Korean Job Discussion Forums

[KoreanAmbition]

Netz recommended I don't ask so many general questions, so I am going to take his advice.

Cali has made it clear I should get married, so that notion is in the works. Let's assume when I go to SK I will be married.

The reason I have been posting a lot and trying to find higher paying alternatives like 3,000,000 won is because I have been told I can get the following:


A friend of my family works in Mokdong, Seoul, and she has talked to her school about my situation. They are hiring in the summer when I go there and the following are the details.

Salary: 2.8 million won

Type of school: Academy (I assume that means Hagwon)
Age of students: Kinder/pre-school/elementary
Days: Monday to Friday
Hours:

9am-9:50am prep
9:50-12:10 teach 3 X 40 min classes with 10 min breaks in between each
12:10-12:50 lunch
12:50-1:30 last kinder class
1:30-3pm prep
3-7:30pm teach 6 X 40 min classes with a 5min break inbetween

Included: housing, round-trip round-trip airfare.

Note: Her email to me was very long but was not based on every specific contract detail so at this moment I don't have all specifics. She did not tell me specifically how many vacation days they receive. I'm assuming I won't get too many. She didn't talk about pension, health coverage, or severance pay although I am aware some of that is mandatory, especially severance pay.

Good point to the contract:
Apparently the school deals with a lot of foreign teachers and I would be put into single housing unless I request shared. I'm thinking this is a positive thing because they do have shared-accomodations and maybe I can negotiate or pay a bit more money each month so that it is more comfortable for my wife and I.


Bad point about the contract:
My first impression is that the hours are too long for the pay, but I"m new to SK and receieved many warnings about other jobs that might not pan out.


Since I can get this job, I feel it is a good basis point to look for better options.

What do you think of this job?? Good or bad? I welcome all comments, even those that think this job sucks badly.

[spliff]

Let's see, you are at school from 9am to 7:30 pm...you teach 10 classes a day....the contract is the worst I've ever seen SUX BIG TIME.

[P-dog]

I have to agree, There are definitely other jobs out there with better working hours for the same pay...

[OiGirl]

Do you like teaching kindergarten?

[hagwonnewbie]

as soon as you ask for more than 2.3, this is the kind of the crap they toss at you.

[KoreanAmbition]

Okay everyone, point made.

Thanks for the brutal honesty...it helps me see you think the job is brutal.


I thought the 2.8 million from a credible company might be something I should consider. Many others have said it's hard to trust recruiters and schools, but in this case I could.

Anyways, thank you, and that job will be taken off my list of alternatives.

[bobbybigfoot]

2.8 million is definately much better than the standard 2.1 or 2.2 for a newbie. The tradeoff, as you know, is all the extra hours. The days will be long, especially if you get some rough classes (rough meaning disrespectful, unspired kids).

If you need the extra cash and are willing to work more then why not, esp. if you can't find anything better.

[KoreanAmbition]

Bobbybigfoot,

Good point. I guess I'm happy that I have the alternative as a secure option if I can't find something else I'm more interested in.

I agree with what you said that the money is good, albeit the terrible hours, if I can't find something else.

I think right now that job is getting filed away under "best of the bad options".

[chachee99]

These conditions looks similar to those offered by Poly Schools. Yes, the pay looks nice, but when you factor in the number of hours you will be making less money per hour than most jobs out there.