- 7 days unpaid vacation 　 　 　
- 5.0 Million KRW key deposit for housing
- Visa Sponsorship 　 　 　 　
- Assistance provided for finding housing
- Signing Bonus of up to 500,000 KRW Depending on Location
- Guaranteed 96 hours per month
- You pay the full monthly premium for medical insurance � approx. 30 USD per month
- one week paid training

Yes it's through a recruiter & my only preference so far is that I don't want to live in Seoul but would rather go somewhere more rural.
I have a Bachelor of Education & an Assoc. Dip. of Fine Arts.

Any thoughts on these offers or particular questions that I need to ask? Are they pretty standard in regards to pay etc?

Any advice appreciated. Thanks.

Ps. I put this in the sticky: contract section but didn't get any replies plus it's not actually a contract so thought I'd try here.

[ttompatz]

They are both CRAP.

With your quals you should get (AT A MINIMUM):

FULL airfare reimbursement
10-15 days paid vacation (as required by law).
50/50 cost shared coverage in the NHIC medical plan
50/50 cost shared in the national pension plan
rent free single, furnished apartment
2.2-2.4 mil won salary based on a 40 hour week and 22 classes per week
1 months salary as severance after completion of your contract (as required by law)

The positions you are interviewing for are crap hakwons (CDI is one of them by the look of it).

.

[Roving_gypsy_gurl]

The first job doesn't look terrible (I've seen worse) but I agree you can do better. Don't let them put a limit on your airfare, as they might insist on booking the flight, and then you're stuck paying whatever they agree to that's over their limit.

Before you accept anything, I'd suggest asking for the contact details of someone already working there. Any reputable place will give you that.

[Stormy]

Thanks for the information.

I too was concerned with the limit of 1 mill KRW each way on the airfare.
It's good to hear it from people with experience!

So CDI is a dodgy hakwon to avoid then?

I like the advice about asking to contact a current teacher at the school too.

Thanks!

[Paul_Zerzan]

If you don't want to live in Seoul and you have an education degree, why don't you check international schools where you can be a real teacher? Or check GEPIK or EPIK, where they have more positions than they do have teachers.

[Stormy]

I just like to have options I guess.

I'm actually checking out the EPIK thing on their website right now.

International schools are interesting, and something I'd like to try down the line.

As for being a 'real teacher', that's something I can do at any point when I return home. I'd like to specialise for a while.

[Roving_gypsy_gurl]

Busan's a nice city, if you're looking for something urban, but not Seoul. I know some people who've been pretty happy placed there.

[PRagic]

If you have your certification, experience, and your MA (if you are from the US), then you could look into the NET program in Hong Kong. Much better than anything you'll find in Korea.

[wylies99]

Find a new recruiter. You're being shown the BS jobs they show everyone.