Korean Job Discussion Forums

supermouse · Joined: 19 Apr 2011

So over the summer I had a job in Seoul, two months in I fell victim to Avalon's new great policy of letting students rate teachers subjectively. I got a letter of release and I was only able to find a job in the changwon area. Little did I know i would be on the way outskirts with an apartment smaller than the one I had in Seoul.

I came down here on good faith, i told her i could only give her 9 months, the duration of my visa because i had to be back for my dads 60th. Yes its a partial contract, but i came to her very cheap and I am not getting a pension nor am I getting any severance pay. The school itself is disorganized, its kind of ghetto and i am the only foreigner there which sucks. My director is OK, yeah i get paid on time, but like i said, i can't help but feel i am getting a raw deal and getting the bare minimum.

I am just curious how many people would finish their contract if they knew they were not getting the bonus at the end. Airfare is nothing to balk at, but whose to say i won't get screwed over again?

koreatimes · Joined: 07 Jun 2011

What exactly are you expecting? You entered into an arrangement where you wouldn't complete a year. You stated you want to be back home for your dad's 60th birthday, so how are you going to "get screwed over again"?

You are planning on coming back to Korea after your dad's 60th birthday? You plan on trying to get another school arranged now (if so, forget it), or are you worried about the next school you apply for (back home)?

It's a rather simple formula, sign 1 year contracts, make sure the right things are listed, and you won't feel screwed over. However, in this case, I don't see how your situation is anything different than to be expected.

Skippy · Joined: 18 Jan 2003 Location: Daejeon

Sorry in the end you did not complete a year with the Changwon school, so they do not have to pay you a bonus. 9 months does not equal a year. Pension well some schools do, some don't. Your school decided not to and you said nothing about it when the hired you. As to the plane ticket what was agreed upon in the contract?

So did the school kidnap you, hold a gun against you head and demand you work for them?

Ok I will admit Avalon did screw you. But when you moved on, the power was to you. You chose a place and went with it. Your demand on leaving for your father's birthday and not giving the school a full year - well means pretty much to the school - NOTHING. It is your problem not theirs. They will work with you and they did but a school will not bend over backwards for you to get tom your father's birthday.

TheUrbanMyth · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Location: Retired

big_fella1 · Joined: 08 Dec 2005

the pension deal sucks but

A I R F A R E H O M E is great.

ttompatz · Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Location: Kwangju, South Korea

Draz · Joined: 27 Jun 2007 Location: Land of Morning Clam

They didn't have to give you the airfare.

allan of asia · Joined: 17 Mar 2009 Location: Here, there, everywhere

You know what, i rarely vent on here, but I am SOOOOO sick of people saying both on here and in person i have to do this or that or be there for X Y Z 'back home'. WHY COME OVERSEAS if you cant miss your dads 60th or your podiatrist's cousins wifes sisters dog washing party or whatever...I know possibly in this situation if the avalon job had worked out you would have been home completed your contract and not have your issue - i do sympathise, but the number of people who seem to not realise living on the other side of the world means that you cant always be part of the family's full celebrations and events astounds me - if it is that important, go home and dont come back - you are too close to your family to be living overseas anyway...this was not aimed at the OP, my apologies!

Skippy · Joined: 18 Jan 2003 Location: Daejeon

supermouse · Joined: 19 Apr 2011

I am not complaining about missing Christmas, thanksgiving, or Easter. I have spent a lot of time away from home before. If things had worked out at Avalon, I would have been fine. In fact i could have renewed and gotten going home money. Did I mention the same week Avalon pulled this stunt, my grandfather passed away? It was an awesome week for me.

I think a lot of people on this forum do not realize the job market in Korea is not what it used to be. When I was forced to quit from Avalon I told myself it was be a blessing in disguise and I would get a better job. I did not have much choice, it was either take this gig or leave Korea.

By the way I did not get my flight money here because of what happened at Avalon. So i just look at it, I am doing a full year Korea and the only benefit I am getting is the flight money home. If that was the case for everyone, a lot less people would come here.

Yes, i know i am getting my rent paid for, but the apartment is meh. There is something to be said about the fact I had a bigger apartment in Seoul. All the other foreigners i meet consistently have better housing.

The flight money home is good, but whose to say she won't fire me in my eighth month or just screw things up?

koreatimes · Joined: 07 Jun 2011

If you get fired, you haven't lost anything (except this airfare which they don't really need to give you).

If you prefer a different lifestyle and work environment, then only you know that.

Riker · Joined: 28 Dec 2010

ttompatz · Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Location: Kwangju, South Korea

wishfullthinkng · Joined: 05 Mar 2010

a lot of teachers, especially the ones fresh from college don't yet understand what it's like working in the real world whether it be in korea or elsewhere.

i remember busting my rear 60 hours a week for months on end at a corporate gig in nyc (and still do it now actually). i was salary so there was no overtime. there was no bonus at the end of the year. i didn't even get a free flight anywhere let alone across the world to korea. i did get a 401k since i was corporate but the underlings at the non-corporate level didn't anything of the sort. i also didn't get almost 3 months of vacation every year (ps teachers, sorry hagwoners), nor did i get to deskwarm and waste away hours learning on wikipedia which many times i would have enjoyed.

in the real world we don't get all these fun perks that many teachers take for granted here.

shifty · Joined: 21 Jun 2004

OP, just reflect a moment on what woulda happened if you hadn't got this job and had to have left Korea, tail between legs, self esteem asunder.

You'd have had tell your wider fam that no, you couldn't hack it in Korea, was sent packing. By the time your pa's 60th came around you'd have had plenty of time to ponder on how useless you must be and your fam plenty of time for their admiration of you to take a fat jolt.

At the party you'd have felt it appropriate waiting on everyone with the wine glasses in between skulking in your bedroom.

As it is now, you're going to be the toast of the party, upstaging your poor dad, the arrived home hero!!!

Think about it.