Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Alexander]

I have a Masters in my field, with a number of years of professional experience.

I have landed an interview with a well respected university. This is NOT an English teaching position, though I will be lecturing in English.

I'm interested in getting some information about contracts, salary, and other conditions from others who are working in similar positions.

If you are currently employed by a university in Korea in something other than an English teaching capacity, I'd love to pick your brain!

PMs are welcome!

[KoreanAmbition]

I understand you want to remain anonymous, but do you realize your question is rather ridiculous?


It's not different than saying,

"I have an interview with a big company in Seoul. I can't tell you what kind of job it is but I have been doing it for 5 years. Can you tell me what salary I should get?"

The first question would be:

Are you in IT?
Are you in sales?
Are you doing customer service?
Are you working an admin position?
Are you designing something?
Are you in the research of materials/chemicals?
etc.


The second question would be, "What company?"


Obviously, in your specific case, you don't know the salary because most likely they've advertised "competitive salary, based on qualifications."

That partially means, "We hope you don't know what we should pay you."

And you're coming here for answers, and not being specific... therefore, you can expect to not find any worthwhile answers. I'm not being rude... I just mean it's not possible to get practical feedback. I'm in a similar position as you but I cannot help you based on the information you've provided.

I think people here would like to help you, but without information they can't provide you anything worthwhile. Discussing the job on here won't add competition to your interview... you have nothing to lose.

[Konglishman]

Besides myself, I suspect there are not too many master's degree holders on daveseslcafe, who have university positions teaching subjects other than English. On a side note, with regards to working in Korea as an expatriate, I sometimes think there should be a good alternative website to daveseslcafe which would include other professional jobs besides just ESL. The forums on such a website would hopefully give a broader cross-section of the expatriate experience in Korea.

At any rate, other than giving you very basic information about my contract, I am not sure how helpful that I can be to you as my position does not start until next semester. I will send you a PM.

P.S.: A good backup alternative plan would be to find a job at an international school. While you will not get 5 months of vacation, you could potentially get about 3 months of vacation and the salary is sometimes even better than a university salary although this will only be true for very good international schools.

[Alexander]

[Xuanzang]

PM tzechuk.

[KoreanAmbition]

Alexander,

If you think almost no one can provide information, then can you find a reason to worry about posting the information?

Seems you claim one group of people aren't here, but then in the same breath you're worried to post your information.


It only takes a few people on here to offer you some useful information... I wouldn't be so worried about others utilizing the details you provide... most likely their career is not related to yours in any way.

Anyways, I just wanted to help you get your information. I hope you find what you're looking for.

Cheers

[frankly speaking]

With only a masters I doubt that you will get more than you would as an EFL instructor. I know of several people with PhD teaching at various schools. With only a masters, unless it is a very specialized and new field, I doubt that you would get offered higher than 3million if they even hire you. Often they give out lots of interviews even if they are not considering hiring you. Some positions the interview is just a formality, but not at Korean Universities.

FYI there are other sites that offer job postings in professional fields other than ESL. However they don't only focus on Korea they offer many international positions.

[PRagic]

I've met a couple of lawyers over the years who have taught outside of ESL at universities. All of these people began in ESL, stayed with the same school for years, and then transitioned into non-ESL teaching as opportunities came up. Most of them juggle admin and teaching duties for an internationalizing program.

I did meet one person with a Master's (in Business) who was invited to teach at a small university outside of Seoul. The experience was a flop; unprepared department, students, and no direction or integration where the course was concerned. Another person I've known for quite some time has their Master's and the better part of a Ph.D (English Lit, I think). Again, their experience teaching outside of ESL at a very small university was less than favourable.

There are increasingly more and more non-ESL positions coming open in Korea. I have one, and work with a load of others from all over the world. As with most universities around the world, though, the price of admission is the Ph.D., publications, and experience. This is where the competition for decent pay and employment conditions exists.

What's the old expression? "I wouldn't want to work for anyone who would hire me," I think it is. With just the MA/MS/MBA, you probably won't be entering into a competitive position at a competitive university for a competitive salary. You will more thank likely be teaching 4 or more classes and be paid on par with ESL teachers in the better programs at bigger universities in Seoul. Odds are you will not be offered a tenure-track positions and the associated benefits. Just sayin...

Now, before I get slammed here, I have already been reminded that there are some diciplines where experience and the MA will suffice (creative writing, drama, fine arts, graphic design, etc...). However, these positions are tougher to come by because Korean universities, if they make the decision to hire foreign profs to teach in a dicipline, are looking to increase their position compared to other schools, both domestically and abroad; to do this, they need Ph.D. holders who publish in internationally rated journals. Thems da rules.

But, hey, you never know. Let us know how thing pan out.

[ytuque]

[Julius]

I'm impressed but a little surprised that Korean universities have whole classes of students fluent enough in English... to understand lectures on specialist subjects....using detailed and special terminology.

If this standard of proficiency actually exists in Korea, then why aren't these grads finding their way into govt. service jobs that deal with foreigners?

[Xuanzang]

[Konglishman]