Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Tigerstyleone]

yes, I hate my job, but I just can't walk away from 4,300,000 a month.

I dream of leaving this place forever and living in Thailand, but I can't walk away from 4,300,000 a month.

It sucks. I hate my life. and I want to meet some people from this site that called me a newbie when I've been here for 6 years.
I want to meet the person who said I'll never make 4 million a month in person and show him what I can do. I want to freaking attack the guy that said I have no chance in hell making over 4 million a month. I really want to meet the guy in person who said I'm a newbie and my dream job is just a dream and that I'll never make over 4 million a month. I want to freaking meet the guy in person. Why won't you reply to my PMs you freaking coward????

I have bank books to prove to you I am the real deal. I really want to meet you. You know you who are Mr. N......

[The Cosmic Hum]

[nate1983]

[thegadfly]

Tiger, didn't the fellow claim you would never make over FIVE million a month?

[Modernist]

The solution for hat-, er, I mean disliking your job really comes down to 2 things:

1) Recognize that this so-called profession is by and large a joke, as are MOST [not all, TUM, PGB and Gadfly, OK?] of those doing it; and most of those supposedly learning from us are at least at some level aware of this fact. NETs in any country and at any level can only help those with motivation to learn, which PERHAPS 10% of our students possess in any way. Language learning is quite difficult for most people and there has to be internal discipline and desire to push through the grinding memorization and repetition and all the practice. There are many dispiriting moments. I myself deal with this as I try to get better at Spanish, which is in no way as difficult as English, especially for Asiatic speakers.

Korea makes it much worse through awful textbooks and wasting time on drills instead of allowing for organic speaking practice.

Since our work is a joke, it's not very surprising that many of us dislike doing it. The core element to job satisfaction is feeling that what you do matters. What we do, doesn't. So be it. What does matter is the OUTCOME of doing it. In many cases, including mine, the outcome is a bank balance of a level to permit certain other outcomes, such as a vehicle purchase back home, or traveling to better countries after leaving here, or breathing space to find a real job elsewhere, or a degree program. Something.

2) The key. There has to be an END POINT. When you kiss this junk-heap country and embarrassment of a job goodbye, forever. I have 64 weeks and 3 days until mine arrives. Having this and knowing it gives me great peace when I am feeling worn down by the daily mediocrity and pointlessness of working here [such as my being required to teach 2 separate camps this week--after already teaching 5 camps previously over this break--to students with virtually no comprehension of English, so that a box can be checked on a form no one will ever look at].

Tigerstyleone, the question really comes down to, how long can you not walk away from 4.3? I make more than average myself, but not enough to stay here beyond next May. Life is short. I doubt on your deathbed you'll be thinking 'I'm sure glad I kept that high-paying job I hated!' Money is but a tool. It's not the goal. Do you have a goal?

Everyone working here should be asking that question.

[PRagic]

Do you have responsibilities to others aside from yourself? Kids? Folks 'at home' to whom you need to send coin? Serious debt?

The older you get, the less it is about you and a 'dream job' and the more it is about sucking it up and meeting your responsibilities.

But I don't have any, so I went for the dream job thing

[Hotpants]

How many of us on this board can claim to be in a job that we love so much, that we want to do it for the rest of our life?

I think it's really important to pay off any debts, get some proper money behind you, and show evidence of commitment to a job. (I also take the stance that it's not just about earning more, but also about saving more.) But some jobs can also take over your life, too, so it's important to try and establish some other roots outside of work that you enjoy. Join a social group, learn new skills, do some traveling. If you only think work 24-hours a day, you will soon start to resent your job and your life no matter how good it is or how much it pays.

Ask yourself why exactly it was that you came to Korea in the first place. Then, map out a path for the next 5-10 years and assess how your current position fits that path.

May the happiness be with you!

[Julius]