Korean Job Discussion Forums

talentedcrayon · Joined: 27 Aug 2013 Location: Why do you even care?

Hi everyone,

I am interested in a school, and I believe they are probably interested in me...

But, in life, sometimes basing a relationship on surface level things can end disasterously... Or... writing someone off because of what 1 or 2 people said about them... can result in a lost opportunity.

This school has a few negative reviews online... But, I went ahead with the interview, and the teacher who conducted the interview addressed the negative reviews online - and gave the schools side to the story (which is obviously a totally different story.) I was impressed that he brought up the negative reviews and had reasonable explanations - even confirming that a few of the things discussed actually happened - but that there were circumstances outside the school's control that caused them to happen.

I will be asking to speak to another teacher at the school, perhaps a newer hire, to see how their experience has been thus far.

I don't expect perfection. There will always be problems with any job. The only thing I am worried about is whether a school has some integrity or not.

Has anyone worked for a school with negative reviews online that turned out to be alright? Or... should I just run away.

Otherside · Joined: 06 Sep 2007

One or two negative reviews doesn't mean it's definitely a bad school.

A negative review is almost always the result of either a bad school or a bad teacher. If the bad reviews start adding up, then I'd be worried.

You could always post the name of the school here and see if you get a few more opinions on it.

RangerMcGreggor · Joined: 12 Jan 2011 Location: Somewhere in Korea

Who was the instigator of the problems? Are they still there?

The issue with online reviews is that management can change, and they can get either worse or better rapidly.

EZE · Joined: 05 May 2012

If it's Wondlerland, the negative reviews are probably true.

Gnawbert · Joined: 23 Oct 2007 Location: The Internet

Two or more is a red flag to me. If their head instructor or recruiter brought it up, chances are other interviewees have asked, and they're nipping that question in the bud because it's making their recruitment difficult.

Also, keep in mind the person recruiting you either works for the school directly, or is being compensated. They know those bad reviews out there are making their life difficult, so ignoring it is no longer an option. Ultimately it could go either way.

I went against my better judgement once and ignored two bad reviews online because I liked the head instructor. Turned out the head instructor was great, it was the school that was a nightmare, and they were just a sock puppet doing a song and dance for a paycheck. Wasted a year and discovered the reviews were, indeed, quite correct.

ontheway · Posted: Wed Oct 02, 2013 6:48 am Post subject:

It's fairly difficult to determine the quality of a school from online reviews.

There are bad schools with bad reviews and also bad schools with good reviews.

There are also good schools with bad reviews and good schools with good reviews.

Very few teachers with good experiences bother to write reviews. However, a high percentage of bad teachers who've been fired for cause will write bad reviews about good schools, teachers who were fired claiming to have pulled runners etc.

ghostrider · Joined: 27 Jun 2011

I once ignored a few negative reviews and it turned out to be the worst mistake I made in Korea. Of course, the interviewer is going to try to put a positive spin on things.

PatrickGHBusan · Posted: Thu Oct 03, 2013 3:37 am Post subject:

Not all "reviews" are created equal. By that I mean you need to be careful and aware about what you read, where it comes from, what facts it is based on and so on.

Online this can be daunting because most "reviews" are anonymous in nature and woefully one sided and anecdotal in nature. This is not to say you should ignore reviews about a school but rather that you take what you read online with a huge grain of salt.

The best way to make an informed decision about a school and its job offer is to get information about that school from varied sources:

1- check online for reviews, noting where they are posted, if they are verified in any way and what those reviews actually say. The number of reviews may end up being far less important and relevant to the quality of the reviews.

2- Talk or email Foreign Teachers at the school or former employees and ask questions. This is not foolproof but it can be better than anonymous online stories.

3- Review the contract well and if any clauses leave you wondering, ask someone about them (this can be your employer).

Balance all this out and you should have a reasonably well informed opinion to base your decision on.

All this being said it will always be a bit of a dive into the relatuive unknown to take a job abroad.

matthagwon · Joined: 28 Sep 2013 Location: Japan lite

Online reviews should not be taken too serious. A bitter teacher who only partied and put no effort in to teaching could give a good school a bad review. Also the director who owns a poor hagwon could give the bad school an excellent review.

dg7104 · Joined: 15 Sep 2013

Do you want to be #3? I would withdraw from the application process.

The rule is, for every 1 person who has the guts to complain, there are 10 who didn't. So, right now there are 2, so you can do the math here.

If you found 2 complaints online about a girl you were thinking about dating, and she addressed those complaints to you, wouldn't you just cut your loses and find 1 of the other 3 billion women on the planet?

If you withdraw, it tells the school that the complaint process has TEETH. And perhaps they should appease and settle the dispute with former teachers, and then they can delete the bad reviews. That seems more reasonable to me.

Take the red-flags seriously. For every slight, nuisance, miscommunication, injustice, or any other perceived event that goes on, in the back of your mind you are always going to wonder if the complaints were correct.

ontheway · Posted: Thu Oct 03, 2013 11:13 am Post subject: Re: Bad Reviews

talentedcrayon · Joined: 27 Aug 2013 Location: Why do you even care?

In the end I signed with the school.

I agree more with ontheway, that a good school will likely end up with at least a few negative reviews from teachers who were fired (perhaps with good reason.)

I guess I take the risk - but its a risk I can take. Worst thing, I lose a month's pay in my life and get to hang out with old friends in Korea!

Gnawbert · Joined: 23 Oct 2007 Location: The Internet

Guess you should have listened to the reviews eh?

Smithington · Joined: 14 Dec 2011

I worked at the Foreign Language Center at HUFS. I had read the many negative reviews about the place but decided to give it a chance because of the location and holidays. The negative reviews were, if anything, understated. It was the worst place I have worked in my life. I kicked myself for not listening to what other people said about the place. To say that I was miserable there would be an understatement.

Tread carefully.

Smithington · Joined: 14 Dec 2011