Korean Job Discussion Forums

[eeschell]

Does anyone know the best way to quit and find a new job? I think my boss might want to fire me, so I need to find a new job before I'm left broke and homeless. I know the market is saturated with teachers right now but even recruiters seem to think I'm tainted!

Any advice?

[confucianbewildered]

i was in that situation a while ago.

the question is: do you have a job lined up and simply want to transfer your visa, or are you just quitting and leaving the country and starting the visa process all over.

if the latter, just give the 30 days required by law and politely but firmly insist that your money owed is given before you leave (even if you are staying in country, make it an issue of not accessing accounts overseas).

if the former, strap on your kissing lips and get the proper paperwork for a transfer: korean immigration and efl law have the necessary paperwork.

CHANGE OR ALTERATION OF EMPLOYMENT forms. www.efl-law.com

it might smooth things if you offer to help look for a replacement. the thing is, they own your visa and if you smack heads (like i did), it can get ugly.

i was in a position where my boss had shorted my pay, and i won the battle publicly and his loss of face came back to bite me hard. in retrospect i would have gladly given up the pay if i new what fury would come with the victory. it was a nightmare getting the forms signed, and would not wish that on anyone.

hope this helps,

and you're right, it's a teachers market, so if your job is the least bit hostile, change it. happiness here is yours to lose.

later

[confucianbewildered]

sorry,

to answer your original question what is a polite way to quit:

i would just lie: family sick, culture shock, anything. the point isn't what u say, it's to let them save face. if they think you'll be telling people bad things about the school, it'll be a fight.

even if they don't fully believe you, letting them save face gives them an out they will likely take to avoid conflict.

[cruisemonkey]

[calicoe]

This thread is alos of interest to me, since I am now looking for another job. I've read the other posts, but I'm still at a lost of how to do this gracefully.

I will complete a 16-month contract at a public school (in Feb.). We are on good terms, and I feel that I am liked by the principal, VP, and my co-teachers and students - most days anyway, lol.

However, I am in a small town which is a drag, and I have a master's degree. To no insult to my school, I want to go to Seoul or a bigger town, and I'd like to work my way up the university chain.

But, I need to start applying now, and I need references. How on earth am I supposed to swing this without jeopardizing my position at my current school? It is all fine and well if I get an offer in time to give them a decent 30+ day notice, but what about beforehand, while I am looking and the universities call references?

I am stuck between wishing to tell them at some point and give them an excellent, face-saving excuse so that I can get a good reference and letter of release, or just waiting until I've got a job.

Don't know what to do. They all seem like reasonable people right now.

[crsandus]

Lie: Say your fiance/spouse/partner is going to work at a certain city and you want to move there to be with them.

[DWAEJIMORIGUKBAP]

I'd pee on my desk and play 'Serve the Servants' at top volume on a loop.

No, not really.

I have had a few jobs in Korea where I've only stayed / lasted 6 months. Always private companies (hakwan or ASP)

When public schools interview me and bring it up I just explain that I don't like working for private companies as they only care about money and nothing for the kid's education or supporting their teachers. I always say that my former boss and I made a mutual agreement that I would leave, I gave full notice and that we parted on friendly terms.
I think this is important. And always focus on the fact that you thought the job didn;t allow you to do your best for your students, place the thought very firmly in their mind that this is your foremost care and concern.

When they ask me why I never re-signed at the public schools I've worked at (due to weird and psycopathic handlers) I always say I quit the High School because HS students are so unmotivated and difficult (true.) And the Elementaryt school beacuse I wanted to try ASP as it's kind of the same job but with lower hours but I'm now back in the PS system as I found that the ASP bosses are the same as hakwan owners (true.)

[waynehead]

In Korea, the best way to go about it is to lie, as others have said. Let everyone save face and all will be well.

[calicoe]

I've noticed that in a lot of job advertisements, they are asking for certificate of employment, or current job. What is this, and how are you supposed to get if you are still employed by said job?

[youtuber]

Quitting your job in Korea is a pain in the asss.

If you plan on working in Korea again, stick it out and finish your contract.

With the oversupply of teachers here, you are just giving a Mr. Kim a reason not to hire you.

[cruisemonkey]