| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
mstob
Joined: 21 Jan 2013
|
 Posted: Fri Feb 15, 2013 4:35 pm Post subject: Reimbursal of plane tickets. |
 |
|
Hello,
I am considering going to Korea to seek work teaching English in the next few months.
I understand that I can seek work while I am here in Ontario and after arriving in Korea. Personally I am more comfortable finding work over there. That way I can scope out the school, more easily speak to other teachers, check out any potential apartments I am offered, and get a feel for the location.
My question is this. I understand that many schools that offer jobs to people abroad will pay for their tickets to Korea. If I am already in the country is there a chance that the school will reimburse my ticket after employing me or is that a sunken cost?
Any other suggestions you guys may have are greatly appreciated.
*I have posted this in the travel forum as well. If this is disallowed I apologize.* |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
|
| Posted: Fri Feb 15, 2013 5:15 pm Post subject: Re: Reimbursal of plane tickets. |
|
|
| mstob wrote: |
| My question is this. I understand that many schools that offer jobs to people abroad will pay for their tickets to Korea. If I am already in the country is there a chance that the school will reimburse my ticket after employing me or is that a sunken cost? |
If you are IN Korea you will not get reimbursed for your flight TO Korea since your employer will have to pay to send you on a visa run to Japan for you to get your actual visa in your passport and activated by an entry into Korea on that visa.
Do it from home. That is the way they are set up.
There is NO real advantage for a newbie to try to find work in Korea.
You will still need to go through a recruiter since:
-the (hagwon) employers largely don't speak adequate English,
-they probably can't read your resume and under stand it
-and you probably don't speak, read or write Korean.
You might as well do it from home, get a free ride over and make the best of it.
It ain't like doing a job search in Trana.
. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
mstob
Joined: 21 Jan 2013
|
| Posted: Fri Feb 15, 2013 5:59 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Thanks for the tip. My concern is that if I am looking for the job while abroad I will be unable to view the apartment as well as meet the employer.
Is it not possible to hire agencies in Seoul to overcome the language barrier? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
YTMND
Joined: 16 Jan 2012
Location: You're the man now dog!!
|
| Posted: Fri Feb 15, 2013 6:27 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Quote: |
| My concern is that if I am looking for the job while abroad I will be unable to view the apartment as well as meet the employer. |
I would get pictures sent from the school of the apartment and classrooms.
| Quote: |
| Is it not possible to hire agencies in Seoul to overcome the language barrier? |
If there is a language barrier, you aren't talking to the right school.
It's better to have a 1 year contract and find a 2nd school if the 1st doesn't work out. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Weigookin74
Joined: 26 Oct 2009
|
| Posted: Sat Feb 16, 2013 7:39 am Post subject: |
|
|
Use a western based recruiter and avoid Korean recruiters at all costs. Many will lie through their teeth to get you over here. Using a large Korean recruiting agency may be ok, however. But a small Korean one should be avoided at all costs. As for the apartment, take what you get to get over here and then look for something better your second year. We've all been there on that one.  |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
PREEST
Joined: 20 Jan 2013
|
| Posted: Mon Feb 18, 2013 4:44 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Weigookin74 wrote: |
| Use a western based recruiter and avoid Korean recruiters at all costs. Many will lie through their teeth to get you over here. Using a large Korean recruiting agency may be ok, however. But a small Korean one should be avoided at all costs. As for the apartment, take what you get to get over here and then look for something better your second year. We've all been there on that one. |
This.
While many Korean recruiters might be trustworthy or even reputable, there are too many dishonest Korean recruiters out there that it's not worth the risk. I have had the experience of being promised the moon by a Korean recruiter, only to arrive and find that I had been completely and utterly lied to about everything down to my apartment, location and salary. Naturally, I made up an excuse to leave (well actually there had been a massive Earthquake in my city so they let me go on compassionate grounds) and left the country only ten days after arriving.
Point is, many a Korean recruiter will lie through their teeth to get you to Korea so they can get paid. They will make the worst job sound great just so that you will accept it. If you have a western recruiter they are more likely to be straight up and there is no concern of misunderstandings etc.
Get a job before you leave. It will save you a lot of hassle. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
barca2121
Joined: 29 Jan 2013
Location: London
|
| Posted: Mon Feb 18, 2013 2:58 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Are you saying that the recruiters gave you a contract that said you would be paid 2.5M/month and when you got there they told you it was really 1.5 or were they making up things that weren't explicitly stated within the contract? Just curious |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
|
| Posted: Mon Feb 18, 2013 3:10 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| barca2121 wrote: |
| Are you saying that the recruiters gave you a contract that said you would be paid 2.5M/month and when you got there they told you it was really 1.5 or were they making up things that weren't explicitly stated within the contract? Just curious |
If it isn't on paper then don't believe it.
. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
EZE
Joined: 05 May 2012
|
| Posted: Mon Feb 18, 2013 3:39 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| ttompatz wrote: |
| barca2121 wrote: |
| Are you saying that the recruiters gave you a contract that said you would be paid 2.5M/month and when you got there they told you it was really 1.5 or were they making up things that weren't explicitly stated within the contract? Just curious |
If it isn't on paper then don't believe it.
. |
True. It's hard enough to get what you're contractually owed even when it is on paper. This can even apply to flight reimbursement. At my previous school, a co-worker had worked there a whole year and still hadn't been reimbursed for his flight to Korea which was owed to him at the first payday. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Otherside
Joined: 06 Sep 2007
|
| Posted: Mon Feb 18, 2013 4:07 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| barca2121 wrote: |
| Are you saying that the recruiters gave you a contract that said you would be paid 2.5M/month and when you got there they told you it was really 1.5 or were they making up things that weren't explicitly stated within the contract? Just curious |
No, but they'll say things like:
Suburb of Seoul - I view a suburb of Seoul as part of Seoul, just on the outskirts. For them, a suburb of Seoul is anywhere in Gyeonggi Province.
25 minutes to XyZ - Maybe with your own car, at 4 in the morning without traffic and breaking the speed limit, realistically will be at least an hour or more.
Apartment is just 5 minutes from work - No, it's 5 minutes to the bus stop, then you need to wait 5-10 minutes for the bus, take a 20minute bus ride, and another 5-10minute walk to work. So that 5 minute easy commute turn into 35-45 minute slog.
Great Director, lovely school - Sometimes it's true, but they'll say it about every school, even the 50% or more which are clearly don't fit that.
Independent contractor - This is Korean Law.
"Don't worry, the contract is just a guideline, I'm sure you can negotiate with the school" - No, the contract is the contract. The only time the contract is a guideline, is when the school is trying to break it to take advantage of you.
All of it seems pretty obvious to those who have been here for a while, but many a rookie has been baited hook, line and sinker by such empty promises (myself included). |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Weigookin74
Joined: 26 Oct 2009
|
| Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2013 11:12 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Never pay your own flight over unless working for public school or maybe offered a uni position. A hakwon will be risky. Had heard of Chungdam asking you to pay it over a few years ago, but not sure now. They might be ok as they are a large chain. But, better safe than sorry. Come over on the employer's dime. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
