Korean Job Discussion Forums

[gmat]

[frankhenry]

[ovid]

okay.. not to bag on cdi at all..

a few pluses, before i get negative:
-reliable pay
-safety in a large corporate atmosphere (they are run so much like a covey 7 habits of highly effective people seminar)
-potential to make good money
-fairly decent wages

However....you're rolling the dice with cdi
-No holidays (a big turn off for me)
-3 hour classes
-Bottom line, it's a business.. so if a salary kid works in your building, you can guarantee that kid's gonna get stuck with as many hours as possible (meaning you'll get barely minimum)
-When I worked there they did massive firings. If going branch.. if your class reached a certain minimum level, you'd get a warning, eventually followed by a dismissal
-Student surveys (yes, because kids will give the highest marks to the most qualified, organized teacher... or the one that comes into class drunk with lame jokes)
-Did I mention mandatory meetings and training sessions? Gotta travel to headquarters. Some had to spend 2-3 hours travelling to get it done. Oh and that's unpaid too.
-The sign in bonus is only if you're travelling TO korea (ya lots of people got shafted on that) and if you pester about it
-Sick time... again this is one of those "they could honor it", but more cases than not... when you got three hour classes and are struggling to get more teachers... you really think they're going to let you get one easily? Oh and I paid for my "paid" sick time off (it came out of my salary).

I mean.. they weren't that horrible.. I mean I got paid on time (well after they gutted my paycheck for a second security deposit) and only 3 teachers got fired... one because he did low on the student scores, another because she was too sick to go to the unpaid training, and another because he disputed a contract issue.

[yingwenlaoshi]

[majesticmako]

I currently work at a CDI main branch located in the the Gangnam area. If you're interested in reading the rest of my post, keep in mind that my branch is one of the more "hardcore" branches due to it not being a franchise. I've heard that CDI franchises are more lenient and laidback, but with less opportunity for growth.

It is extremely structured, meaning you never have to come up with your own material. This could be a good or bad thing based on your style. More often than not, it is a good thing because they have their own R&D department making the textbooks. On the other hand, however, you are constantly being watched (through CCTV) and if they're not digging your performance, they will certainly let you know. I know of several people that either did not pass training or were "let go" after a couple weeks of teaching.

There was a rigorous training schedule of 5 full and long days before I began working. This was, indeed, unpaid. They did provide a surprisingly nice hotel room, though. It included a free breakfast buffet and a shuttle to and from the training facility. Everything else comes out of your wallet without compensation.

My branch is very strict, and nearly all the instructors are given the 24 hour/week minimum. This did not sit well with me considering that my recruiter informed me that I would be closer to the 30/week mark. If they did give me 120 hours/month, I would have very little to complain about with the high hourly wage. Earning 3 mil a month is normal for me @ 96 hours/month, but CDI does not usually provide your apt. So take out the rent and the payment is average or low if you're living in an expensive area of Seoul. Keep in mind that a 24 hour/week teaching schedule is a walk in the park, with a lot of leeway for extra work. Squeeze in a few privates or another part time job and I'm bringing in close to 4 mil/month (take out rent from here).

My branch is open Saturdays, which I must unfortunately work. Not all locations are open Sat, but I believe the main branches are. It definitely ruins my Friday night knowing that I have to go to work EARLIER than normal weekdays (2:30pm vs. 4:00pm). I only work 3 hours Saturday, but it is possible to be stuck with 6 if you're unlucky.

They pay on time, are extremely organized, and the students are usually pleasantly intelligent. If you're good or decent, it will be easy. If you're fudging your way through, you will be noticed. Head Instructors are required to watch your classes at least once a week and give you feedback. If you're seeking to improve your teaching ability, this is a good thing. If you could care less and just want to zombie your way through, it's not for you.

I am not given any benefits whatsoever. I am labeled as an "independent contractor" on my contract. I am paid exactly what I work for minus 3% tax. No health, pension, etc.

Still, the work environment is extremely comfortable. Great, clean building. Organized computer system that handles all the grades, attendance, reports, and telling their parents if they're being a pain in the ass or not doing their hw. Prepping the material takes around 1-2 hours per week, but I don't do anything else at home.

Given all this, my only complaint is that they don't give me enough hours. I am breezing through the 24 hour/week schedule and feel like I could easily pull 30/week if they let me. I think even 36/week is doable considering how structured it is. I would be making 4 mil/month if they gave me what I had expected...

