Korean Job Discussion Forums

[lawyertood]

I am curious what other people would do in the following situation. I think it is highly dependent on personal values. Here is the scenario:

You receive an offer of a job at a Korean university. The offer is very good, but your experience and background are not perfect for the job. Despite your lack of background, the job will be challenging and interesting and you are sure that you can do a good job. You have a few days to think about the offer before they want your answer. In the meantime, you are waiting to hear whether you will be invited for an interview at another university. This job is one you would really like as it is more attuned to your background. What they are offering as to pay and benefits is not quite as good as the job you have been offered, however, you know you would find the job to be more interesting because of the subject matter of the classes taught. Unfortunately, there is no guarantee you will get an interview or an offer before you have to make a decision about the first offer.

One caveat. Understanding that there is no legal obligation established until the contract is signed, with universities, if a person verbally accepts an offer and then later backs out of it, the university is often left in a difficult situation to find a teacher. Bureaucracy is the name of the game, and if enough time passes where the other candidates have been told the job has been filled, the university has to then resubmit a request to administration for approval to interview again. Often there isn't time. In departments where there are a number of foreign teachers, this results in increased overtime for the remaining staff. In cases where there are few teachers in the department, it could lead to major difficulties.

What would you do?

[bassexpander]

You don't even know if you got an interview at the 2nd uni yet. Besides, just signing a contract doesn't mean you MUST work at school #1. We've had people sign and back out of offers before. It's when you apply for a visa with that job that it becomes difficult.

You on an F2 yet?

[purple_buddha]

Signed contracts mean little here; a verbal agreement means nada. Keep your options open and take the best opportunity presented before you.

[PRagic]

The Platinum Rule: When dealing with issues and negotiations in a cross-cultural setting, it's not 'do unto them what you would have done unto you,' it's, 'do unto them what they would do unto themselves.'

In other words, one should interpret this question from a Korean's point of view. Therefore, I would 'accept' the better paying first offer, and then pull out if I got a secondary offer for a better position or opportunity. Leaving the first place in the learch for another teacher is not my problem, and as long as a month's notice is involved, they'll deal with it. They won't be happy about it, but they'll deal with it. Happens every day at universities here.

No biggie. Next question.

[cruisemonkey]

I fail to see the difference between the following options:

Take the offer, but allow yourself the option to back out if the other job comes through--It's all about you, you, you!
Accept, but allow yourself to be open to other offers because many Koreans would screw you over it's not a problem.

[traxxe]

For the most part Korean universities treat foreigners as meat. It makes them look good to have us. They don't offer tenure except in very rare cases and they are by and large academic jokes.

If they treated education and foreign teachers with more respect then the same should be given to them. Since they don't... "Go on, take the money and run!"

[lawyertood]

[cruisemonkey]

I guess I'm just 'dense, dense' because even after reading your explaination they still seem 'same, same'.

Look out for number one!

[Xuanzang]

Follow the money but back out if the other comes your way.

[aka Dave]

I was in the position, at least in a way.

I was offered one univ. position and the next weekend I was interviewing for another. I simply asked the guy if I could have some time to respond. We had just had a phone interview and it was very amicable. He said okay.

That weekend I had the interview, got the job, and I told the other guy I had to decline the job. If you're transparent with people they'll usuallly cut you some slack. If they don't, that tells you something about them.

[air76]

Once I'd signed the contract I would definitely honor it and not back out, while there are many employers here who do mistreat their employees this isn't the case everywhere. You can't expect to be treated as a professional if you don't act like one.

That being said, there is nothing wrong with buying yourself time to mull over multiple offers, wait for additional offers, or interview with other schools. But once you've signed then you should be true to your word in my opinion.

[mountainous]

Tell the first school that you accept their offer and promise to be their teacher. Don't tell them about the other schools. Go and interview with other schools behind their back and if you get a better offer (more money) then ditch the first school while telling them that if they want you then they need to pay more money.

"You need to pay me XXXXXX to have me as a teacher."

Demand payment up front. If they refuse to pay you according to your demand, let them know that their refusal will cause you to lose face in front of other teachers and schools. If they tell you that you are causing a loss of Korean face, be quick to blame someone else behind closed doors.