Korean Job Discussion Forums

[naturegirl321]

I can't believe how low salaries are getting to be. I've seen more than a handful of uni jobs that require an MA and experience, yet barely pay over 2 mil a month.

I hope the economy gets better. There are just too many teachers in Korea

[english puppet]

[weso1]

Some places are also requiring teachers to pay their own rents or not offering flight money.

The good ole' days have passed.

[naturegirl321]

Sigh, I know. I was thinking about the Middle East in a couple years, but I think that's out as well.

Oh well, economy should pick up in 2015 ish or so, right?

I just can't believe how many uni jobs are paying 1,8 to 2.2. And in Seoul to boot.

[english puppet]

[Kimchifart]

[naturegirl321]

[cheolsu]

I think the market is headed, eventually, towards being competitive rather than a sign-up list. I would say that I'm good at what I do, interviewing well with good references, and having experience as well. I lack formal qualifications (education degree or a master's), so I don't know what it's like for those people. I don't know if they're noticing the pinch. If those with qualifications are still making good money while salaries stagnate for those without formal training, I can't feel too bad.

About the university job paying 2 million without a mention of housing, that ad was posted about 2-3 weeks before the deadline. It was re-posted just before the deadline and then again about ten days after that. That suggests, as expected, that nobody in the position to apply for a university job is willing to do it for 2 million without housing.

I do think newbies should make it a point to never accept a hagwon job for 2.2, particularly if it's out of the Seoul area, and we should publicize this point.

[Julius]

[naturegirl321]

[nathanrutledge]

[naturegirl321]

[Julius]

[liveinkorea316]

Its not as rediculous as you might think.

I said the same thing to my colleague the other day - that the school would just take another warm body but he correctly reminded me that it was not the case and to look around me. Our Uni tries to only hire people with Masters degrees to teach credit courses and if your students give you consistent bad evaluations you are out.

By far the most important thing however is that Universities compete with one another. Students talk to their friends at other universities and your university will get a reputation. So based on qualification and by hiring quality teachers, the university will try to improve the language teaching part of its university to give it a favourable reputation; or at least not a bad one.

Even public universities compete in this way. They get more funding for a Masters teacher. They get happier students and a better reputation from hiring a better teacher.

When the student comes to the office and asks a question and finds the teacher has a bachelor of leisure studies the student - who may be a very serious student - could get a very negative impression about the care the university is taking in his english, especially if the class is terrible. If the class is not good but the teacher is qualified, the student is far less likely to to complain bitterly and spred vial rumours about a slack uni that doesn't care about it's student's.

[Julius]