[JBomb]

I do not deny that some of the people I have read about who work at various CDI branches are enjoying themselves, I am just a bit put off by the 2.2 mil monthly bit. Indeed it is horrid! To me that seems they are trying to push people towards the hourly pay model in hopes of trying to get out of paying for accommodation. The loaning of key money too is kind of downer.

[yingwenlaoshi]

They sound lame. Not paying for training, benefits, etc. No class. They monitor you and do this and that, make a lot of money and still can't be professional enough to treat employees the right way.

Korean slavery mentality. No class.

Saturdays and no vacation. Pfft. They'd have to pay me 4 million plus housing for 96 hours/month. The fkn money is there, so they should pay it.

[Voyeur]

Some people are lacking basic logic skills.

It isn't that CDI is inherently bad or good - it is usually about the salary.

2.2 hourly is horrific. 27k isn't enough. OTOH some people get 30k+ an hour and it can be nice.

It is all about the cash.

[yingwenlaoshi]

[lov2travel]

I just was declined by CDI.....they wanted me to work from 9-9 *which actually would come out to about 9 1/2 hours a day for 3 months for 2 million won but the contract was horrid. I tried changing the contract to make it more equal....*such as they couldn't fire me without prior notice,etc....but when I changed it they told me they weren't interested in me.

Anybody know of any good schools that are in need of a good teacher? I'm deflinately hoping to stay in korea and be with a good school for a few years.

[dexter]

I applied with CDI and went through the preliminary interviews etc. Didn't like the vibe at all. They seemed like a bunch of deadpan pretentious snobs (no this is not bitterness - they were 'very impressed' after the 'screening'), bound of ecconomic rationalism, devoid of humility. I compared their renumeration to other companies, and it seemd to me that their higher sallary is just a form of cost cutting as all they do is pay you a rate and then wash their hands of you (no housing, etc). Perhaps I will consider them when I am already estabished in Korea so I can use them instead of vice versa.

[dexter]

[chemdah]

Their advertisement reads, "Candidates who are selected for the following locations and who can start on the 24th, will receive a 1,000,000 KRW signing bonus to be paid upon completion of the training session."

[majesticmako]

If you have a master's, there is probably little to nitpick about from the head instructors. Mine rarely talk to me. I assume that this is because I am doing a good job. They will have something to say once in a while, but it's just because they kinda have to talk to you once a week. My discussions with them are usually 1-2 minutes long or they just send me a simple email saying good job, perhaps you could work on such and such a little.

You have to be very proactive about the recruiting process. They have massive applicants at times and you may find that you were "forgotten" in the whirlwind. My recruiter referred me directly to the in-house recruiting office and they were pretty good about keeping in touch as long as I kept the emails going.

At your level, you may be overexperienced. I am 1 year out of college with no teaching experience whatsoever (a lot of other work experience though) and they offered me a high starting salary. I did come out of an Ivy League though (not bragging).

I mean no offense when I say this, but perhaps your age and level of experience doesn't match what the company is looking for. 90% of the people I work with are in the 22-30 year old range. Most of them studied something totally irrelevant to teaching. 33k an hour would be a very modest starting level for you considering that I am much less qualified.

[ttompatz]

CDI is great. SIGN ON FAST if you get an offer (NOT)

If you don't you may get stuck with a PS job.

My co-worker started at 2.1 mil for 22 classes per week.
She works 8:30-4:30, M-F. No weekends, no holidays.
She got 6 extra classes per week during the afternoons. She received 20k per class (still within her 8 hour day).
total: 28 classes of 40 minutes and a total and her in-school work time is 40 hours per week (classes and prep and there is no homework for us).

Her gross salary for her 28 classes worked out to 2.6 mil per month.
She receives round trip airfare every year.
She receives rent free housing.
She receives medical and pension benefits.
She gets her severance paid out annually on the contract anniversary.
She gets 6 WEEKS of PAID annual vacation (as per the STANDARD contract).

She was fresh off the plane and green as grass with NO training or experience as a teacher.

I don't work quite so hard but I do have experience and qualifications.
I get a total salary of between 3.0 and 3.2 million per month.
I get ALL of the above listed benefits.

CDI is NOT the best show on the road.
The devil IS in the details. Do NOT base your decision on just the base salary. All those extras DO add up in a BIG way.

Shop around.
Even a green as grass newbie can do better if they are a little bit careful.

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