Korean Job Discussion Forums

mcorteau · Joined: 31 May 2009

IS it possible to hardball your recruiter/school into getting more money than their original offer. If so, does anyone have any suggestions on the best way, time to broach this subject? My fear is with this job market, that when you try this stuff out they will brush you off and move to someone who will just take the base pay. Any thoughts?

Burndog · Joined: 17 Feb 2008

Here is my opinion (as opposed to what might be factually possible) -

Maybe with a Hakwon in a less than desirable part of Korea it would be worth a shot. It won't work at ALL with a Public School...or a school in or close to Seoul. They will...as you said...just move on to the next applicant.

Generally...if you want gravy, the best way to do it is to work hard in your first year, and then negotiate for perks in your second. This is what I did with my PS and it worked well. Best of luck.

Bryan Saxton · Joined: 01 May 2009 Location: Eugene, OR

In my [very limited] experience, there are some things you can negotiate, even if you've never worked in Korea before. I had a ridiculous clause in my contract saying that my school would pay half my airfare upon arrival and the other half when I finished my contract. I asked my recruiter if she could get it changed, and she said she didn't think it wasn't possible. Then, I told her that if I couldn't get my airfare up front, I would be unable to sign the contract. A few minutes later, she emailed me back saying that my airfare would be payed up front.

My school is in Pyeongchang dong , Seoul, so even if your contract is for a school in or near Seoul, you can negotiate some things.

Burndog · Joined: 17 Feb 2008

okayden223 · Joined: 05 Jun 2009 Location: Incheon

Yeah the recruiter will pay the airfare if it comes down to it for a PS. I had a friend who had been accepted for a PS job in Gyeonggi-do and she simply told the recruiter "I'm sorry but I can't afford the plane ticket, so I guess it's not going to happen." The exact same thing happened the the recruiter caved and told her the airfare would be paid.

expat2001 · Joined: 28 Jan 2006

Getting the school to modify a contract is one thing , getting them to obey the the contract , well , thats something else

DCJames · Joined: 27 Jul 2006

Burndog · Joined: 17 Feb 2008

davem5472 · Joined: 25 Jul 2009

Once again, watch what you THINK is "standard" there is a waiting list 2 miles long this summer for those Korean ESL jobs, so ummm...maybe its time to be glad for what you have. Check out other countries, you wont find full flight in a most of them. And YES, there are people who will pay to fly themselves there "just to get a job" this year...the game is changing...quickly, look over your shoulder.

Beeston27 · Joined: 03 Mar 2009

davem5472 · Joined: 25 Jul 2009

Beeston, 1. there were over 300 new resumes last week on Dave's site, there werent near that many new jobs. 2. Except in those countries with extensive "private" schooling like Korea, there is a decline in Northern Euor, North Am teaching openings (exp. math and science) because of srinking public funding and tax bases. Unemployed new graduates are a dime a dozen, making many of those who would NEVER consider teaching "overseas" more than willing to now. Sheer economics.

SharkDiver · Joined: 08 Nov 2008

Nah, it isn't because of any shortage of teaching jobs that there are so many resumes on Daves. It is true that there are fewer jobs here than before but there are still tons of jobs. Due to the new and MUCH slower visa process people have to wait MUCH longer than before to get over here. While applicants are waiting for the criminal record check and haven't yet committed to one school they can apply to many different schools to find the best offer. That's part of the reason. Also, many teachers, knowing the long waiting period to get a visa, post resumes ASAP rsulting in a build up of them.

There have always been tons of unemployed new grads. I can't think of a time when there haven't been. And with the exchange rate so poor there are likely many people deciding not to bother coming here. If you figure out the hourly rate teaching and factor in the exchange rate it is not at all so great.

In my experience here in Korea (I'm at my 3rd school), I don't at all feel like I should be "looking over my shoulder".

I have met very few certified teachers over here. Most are not. Most certified teachers can get much better positions than in Korea (barring international schools).

As for air fare, due to corrupt bosses it turns out that it is often NOT paid anyway. So whether you are going to teach somewhere in Latin America or here, you will still likely have to pay your own way.

davem5472 · Joined: 25 Jul 2009

Good insight Shark...thanks. I suspect I am fighting an uphill battle due to age as well.

SharkDiver · Joined: 08 Nov 2008

You'd be surprised how many older teachers are over here. I was very surprised myself. Seen people in their 60s working here. It's harder to get a job if you are older but still not impossible at all. Especially at a public school. And that's really where you want to be anyway. It's much easier and the contract will be honored. So that's what to target if you are older. And also the public schools will hire all year round. I was hired at mine midway through the term.

If you are a certified teacher than you can work at an international school in just about any country in Asia and earn as much as in Korea. And it's probably easier to get visas for other countries anyway. So check that out too.

I also worked at a university in Thailand. Very easy and cushy. And with the exchange rate what it is, the salary isn't so much less than Korea anymore.