Korean Job Discussion Forums

[shawner88]

I wonder if I'm the only one here who has quit three jobs before the contracts were up. I have now been working at my 4th school for 6 months(one that I finally like and will stay mabe longer than a year)

A quick rundown:

Quit my first nightmare at Wonderland in Geoje-do after 3 months. Went to Japan and applied for an official Korean tourist visa, came back to Pusan, worked under the table for 2 months then took a job in Ulsan, got a new E-2 visa without a problem.


Quit my job in Ulsan after 8 months. First few months were fine until the school got bigger and bigger and changed buildings. They just kept adding more classes and then changed management and the new owners were bleepholes. Did another visa run, another official tourist visa, came back, got a new job and E-2 without a glitch. Stayed for almost a year, went home for Christmas and broke my arm, was unable to return. (didnt get a bonus, but my boss had paid me in cash weekly for the whole year and never deducted for utilities and taxes, also paid for my roundtrip airfare for Christmas).

Well, that time doesn't really count because my visa expired before I came back.

Anyway, how many have you done? I don't know why so many people stay at their jobs when they are miserable. I never had a problem quitting. Getting a new official C-3 tourist visa seems to cancel everything from your previous E-2. Either that or I guess I was lucky or bribes were paid.

[jajdude]

Just once, but hey lots of bad gigs out there, so I can understand if a person has done several.

[Cthulhu]

[kylehawkins2000]

Of course some people prefer to keep up thier end of the agreement and give two months notice before quitting. Are you really any better than these crooked employers if you also break the contract?

I would only condone a midnight run in extreme circumstances. I think it's irresponsible and makes a bad impression for the rest of us. Sometimes hogwan teachers are not treated with respect because they don't act in a respectful manner. If an employer does not keep up their end of the bargain their are altenative ways to deal with the problem, dissappearing in the middle of the night seems cowardly and irresponsible.

It's no wonder there are so many crap contracts out there that are geared towards avoiding the mid-night runners.

[Tiger Beer]

I've never pulled a 'midnight run'.. but I have broken two contracts each time giving a 1-2 month notice.

One full year is just too long of a committed time to not get any holidays or vacations or any acceptable temporary break.

Second contract I broke because they wouldn't allow me to be the Best Man in my only brother's wedding. What choice did I have? I asked for a solid week.. then it went to just the days before and after the weekend.. but nothing was acceptable to them.

[shawner88]

[Barking Mad Lord Snapcase]

[Mr. Pink]

You want to know why I take offense at teachers pulling a runner?

Because I was the guy who had to deal with it not ONCE, but TWICE. I think my school is decent, they just hired irresponsible people. One couldn't handle the responsibility of actually teaching in a real school. The other didn't like Korea and headed back to Japan.

If you are going to run, give your employer time to find a replacement, as you not only screw the employer, you screw the guys who HELPED you get settled and fit in when you first arrived...those guys have to cover for you when you leave - totally unprofessional and unethical.

No school is so bad you can't handle the situation. Also if you make a committment for 12months and you know the holidays are gonna be crap - except it or don't sign. If you know your brother is going to get married, have it in the contract you get time off for that, or don't sign.

Seriously, unless your human rights are being abused, I can't see why people can't wait a month or two before leaving, it's all about wanting the cash, and not wanting to re-emburse the employer for YOUR CHOICE TO LEAVE.

[Tiger Beer]

[weatherman]

I quit one job here in Korea, but I lined up another before I gave my notice, so the timing and new visa all went really smoothly.

[shawner88]

I guess it depends on the situation. In both cases I quit, my boss's were bleepholes and unreasonable/unapproachable. If I had respect for them and they for me, I would have left notice. In both cases I tried reasoning beforehand, one was about the ridiculous schedule, the other for having lodged me in a motel for 8 months with the promise of a new apartment after 2 ...that never came, but they both had the like it or lump it but do it attitude. Leaving notice? That just wasn't an option. If you haven't worked for a real jerk count your blessings, but many people do and have and they know that leaving notice would only lead to extremely high tension and maybe even an altercation. The boss really does make the job. My current boss is so laid back and kind, it's a pleasure to work for him and I would never do a runner on him, no need to. We have a mutual understanding.

[Ilsanman]

I have never done a run, but I am on my 3rd job. I intend to stay here.

My 1st job was a nightmare, but there are worse out there. I would have stayed, but there was a management change and I used it as an opportunity to leave. 2nd job was ok, but I was lied to about the terms of the job. I stayed one week.

In the future, if I stay here, I won't hesitate to quit a crappy job. I am in no rush to leave Korea, so why not use the opportunity to get ahead?

I'd take an easy, relaxed job over the severance pay anyday. Money is good, but happiness is better.

[ratslash]

one. from my job in auckalnd. where to? sydney. where to after sydney? seoul! i did a midnight run the wrong way round!!!!!

[Mr. Pink]

[Dr. Buck]

Ah, the holy contract . . .

Some here would be doing themselves a favor if they read up on Korean business practices. Just type those keywords in the search engine and start reading and researching.

The contract is not written in stone---more like carved in bamboo, and it can be flexed either way, or just left to sway as the winds of change blow.

I've broken three contracts. Not 'midnight' runs, but rather, 'high noon' walks to greener pastures. I left each consectutive job for a better one with more perks, money, time off, and lighter teaching loads.

It's all about have some personal standards on how you want to conduct your life. Midnight runs are workable for some nightmare scenarios, but there you are again, bags in tow at Incheon International, perhaps with a few grand in cash and scanning the other crappy jobs posted that might lead you into another depressing ESl chapter of life.

I've spent some time in the hell-wons and there were days with cell phone in hand and numbers dialed to the travel agent . . . but its so much better to recognize if you're in a potentially hellish job situation early on, and then to make a plan, network with the right people, and play your cards very close to your chest. When that checkmate cool job falls into place, politely tell the boss someone will have to take your place.

I just simply worked out a situation where my options were open to bigger and better things. . . .when you have an inbox full of positive responses to better jobs, life is that much sweeter. I used to interview for university positions "for sport," with the sharpest of suits and all the right moves--with only vague intentions of taking the job if certain criteria were met. Some were out of my league, others were hogwons in disguise, some were good but not enough cash . . . but I learned many things in the process, little details that later honed the gamesmanship to a finer edge.

The midnight run--packed bags, and bolting for the airport at 5:00 am is amateur hour.

Plan the work, work the plan.
And move onto something better.