Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Riddle]

Well it's less than a month away from the end of my contract and the school, like always, is waiting to the last minute to discuss contract renewal.

I've been at this school for nearly 2 years now and my contract ends September 11th. I'm fairly confident that they will offer me a renewal but it's important for me to change the end date to August 24th or so, which would leave me enough time to change over to a public school or University if I want to in the future.

Does anybody have any experiences with doing this? Do you think the school would be willing to do it for a teacher they like? Is it even possible to do it with immigration?
Thanks.

[kprrok]

What you would be doing is signing an extension of the current contract of 11 months instead of taking a full-year contract.

[Riddle]

Hmm, thanks for the info, If I did that I'd still want to ensure that I'd receive the benefits of completing a one year contract such as severance and flights. I guess I'll just have to ask. Anybody else have experience with this issue?

[wylies99]

Be VERY careful about the severance and flight parts. So, CYA (cover your butt), and get EVERYTHING in writing. It's probably a good idea to finish the entire 12 months, just to be CERTAIN.

I believe that public schools will wait for you for a few weeks, because of the shortage of teachers.

Have you applied for a public school job?

[oldfatfarang]

Always finish your contract. Period. While doing so you're free to look for other work and give your new employer a start date (1 day after you complete your existing contract).

Given the experiences of many teachers on these boards, it would be naive to think that you'll receive your pension, severance, flight & reference - if you don't complete your contract. Myself, I wouldn't take any assurances on this (written or verbal) from a K employer.

Good luck.

[Riddle]

I'm definitely going to finish my current contract. I was asking if I could sign on for a new contract that states that it's not quite a year, finish it and still receive the benefits of a one year contract.

I'm beginning a MA program this September with hopes to move on to a University job in a few years. It's just that this stupid end date prevents me from being able to get a new uni job without having to give notice at month 11 and miss out on my severence etc at my current job.

Perhaps I have no choice, I'm just hoping it's feasible. Otherwise, I'm fairly happy with my current job and it will allow me enough time to pursue my studies while working.

Public school jobs might wait eh? Hmmm... I'd have to order a new transcript from my University unless they accept ones that are 2 years old (sealed and closed)..

[wylies99]

[Tobias]

If you complete only 11 months of your next extension (assuming you get one), you know your present employer won't have to pay your completion bonus. I doubt they would in that case. But I don't think you have much to worry about if you're moving to a run-of-the-mill job. That employer will wait on you to finish your next year-long.

However, if you find a cherry job offering whose contract begins in late August 2009, you'll probably have to accept it on the fly before someone else grabs it. In that case, you'll have to decide if foregoing the bonus and perhaps plane ticket is worth it. I'd make the jump and forego the bonus. It'd be a small price to pay for maximum happiness.

[oldfatfarang]

[Tobias]

Agreed. It would be risky. It would depend on the school, its turnover, its location, the pay, how happy the present help is, that sort of thing. SNU may be a better risk than TimBakTu university.

These factors would have to be weighed against losing the bonus and airfare. The OP will have to do that weighing.