Korean Job Discussion Forums

[david]

I worked at a GnB for six months, resigned and/or quit, got a LOR, and accepted a job at a hogwan that I've been at for three months. Everything is legal, but my Korean boss is really just trouble.

He's always telling me that he's told me to do something and asking why I haven't done it. ( Not keeping textbooks in the classroom is one recent example of this. He got in my face this day as if he wanted to get into a physical altercation.) The scary thing is this: He hasn't told me beforehand and thinks he has or he knows he hasn't but is trying to get inside my head.

On Friday He screamed at me in front of the kids before a kindergarten class for using too much chalk. " I leave it in the classroom and the kids pocket it." " This is your fault." " Can I have some chalk please?" The tirade begins. ( I will buy the f.....n chalk. ) I'm the only foreign teacher at the school and the pettiness of my boss and two co-workers is becoming unbearable and worrisome. I want out. Not one of these individuals can put a gramatically correct sentence together, but each is adept at pointing out the most trivial of errors that I make in the workplace. Ever use one side of a paper for copies instead of two?

How should I go about leaving this job? How should I explain myself to a prospective employer who wonders why I've had 2 jobs in nine months? I completed two year long contracts at two different schools prior to this year, but my recent employment history isn't ideal. I need to earn a living. Anybody have some advice?

[air76]

It sounds like he might not be willing to give you a LOR even if you wanted to quit...you could play hardball back...threaten to quit if he doesn't treat you better...and then if he doesn't ask for a LOR...if he won't give you one, then go teach in Vietnam or China for a year and come back.

[Troglodyte]

You've been here too long. Take a break from Korea. The pay in Thailand and Vietnam isn't bad, plus they have lower cost of living and (in my opinion) cuter girls and better weather (if you're close enough to a beach). You can also try Taiwan or Hong Kong but you might end up in a similar situation to as here in Korea. Most of the people I know who have been to Thailand or Vietnam liked it and had more pleasant employer than in Korea.

If you really have your heart set on staying in Korea, then probably your only option is to get fired (in which case your boss HAS TO cancel your current visa) and then get another job (with a visa run to Japan). Sure, your next employer isn't going to look happily at your recent employment history, but just tell them some legit sounding reason for why you were fired. Many schools don't even look at the CV. The RECRUITER looks at it (usually) but all that the recruiter cares about is placing you at a school so that they get paid by the school. There are enough jobs out there in Korea that you can get another one if you really want, especially if you are willing to work in a small town far from Seoul and Busan. If you decide to go that route, make sure that your documents are in order and ready, then wait until payday (verify that you've been paid) then tell your boss that you've had enough. Tell him that his behavior is unacceptable and that you can't (or won't) follow his instructions. Importantly though, don't be so aggressive that you start a physical fight. Don't ask him to fire you either. Let him come to that decision himself. Be creative. It's not that hard to get fired. Once he's fired you, make sure that you have it in writing. Once your visa has been cancelled, ask immigration for an extension, to stay in the country as a tourist. Hang out in Seoul at a hostel while you contact as many recruiters as possible and find yourself a new job. If you have all your documents ready, they will probably find you a few job offers to start as soon as they have the visa issuance number (or tomorrow if you're willing to teach under the table for the 2 weeks it takes to get the number). If you're here in Korea and you have your documents ready, then you have a major advantage over other applicants. Schools can meet you in person for an interview, AND you can start sooner.

So. Think about what you want to do and then make your exit plan.