Korean Job Discussion Forums

[reimund]

So it seems whenever the school is mentioned, people bring up the negatives.

Is there anyone out there who's had a positive experience with CDI? This is a serious question. And perhaps a good thread to add to the archives for future "CDI" searches.

And some relevant questions for CDI veterans:

1. What campus did you work for?
2. How long have you worked there?
3. Was burnout ever a concern for you?

[Tommy]

Hahaha.. no responses yet? 'Nuff said.

Maybe someone will pipe up now since I just bumped this.

[globalgirlk]

Try searching google for a blog...

[suadente]

I work for CDI, and have for the past few years. I'm still having a good time here. I know a lot of people who I've been working with for over three years that like it here.

1. What campus did you work for?
I've worked for several, both branches and franchises, as well as HQ.

2. How long have you worked there?
Over three years.

3. Was burnout ever a concern for you?
Luckily, whenever I could feel burnout beginning to possibly become an issue, I got a promotion, so I was reinvigorated, and happy with the raise.
Other instructors go the term off route. They teach a couple of terms, then go home or on vacation for a few months, and then come back.

[Whistleblower]

CDI use unlaw business practices with their teachers:

1. Unpaid holidays.
2. Hourly pay (heaven knows why if you are a contracted worker for the year with a base salary).
3. No contribution to health insurance, pension and taxation at a independent contractor rate (5%).

[Young FRANKenstein]

[Voyeur]

The "unlawful" business practices are 110% irrelevant because they TELL you they are gonna do this. So you know, if you go hourly, and can decide if the salary warrants it. You generally can go on Monthly pay and get all the standard benefits if that is important to you. I'm tired of hearing this crap. It doesn't matter.

Work-wise, there is a hit and miss element depending on your location. But compared to Hogwons *in general* your chances of doing well are a hell of a lot better at CDI than in your average Hogwon provided you don't get one of the low-end contracts. OTOH if they only offered you a low-rent contract, there is a chance that you are, at least on the surface, an unattractive candidate and you may be getting low-end offers everywhere.

I'm too busy right now to go in-depth, but if you are being offered 29-30+ per hour from a CDI corporate branch for your first year in Korea, with no experience and a degree from an average school, then I would take that offer for sure. This happens fairly often as to not be unusual. Franchises can be great too, but there is more of a risk factor and so more things to consider before I'd recommend taking that offer.

[DrunkenMaster]

I have a few friends at CDI; a couple of them work in Mokdong (I think that's the branch location. If it's not Mokdong, then it's nearby), and another couple work at another place. Everyone likes it at both places, and they all make a ton of cash.

The ones in Mokdong told me it's more laid back, while the other one is where people go when they want to make a lot of money. They have the chance to teach more than basic conversation (ie debating).

[Whistleblower]

[Young FRANKenstein]

[jillbean1217]

[Young FRANKenstein]

[ihateittoo]

I am also very curious about the actual working experiences. I am enteraining an offer from CDI as well as some other schools.

This vacation day thing you are talking about is the fact that they only offer 7 days of vacation? oppose to the usual 14? Are there any other illegal practices that are predominant? I am entertaining a corporate offer and not a franchise if that means anything.

[nick1753593]

like most jobs in korea its hit or miss.

[Voyeur]