Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Dude Ranch]

what: renewing contract at hagwon for 2nd year
when: contract is up dec 1st. Want to get it settled soon
who: myself (Canadian) and the hagwon owner
why: want to get pay raise from 2.3 (current) to 2.6
where: Daejeon
how: will it work with regards to renewing contract for the CRC, health check, visa run?


This was my first year of teaching. I work at a great hagwon. I love the bosses, co teachers, etc. Seriously one of the best academies to work at. My friend got me the job here. I want to renew. They want me to come back. I have three months left and they keep asking me what I'm doing next year and I keep saying I haven't decided yet. I am pretty sure though I want to come back for another

What could I ask for in terms of pay. I'm thinking from 2.3 to 2.6. Think I'll get this. The school has a lot of students. The schedule is great as is right now. Also, It would be nice to travel for a month or so in between contracts. how does renewing contracts work with regard to criminal background checks, leaving the country etc for the visa? I thought I remember hearing that if you renew at the same school you don't have to go through the CRC, health check, visa run if you come back right away. what if I travel for a month or more afterwards?

[Skippy]

I think renewing can be easily done! And I think you are pretty correct that you do not have to likely submit the paperwork again or do a visa trip.

You do have some problems. Your pay rise. HAHAHAHAHA You have a better chance of your hagwon owner french kissing a dog then giving you a raise of 300,000. You can expect 100,000 more and even then I would be not surprised they saying they will need to buy your return ticket home as they will buy you one next end of contract.

Next problem, leaving for a vacation. Slim to to no chance of getting that. This is a hagwon we are talking about. They are rarely prepared. Do you think they can live with out a teacher for two weeks or a month. One reason the school wants to renew you is that they by renewing you do not have to have that week or more of time when they have no teacher. They will want you to continue working on. Also by renewing you they MAY NOT have to pay for a plane ticket back home for you.

Still in the END, its all up to you and how you negotiate. But be prepared to leave. Eggs and basket - man.

Another aspect is if you do say no they may start the ball rolling on a 11 month firing.

Good Luck

[Dude Ranch]

Thanks for the advice Skippy
appreciated

[Carla]

Yep, skippy hit all the nails on the head, especially about that vacation.

What does your current contract say about airfare. Originally mine said a return ticket, but we negotiated the contract (before signing). Now mine says return ticket or cash equivalent and that it is employee's choice.

[cruisemonkey]

In order to renew a contract, the dates must be continuous - so any time off between contracts would necessitate a new visa and all that entails. In other words, you can't have one contract end Oct. 31, and the new one start Dec. 1 without getting a new visa.

[cincynate]

I thought you HAD to go to Japan to get your visa.. Regardless of if you are renewing for the same school, not leaving, etc. Also, I was told you have to get the health check every year. Can anyone confirm/deny?

[T-dot]

I would ask for 100,000. No way you get 300,000 unless you are that good and bring in th business for that hagwon.

Be prepared to leave because they could easily and I mean easily find a newbie to take that 2.3 off your hands.

[Zulethe]

I would play it like when I renewed. The first step is to be absolutely certain about your intention to renew.

The second step is to cater to your bosses sense of reasoning. I.e., he's got a good employee and you've got a good school. It's a two way street. While it's a gamble for him if he loses you - he may get a freak in return and I guarantee, if he's been in business long enough, he's had his fare share - it's also a gamble for you because your next job is at best uncertain.

That's how I approached when I renewed and it worked out great. Too often I hear about people leaving a good situation for a couple of hundred a month only to wind up miserable.

You've both got it good and that should be the bottom line for your negotiations.

[Skippy]

I should explain a bit more. The question to ask is are your worth it?

You want 300,000 extra per month. Times that by 12 your 3.6 million won extra for the year. For 1 million to 1.5 million won the owner can recruit a new teacher. For that other 2.1 million won left they can buy a new plane ticket for the new teacher. Ignoring the fact that they are already paying for your plane ticket back (which you are owed) and your renewing likely means another two way plane ticket. Also the can try and recruit a teacher for less pay for 2.1 or 2.2 million, so they might save some more. So for what you are asking for they can hire a new teacher and save a couple million.

Next off your vacation time. That is another cost for the school. You want a month off. A month off to you may just mean 2.3 million won, which you will probably forgo. But for the school it can mean twice that or even more. They have to fill your position for a MONTH. A MONTH! The only way they can do that is if they hire a F-Series visa type who will not want that 2.3 they will want more. Heck the might demand 40,000 to 50,000 an hour. Or they will hire an illegal teacher which may also demand a hire hourly wage. If not lets say the illegal teacher takes the 2.3 million for the month they could still cost the school a fine or possible closer if they get caught. So just waiting for you for one month can cost the school an extra 3 million to 4 million or their business and reputation. Plus even for that month they still get a sub standard teacher who has little or no desire to put their y'all into it.

Very rarely have I met a teacher that is worth the 300,000 extra. You have to be so worth it. Losing you means they lose students. Or you know the school system so well and that hiring a new teacher would mean a slow down or down time in getting used to the system. Which will cost them in the end. Or replacing you will be so difficult and time consuming that it is just better to pay you more.

Lately everybody has been saying so many people are applying and looking for jobs in Korea. Unless you scream special you can be easily replaced and possibly for some one younger, better looking, more fun or even all of the above.. A job in Daejeon may not be the best, but its a whole lot better then one in the middle of nowhere.

Zulethe is correct - use fear and some logic in your negotiation. That is a good move to maybe raise your worth.

In the end all I say can be for naught, you could negotiate that raise and that vacation. All you got to do is try. But be prepared!

[Dude Ranch]

Thanks all for the advice, espiecally Skippy


I'm pretty much decided that I am going to renew now. I have been building suspense about it though, when they ask I have said up to this point 'maybe' or I am thinking about it. When I told one of my bosses I am considering coming back he was really happy. I think this will help the negotiating instead of just saying I want to come back. Make it a challenge. Similar to the way a politician does when he builds suspense up to whether or not he will run for office. Also, another teacher who has been there for a year just left this week. Me and her were the only foreign teachers. They just hired a new guy and they said they want three foreign teachers total, so me, the new guy and one other. If I go then they would have three new teachers which I don't think they want to deal with.

I'm going to follow your advice and when bargaining illustrate how losing me would be a bane for them and how I'm worth the extra.

I think I can forgo the holiday. I'll just renew. Its around christmas so we get a week off then anyways. But I will throw out 2.6 as my offer and see what they say. Better to go high then low. thanks all

[seonsengnimble]