Korean Job Discussion Forums

Linda868 · Joined: 16 Nov 2008 Location: Korea

What did you negotiate in your next contract? Did you receive anything new that you did not in your first contract?

I am thinking about renewing with my school if they would like to have me for a second year. I mainly want things like not desk warming.

My school in the past 2 months have gone through 6 teachers (foreigners and Korean-Americans). Some of them pulled a runner so I think that I might have a bit of negotiating power as I am one of the few they have brought over that has not taken off and the kids like me (quitting or pulling a midnight runner). As well, two of the female teachers are planning to take off soon as well. Most of the teachers that took off were here for less than a month, while a few of them were here for about half a year. What do you think I should do and how to approach the subject?

Will the school approach you to renew and if so, when? I don't know when and if I should ask about renewing. My principal is always sick, the head teacher is always busy with something..... or should I just look for another job?

Thanks!

mongolian spot · Joined: 15 Sep 2009 Location: Seoul

I can't speak with certainty, just my opinion.

Sounds to me like your working in a cowboy hagwan, I would get out now. If they go through teachers at that pace then law of odds would suggest your next.

You may feel like the big swingin dick right now but it can change.....overnight. Especially at these wild west hagwans. Maybe you offend someone at sometime in the future, appologising will make no diffrence.

Consider this

jpotter78 · Joined: 29 Oct 2009 Location: Seoul, South Korea

Linda868 · Joined: 16 Nov 2008 Location: Korea

They didn't fire any of the people, in fact they would've wanted to keep al l the teachers that left. I think they kind of freaked out because of the workload of 25-30 hours a week (it is a bit hard as it is 6 hours of straight classes that most are not use to). As well, there was a new program implemented so we were short handed and still are. My work is relatively easy and they leave me alone. I have my own way of handling the kids and delivering my material.

Gnod · Joined: 21 Oct 2009 Location: Here

If you're sure you want to renew, then you should definitely make a game plan.

1. What are your end of the contract entitlements?

2. What do you want for next year? Have minimums, and be willing to swap out options. Ideas are: More days for vacation, pay raise (100,000 won per month is an average resigning bonus), a better teaching schedule.

3. Make sure you are able to tell why you should be entitled to each bonus. It may not come up, but it helps. Things like, "I would like to have more time at home, I miss my mommy." Or "I need to have more days when I finish at 3pm, so I can go to the bank, or run other errands".

Next, set an appointment with the appropriate supervisor to discuss the upcoming year. Be prepared to jot notes about what you finally agree upon, so you can make sure it's in the new contract later, but I wouldn't bring too many notes into the meeting, maybe just some scribblings of when your contract finishes, and your end of the contract bonuses.

I'd begin the discussion by asking the supervisor about how the school is looking for next year. How is enrollment, how are prospective teachers, etc.

Remind them that you're contract is finishing. If they are asking about your resigning, tell them that first you have some questions about your contract finishing. This is the date the contract is completed, this is the date on your ARC, you have to leave the country by the time the ARC expires, or have a new visa in place.

After discussing the end of your final contract, time to move into the next phase.

Well, you really like the school (feel free to puff up their ego, a little), but you are not sure. Mention the items that you thought of before, don't try to bleed the school dry. Negotiate, and hopefully you and the school will come to terms. If the school has been running through teachers so quickly, don't be afraid to hold your ground a bit.

My current Hakwon has a decent retention rate for teachers, and my first year with them wasn't horrible. When I resigned, I dropped an extra class that I had agreed to teach for extra pay with my first contract (I lost the extra pay, but it really wasn't worth it for the time and prep spent on the class). I got an extra 50,000 won bonus, plus 5 days extra vacation (on top of the school giving everybody an additional 2 weeks of vacation this year).

However, the school went on to restructure much of the regular day schedule, without any prior warning, and otherwise has been going down hill, especially in the area of communication. If it wasn't for jumping through the hoops for a new E2 visa, I would have gone to another school 3 months into the 2nd contract. So just be on your toes!