Korean Job Discussion Forums

[reimund]

I've decided to quit my gig at a public school (GEPIK), and I was hoping to get some general tips on doing it in the most polite and logical way.

For one, I'm quitting because I'm having serious issues with the co-teacher. My intent is to just give my letter of resignation to the principal, and not mention it to the coworkers, until my last week or so at the school. The reason is I don't want the co-teacher to take my resignation personally, and thereby give her the chance to make the rest of my working days at the school a nightmare. On the other hand, the other co-teachers (with whom I have good/decent relationships with) might get upset for hiding the resignation from them for so long. So what's the best way to let everyone know?

Second, I'm not sure how I should handle the end date at this school and the start date at the next. It says in the GEPIK contract that I must give 60 days' notice. How flexible is this? Do I let the principal know I'm going to quit first, to see when my end date is, and then find a job? The problem with this, of course, is that I might not find the job I want within that time period, leaving me with either a job I don't want, or having to bum it at a relatives'.

Or do I find the job first, and hope that the principal will allow me to leave at same time as the start date of the next school? The problem here is, there are so many unknowns. The principal might not agree to an earlier leave, and if the job that I want needs someone ASAP, I'll be back in the first scenario (because at that point, the principal will know that I want to resign anyway).

With that said, I have two job interviews this week. If I get an offer, do I tell them that I'm only available 60 days from the day of letter of intent, or do I tell them that I can try to fix my end date?

Maybe I'm overthinking this, but I just want to go through with this in the smoothest way possible. Any advice is appreciated, thanks.

[Scouse Mouse]

They have a form letter for you to sign that says how much you loved the job and the people you work with. I also have issues with my co-teacher, so I used the form letter as a basis and deleted the things I didn't agree with. My final letter looked like this:

[KYC]

You will not be successful in keeping it secret. Your business will be everybody's business.

A secretary once asked what I was doing one weekend, and I told her I was going to coex mall. By Monday, everyone knew about it including the parents and asked if I liked coex mall. I find it surprising they find interest in something so minuscule.

[aerialsimulacrum]

If only the Koreans would communicate with such Borg-like efficiency when it comes to work-related issues...

[ttompatz]

IF you give your 60 days notice you will get back your deposits, etc.

If you are on an E2, you may get a LOR.

IF you are on an "F" visa, don't pass up any better jobs. Quit at your convenience and move on.

[reimund]

[ttompatz]

[reimund]

[ttompatz]

[pkang0202]

[Ramen]

[reimund]

I have a couple more questions. Is it a bad idea to tell future recruiters/employers in interviews that I'm breaking a contract with this school? Because of issues with my co-teacher?

For a while I thought the benefits of showing some teaching experience, even though it's only 3+ months, and being honest about my co-teacher issues would outweigh the negatives of showing absolutely no teaching experience and being dishonest (I'd have to explain why I was in Korea since December). But after a couple of interviews, I'm starting to have second thoughts.

[Draz]

Just say something like "It was a bad fit" and then go on about how excited you are to have the chance to work at the school you are interviewing at.

[reimund]

Well, I did a bit of thinking, and after speaking with some personal friends of mine, I've decided against quitting and walking out the door the same day. I've made some personal connections at the school, and they'd undoubtedly get hurt if I did this.

So, I definitely want to give some notice to my principal. This brings up logistical issues, which I brought up in my OP. Do I turn in my notice now, and hope that I'll find a job that starts at my end date here?

Or do I look for jobs with a start date of "2 months from now" and hope that there are actually employers who hire 2 months in advance?

I'm just trying to understand what will maximize my chances of finding the better job, basically. The second options seems to be the most logical, since I can just wait until the right job comes around, but how many schools look for teachers 2 months in advance, really? And I'm definitely not in favor of potentially staying at the school longer. But with the first option, I'll have a set leaving date, making it much easier for me to match starting dates with future employers. What's the better option?

[icicle]

It will not take you 2 months to get another school - especially from in country - So I would not have any fear in giving the required amount of notice - and then using your actual availability date to tell potential employers when you will be available. Two things will happen you may be offered some jobs which are available before you are (some of which may be prepared to wait until you are, some who won't) and as you get closer to your actual availability date you will probably find that more jobs are available to you. You are right in thinking that 2 months out is a relatively long time frame for jobs in Korea but getting a job and then giving notice - is I think likely to make it much harder to get a job - as as you do want to give the correct amount of notice - you would then need to say that you are not available for 2 months - so may well end up losing potential good job offers. I expect that when you reach the 1 month mark you will start to get more job offers. In your position I would give notice and then start looking for a job.