Korean Job Discussion Forums

[asalchert]

To Whom Has the Answers,

I have been offerred a university position in Seoul starting in March. I am in mid-contract at an elementary school and would like to give my resignation.

I know I can give my 30 day notice (according to my contract) but I am unsure of the details of the process. I also know they will probably cancel my visa and I will have to do a visa run. My questions are the following:

1. Should I give more than 30 days notice to be kind to the school or will that backfire? (If I gave only 30 days notice, the notice would be submitted at the end of January - when the school is basically closed down and no one is around.)

2. What is the process for changing visa's? My new paperwork is nearly in order - I just need to know where to go in Tokyo to complete the visa process.

3. I am worried that the school will be so angry that they will kick me out of the apartment - can they do that prior to the 30 days notice? I have been a good employee, but I am weary of the reputation Korean schools have regarding foreign teacher-treatment when things don't go their way.

Any and all advice would be appreciated - thank you!

[ThingsComeAround]

You know your situation best.

What you are doing is actually morally wrong, as you probably haven't aided the school in finding a replacement teacher and you will leave them scrambling balancing talking to pissed parents, lone korean teacher, new interviews and calls to the MoE for a replacement. For a Uni job? Well I don't know your situation, but if the school was good to you, the least you could do is make the transition less painful on their end. Everyone wants to move up, but most of the time the "end justifies the means" doesn't always mean everyone is satisfied. People there do take retaliation to an extreme, and you may be in need of them in the future but won't be able to ask for aid.

Good Luck

[asalchert]

If we're talking about 'morality' than NO the school has not been good to me. I will more than likely be giving them a 60 day notice. I do not feel bad about leaving considering my treatment thus far. In fact, I have had no one tell me outside of my recruiter, say that I owe them anything beyond a wave goodbye.

[transmogrifier]

[asalchert]

Thank you transmogrifier

To clarify for those other guilt-layers out there: I'm not on here to trash my school. That's just not how I roll. I just want some suggestions on how to go about the process. Obviously, I would not have even considering breaking my contract if my situation was optimal. I would not have even looked for another job if I was happy in my current situation. This is my second contract in Korea - I know how things are suppose to be.

The school may be in a bind when I give my notice, but I am also making sacrifices: 1, I am going to be homeless for about a month, 2, I will have to pay back my airline ticket; 3, I will have to give up any accrued vacation time; 4, I will also lose a month's salary during my homeless month and 5, I will be paying for my visa run to Japan.

I would not be making these huge financial swings and changes if the school was wonderful. Morality and ethics swings both ways. Loyalty is not assumed simply by employing me. I figured that would be a given without me relaying that.