Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Iron9er]

Any help would be appreciated...thanks in advance!

My wife and I live in the US (no kids) and have good jobs but are tired of them and would like to teach in Korea (we are both wanting to make a career of teaching, eventually--and want to see if we like it).

Anyways, we have done our research and read this board to find a good recruiter that people recommended. We did, and they are looking to put us in public schools, paying us 2.0 mil and 2.1 mil each (I know its low and I have a masters degree in economics, but we dont really have any teaching experience). Anyways, the pay isnt the problem, its more that the recruiter has said that while my wife can speak to the school that she would be working for and teachers there, I could not because my job is being offered through the education board and their policy is that i cant speak to anyone from the school until the visa processing is done.

Has anyone heard of this? I like the recruiter, she's very timely and professional, but not being able to speak to a potential employer kind of worries me? Thoughts?

[Lekker]

You have an MA. You shouldn't settle for anything less than 2.7. If you take an offer of 2.1 you will be saying "I settled for less than what I am worth," therefore whoever hires you will see you as someone they can walk all over in the future.

Stay away from small hagwons with kindergarden. Look into public school and University jobs. You worked for your degree. Don't let them look at it like garbage. If you let them, they will.

And you can speak to people from the school before visa processing is done. What they told you is a load of shit. Tell them you reconsidered, you want more in salary and that you want to speak to someone from the school, otherwise you are going to look elsewhere. Let them walk all over you and they will. Let them know that you aren't playing their game, and they will at least show you some respect. This is Korea, not back home. They put on fronts here by telling you things that aren't true.

People have had their degrees taken away from them, passports held ransom, only to be told by their employer that it was the law, things like that, you need to be careful with recruiters here. They don't know the rules about immigration or whatever else they say they know. They definitely can not be trusted.

If I were you I would look at as many options as possible. Keep your plate clean in this matter.

[tob55]

While this is a possibility, the bottom line is that you are working with a recruiter. They can tell you whatever they want because it is their gig. It would be nice to speak with someone from the school because you need to know what is going on with the job you are going into. The recruiters take great liberty, even when it is not within their power to do so. If you know the school location then tell the recruiter you want to speak with someone from the school. If they refuse, then tell them you want a different school. I have little trust or faith in a number of recruiting agencies simply because they make up the rules as they go for their own benefit rather than the people they are supposed to be helping.

[ajgeddes]

[Lekker]

[esetters21]

[Davew125]

dont ever work for a school, public or Hagwon, where they wont let you speak to someone (preferably the person you're replacing and one other) before you sign the contract. Tell your recruiter this is 'your' policy. Recruiters are 2 a penny and he needs you much more than you need him!!

To me not being able to speak to a member of staff would be a big, red flag waving in my face.

[Iron9er]

[xingyiman]

[jkelly80]

Often in the case of public schools, you'll be the first native teacher that the school has. Ergo, no one to talk to.

[steroidmaximus]

Why not apply directly through the EPIK website?

http://www.epik.go.kr/

[retrogress]

As far as talking to your school goes, that sounds fair enough given that they probably can't talk to you anyway. As a poster above pointed out, they might be unable to communicate with you. This is given that tey have even chosen your school. They might be waiting until the last minute to choose your school (the Korean way) which means that they currently don't know what school you're going to be at (even if they say, "We have a school for you."

I taught my first Public School year this year. Just figuring out who my actual boss is has been confusing. I don't know who actually hired me (the school or the Ed. department). Nobody speaks decent English.

Also, I don't trust recruiters until the deal is done. Some of them know just what to say and how to say it in order for you to think they are saints. They usualy aren't.

Also, did you think about JAPAN? If you're willing to take less money in Korea, why not take less money in Japan. Check out both countries before you make a decision. Korea is hot because the Hogwons can pay quite well to people who have no chance of getting a job in their own country. (ok, not everyone fits this category)

If you get a job at a public school with your masters, I think a reasonable salary would be 2.2 to 2.3 for your first year. If they won't give you that, don't go.

[jkelly80]

Standard SMOE pay is 1.8.

If you have a master's (in any subject) it goes up to 2.0. If you get a TEFL cert, I'm pretty sure you'll get a bump up to 2.2. If you were to have a Master's in TESL or Ed., I think it goes to 2.3 or 2.4.

Either way, they're taking your master's into account. But having no teaching exp. and no TESL cert or training, it's not going to get you above 2.0, at least in Seoul.

[xingyiman]

[seoulsucker]