Korean Job Discussion Forums

[smartwentcrazy]

Well after several months of searching for a suitable job, I've been able to land a teaching position in Bundang. This will be my first teaching gig in Korea, so I was wondering if some of you seasoned vets could give me some feedback on this offer:

Private Academy
Monthly salary: 2.1M ~ 2.5M KRW
Housing and roundtrip airfare provided
50% of medical insurance covered
Paid Vacation per year: 28days (7days x 4weeks)
Daily Working Hours
During Semesters:
Mon. - Fri. 2:30pm - 10:30 / Sat. 1pm - 7:30pm
During Vacations: M/W/F 9am - 7:30pm /T/Th 9am - 6pm
Class Hours per Month: 120 hours per month

I was holding out for a public school position, but from the looks of things, it seems unlikely at this point in time. Are these the standard working hours for private schools? Can anyone share their teaching experiences in Bundang? Advice or feedback is greatly appreciated!

[ABC KID]

Getting straight to the point...

Don't take that job. You can do better. Ignore anyone that says you can't.

[paulf]

Th enly thing this job has going for it is the long leave-4 weeks is alot for a hagwon. The hours are a killer and you have to work Saturdays.....

If you do take it-go for 2.5 and make sure the vacation is "paid vacation"...

just my 2 cents...

[smartwentcrazy]

[smartwentcrazy]

[Tigerstyleone]

Just take it. Bungdang is very nice. Its your first year and very hard to find the perfect job. Once youre in korea you can find another job and quit that one if you don't like it. You'll probably get a nice apt too.

[andrewchon]

Smartwentcrazy:

Take the job.

[teacherinseoul]

You have to spend 46 hours/week at the school and work on Saturdays. Was this really the best you found?

If you have 40 minute classes, then this schedule will quickly sap your energy. If it indicates that the minimum class length is 1 hour, then you have a chance of completing the contract.

[T-dot]

It depends on the school, but thats a HELLUVA a lot of hours if you get shafted for anything less than 3. Class hours may be 120, but work hours are closer to 160.

Housing. If its an officetel, expect to pay around 150,000/month in utilities. Living costs arent exactly cheap in Bundang (cheaper than Kangnam etc.. though).

Again, why not look for a prep school if you're from a top ranked school?

[smartwentcrazy]

[T-dot]

M-F 40 hrs + 6hrs Sat X 4 weeks = 160+ per month. These are your work hours; hours that they MAY be expecting for you to be at the hagwon.

You MAY have 120 class hours or teaching hours, but the rest of the time they MAY make you grade papers, make tests, make curriculum, consulting with parents etc....

I know a few Gyopos that work those types of hours M-S, but they earn closer to 4 mill than 2.

[smartwentcrazy]

[bcoral99]

What hagwon is this?

If you are having a tough time finding a job then this might be your best bet.

It is pretty long cause most only work 5 days a week. Plus your hours seem pretty rough because you won't be able to do much at all during the week or weekends. Some downtime is needed when teaching kids or adults.

Bundang is nice though if you are looking for a good location. Depending where u are its about 30 mins to Kangnam and an hour to the city center.

[Ruthdes]

Every Saturday?!?! That's crazy. Most hagwons don't work any Saturdays for the same pay (though less generous holidays, true). I work every 2nd Saturday and that's bad enough. It really cuts down your ability to enjoy Korea because your weekends are taken up and you can't go away. I would go away much more often if I didn't have to work so many Saturdays.

[definitely maybe]

say no to saturday. the only people i know who work on saturday with their primary employer these days get paid a hefty amount to do it. it doesn't look like you will be making enough to justify working until 10 during the week AND saturday too.