Korean Job Discussion Forums

[HANGRY]

I'm trying to get a PS job at a specific city in Gyeonggi. There was a posting that offered a job for 2.0-2.1 million, so I contact the recruiter about it. The recruiter sends me an email stating that my qualifications are too high, and my pay would be too expensive for this school (I technically qualify for category 2+).

I really want to work in this city, so I tell the recruiter I would be willing to work for a lower pay grade if I got to know the details. It's only .1 mill won difference, and I wouldn't miss it if the job is alright. Plus, I have zero years of full-time teaching experience and its my first year, so I'm just trying to get my foot in the door here.

I get a reply back, and according to the recruiter: I can't work at a lower pay grade because GEPIK doesn't have the budget for it.

This doesn't really make sense to me: I can't work at lower pay, because GEPIK can't afford to pay me lower pay?

Is it just me or is this bullshit? Time to find another recruiter?

[BoholDiver]

Who knows. Ask another recruiter and you may get a different answer.

I personally would never voluntarily take lower pay. No budget? That's the part I wouoldn't believe. They have plenty. After the principal takes his cut, maybe not.

[Hello]

[BoholDiver]

The number I have heard is 50 million won a year for a teacher. That is well enough to pay a teacher a fair wage, housing, severance, and the like. Also English teaching supplies. If a principal says there is no more money, that is a lie.

[itistime]

Maybe they just don't want to tell you that they think you are ugz.
Maybe you're not.

Seems like the excuse was BS to me.

[busanliving]

Maybe it so you dont demand a higher pay later in line with the pay scales?

[HANGRY]

Even if they have the budget or not, I still don't get that they wouldn't hire me when I'm willing to take a pay cut. Wouldn't GEPIK be itching to take a more qualified teacher for less pay?

And if they are worried about me going up on the pay scale later, in one year's time I would qualify for a higher pay any ways. No matter which way you look at it, it doesn't make sense.

[isitts]

[ThingsComeAround]

Which city are you applying for, OP?

[Hello]

[nathanrutledge]

Where have you guys been? The budget for English education has been cut at pretty much every level. The national government cut what it gives to the POE's. The POE for Seoul and Gyeonggi cut the English budget specifically so they could give free lunches to the students.

Seriously. Read the newspapers, it's been in all of them since LAST SUMMER when the election and budget cuts started.

Then, if you're part of GEPIK, at their crap training sessions, they gave everyone a nice long talk about how you won't lose your job if you're at the top of the pay scale, that you are secure. Then those that were at the top were let go shortly thereafter/told that their position would not be funded next year.

Also, many of us are paid from grants from the cities we live in. Since ALL budgets for everything have been tightened, that means there is less money from the cities for grants for NET's.

Long story short, OP, it's probably not BS. Budgets are tight and you're overqualified. They probably won't take you because they follow a province wide policy, so they don't have the discretion to let you take a paycut (which, IMO, is good - don't give them ideas that it's okay to work for less than you're worth; they'll try to push that crap on all of us!).

Just keep looking, something will open up. Also, be aware that GEPIK is attempting to ONLY hire during March and September, so if you're not in now, you won't get in until September.

[ThingsComeAround]

OP- I'd aim for anytime starting in May- they stop hiring in mid June this year.

nathan- I'd call BS on all those newspaper reports claim money going to free lunch yet they also say there is money to send K-teachers abroad

Just a phase out.

[lifeinkorea]

[ThingsComeAround]

[AustSaint]

I heard the same story quite a few times looking for a job this time around. They will not allow you to go for less pay, red tape and bureaucracy seem to be the reasons I got.