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Korean Job Discussion Forums
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minos
Joined: 01 Dec 2010
Location: kOREA
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 Posted: Tue Apr 26, 2011 2:39 am Post subject: |
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Anybody who can comment on how valuable manager experience and business experience obtained here counts back home?
I'm a part time manager(not teaching) at an education institute and have a separate photography business in addition to ESL teaching. I figure it beats listing
3 years of pure teaching.
| CasperTheFriendlyGhost wrote: |
| No doubt about it, the pay sucks, and for me at least, the hours are long. I'm at work 9-6 for my measley 2.5 mil. My apartment is similar to the dorm room I moved out of years ago. If money was all you were after, you'd do better to find a decent waitstaff position and save every dollar. I think the Korean inferiority-complex knee-jerk reaction is that only someone desperate for a living would come to Korea to work and live. Korea may lack the glamour of Japan, but there are other reasons besides money to work here. Living simply and opportunities for travel are pretty high on my list. |
Your job hours blow. I never understood why anybody would take those high hour kinder jobs unless they were destitute.
Koreans think we make decent coin....ironically far higher than it is. They however know it's an easy as hell gig to get and that highering standards are near zero. Hence the lack of respect.
If you tell them you teach at a Univ. or elite PS school, they'll respond differently than "Joe's english hagwon" |
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southernman
Joined: 15 Jan 2010
Location: On the mainland again
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| Posted: Tue Apr 26, 2011 9:48 pm Post subject: |
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I was making about 45-50 K a year back home working for the Govt but the reality was that I saving a mere pittance of what I'm saving now.
The free housing and still relatively cheap cost of living (factor in drinking, although not so much, and smoking) make it very viable for me. Also overall I'd say my health has improved, more walking places, healthier food options etc.
I would estimate I'm saving at least 200% more a month than I was back home. In my first two years I agree with others, I supported the Korean economy hugely with my spending. Now I'm doing what most sensible immigrants do in any country. I'm living cheaply and wisely. To be honest, also like a lot of immigrants, the local economy isn't doing that well out of me.
I spend my money overseas and am saving up for my own business. Frankly speaking, where I'm living now is a bit boring, which is pretty much as I find Korea as a whole.
As for the OP, who cares that he's trolling for dirt anyone with an ounce of intelligence would know that young westerners go to far more exciting places than Korea, if entertainment and excitement are the main things we're looking for. Or I did at least. |
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No_hite_pls
Joined: 05 Mar 2007
Location: Don't hate me because I'm right
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| Posted: Tue Apr 26, 2011 9:55 pm Post subject: |
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| They however know it's an easy as hell gig to get and that highering standards are near zero. Hence the lack of respect. |
I had to get a drug test, HIV test, University degree certification, transcripts, write two essays, three letters of recommendation, interview, TESOL Cert, FBI criminal background check all to make nearly 14 USD dollars an hour here. My engineering job in the states five years ago payed more and needed less qualifications than my present position in SK.
The highering standards here are not low anymore. |
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minos
Joined: 01 Dec 2010
Location: kOREA
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| Posted: Wed Apr 27, 2011 2:30 am Post subject: |
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| No_hite_pls wrote: |
| Quote: |
| They however know it's an easy as hell gig to get and that highering standards are near zero. Hence the lack of respect. |
I had to get a drug test, HIV test, University degree certification, transcripts, write two essays, three letters of recommendation, interview, TESOL Cert, FBI criminal background check all to make nearly 14 USD dollars an hour here. My engineering job in the states five years ago payed more and needed less qualifications than my present position in SK.
The highering standards here are not low anymore. |
Those are hoops to jump through, not qualifications unless you consider not being a criminal or HIV postive "barriers".
The fact that somebody would hire you and pay $2000 upfront to get you here from a phone interview says as much.
I"m guessing you just got here.....wait till you actually interview in person at companies.
The circus gives more professional interviews.
This inudstry has some serious crediablity problems. |
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some waygug-in
Joined: 25 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Wed Apr 27, 2011 5:36 am Post subject: |
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Minos Wrote:
The fact that somebody would hire you and pay $2000 upfront to get you here from a phone interview says as much.
^~*
They pay this knowing that they can usually get it back one way or another.
If he's a bad teacher, they can fire him and deduct the airfare out of his last month's wages. If he's a good teacher, they are happy to pay it because it's an investment that brings steady income to their school.
If the school is less than honest (gosh who would ever suspect that?)
they can get the airfare back and more through unpaid overtime, overcharging for utilities, apartment fees etc.
The job offers made are not nearly so generous when you consider all the factors that go into them.  |
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