Korean Job Discussion Forums

[ankhetbast]

I finally have all my documents together and apostilled, and am sending off my resume. I don't have any experience teaching, no certification, nor an English major. Most of the positions that I'm seeing open are 2M-2.2M (depending on experience). For those of you in Korea, what do you think of the possibility of my negotiating something higher than 2.0M? Is it realistic at all? Have any of you successfully negotiated for higher than minimum pay as a first time teacher? I do want to be in Seoul. I have also seen others here commenting on the lowering pay rates. I would like to optimize my earnings, without ending up somewhere I won't be as happy.

[rowdie3]

I don't understand why you think you would deserve more than the minimun. You stated yourself that you have zero experience and zero qualifications. Doesn't make sense. Take what you can get. Get the experience. Then, in a couple of years, you'll have some bargaining power. This seems obvious to me, but I guess you wanted it spelled out?

[ssuprnova]

[PatrickGHBusan]

Not realistic considering you have zero leverage (no exp, no related qualifications) and are applying in a market that is still flooded with applicants.

You also have limitations such as in Seoul only. This further lowers your leverage. I mean you bring nothing to the table and add restrictions.

Negociation 101: to get anything you need to have the ammunition. your clip is empty.

But you are welcome to try.

[Carbon]

[ankhetbast]

[RMNC]

I would say 2.1 is the standard salary for hagwons that I've seen. If anything, your best bargaining tool is to say "I have another offer for X amount, can you match it?". It might not hurt to overestimate and then drop it down by saying something like "I'll sign right now if you give me X amount of money."

[Zanniati]

I recently found a job. I was unable to negotiate just about anything. In my opinion, your best bet is to post your resume and just wait for a good job to come your way. I got a 9am - 4pm (20 teaching hours per week) for 2.1. No experience, no training. RMNC's advice is also really good if you find a position you want and just want a little more money or some kind of contract change.

[oldtrafford]

I'll say it again, only a clown works for 2.0, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3 or dam it even 2.5!! Why the hell would one bother working 30 teaching hours per week (burn out) and having 10 days hols a year. Geez you get better paying jobs in Thailand!!

This will offend most of you, but go and find a proper career, which requires proper quals. You'll be happier in the long run, perhaps that's why there are so many miseries here in the land of the calm. Bring on the hate peeps because sure don't like a dose of reality!!

[RMNC]

Why do teachers get paid 2.1? Because Joe Fratboy will work for 2.1.

[Murakano]

2 years or more ago this would have been possible and fairly easy to do (teachers could cherry pick where they wanted to go and make a few demands) but these days with the market and influx of teachers it`s a little different as agencies can just ask the next foreigner in the list ,especially for the in demand areas like Seoul and Busan.

Maybe if you went to a less popular area you could negotiate.

2.0 is a bit of a joke though, esp for a long hours hagwon gig.....that`s what the salary was about 4-5 years ago but there is always a clown that will be low balled and work for less hence ESL salaries never increasing over the years despite inflation.

[RMNC]

Thus why all teachers who are serious about making money should encourage employers and immigration to be even more picky about their E-2 selection process. I support the notion of all teachers without experience being required to complete a TEFL course, or completion of a TESOL course at a college or university. The herd must be thinned for real teachers to make fair wages and be treated with respect and honesty.