Korean Job Discussion Forums

[irishsox28]

So I'm in discussions with a hagwon. I got the contract on here, posted it, and the responses were that it was generally good. I made numerous demands to fix it up, and the hagwon responded well to most of them. Enough to satisfy me and the recommendations that eslcafe posters wrote. Everything has seemed very legit and they sound very good. That was until I got an e-mail today. It was in response to my contract amendments. They wrote me and granted me 95 percent of what I wanted, the other five percent being small things (3 sick days vs. 5 sick days). But with those changes, they said that for every position they have open, they interview numerous other applicants. That being said, they do not want their foreign teachers responding to a bunch of applicants requests for information on the hagwon because it will cut into their teaching time. All i want is to write to 2-3 of the teachers on their personal e-mail and ask them what they like and what they don't like about their jobs. I never asked to call them during school hours. It worries me that they are trying to control their teachers' ability to speak and respond with other potential foreign teachers. Your general thoughts on this situation>

[Son Deureo!]

I think it's obvious that they don't want you to talk to their current foreign teachers because they are afraid of what they'll say. It's definitely not a good sign.

[Join Me]

[irishsox28]

i would never take it without speaking to the instructors first. i've made that very clear. the e-mail is just written in halting english, it may be a language barrier issue.

[cruisemonkey]

[Jeff's Cigarettes]

To quote Jonny walker...."keep walking"

[sojourner1]

Move on and quite wasting your own time with nonsense and keep looking for a job...

[wylies99]

Find another place to work and find another recruiter for recommending such a lousy place.

[bassexpander]

To be perfectly honest, and per previous experience, any foreigner they may decided to have talk with you from this point out could be telling a lie for any number of reasons -- probably to secure a letter of release from a hell school.

Just leave this one be... move on... find another job. This one smells rotten.

[mgafunnell]

when in doubt...you're in doubt for a good reason.

[jadarite]

bassexpander brought up an excellent point. Also, don't think just because they changed the conditions in the contract that they will honor those changes. If you take this job, they will gradually steer you toward their original contract. They just make changes to get you to sign.

I found it better to talk to the owner and get their honest opinion without needing another teacher. Work with a school that presents you with a contract that needs NO changing. Then, when things come up, talk to the school owner. If the school makes changes then, then you have made the right choice in schools.

Depending on what you want changed, it might mean the school is taking advantage of you (which is highly likely).

[irishsox28]

i sent the hagwon an e-mail saying that unless I get the e-mails of their foreign teachers, i will be ending our brief relationship. if they do provide them, i'll see what the teachers have to say but i'm already moving on. on a different note, has anyone heard of a Cornerstone English School in Anseong City?

[wylies99]

The ONLY "official" contract is the one they submit to Immigration to get your visa. If a hagwon has already lied to you, they'll BS the contract and then not even live up to the BS contract.

RUN AWAY from this hagwon AND this recruiter.

[Bibbitybop]

[jadarite]

You might want to add on to that current teachers. I got someone contacting me when I started at a hagwon, but the other English teachers (not Korean) didn't get contacted. They also didn't get paid the previous month.

Even if the school gives references, they will pick and choose ones that fit their agenda.