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What's happened to salaries?! Salary negotiation tips.
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Waygeek



Joined: 27 Feb 2013

PostPosted: Sat Sep 28, 2013 7:19 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

IPayInCash wrote:
I have a DREAM JOB here in Korea. I work less than uni teachers and get paid more as well. I've also been given not one, but TWO pay raises since I've been here. It's true every other teacher is making peanuts in this country except me. But if you know how to negotiate, that's all that matters. I told my employer what I wanted to make if I was going to re-sign, no ifs ands or buts. They promptly agreed both times without question as they need me more than I need them. It's good to be me.


You're clearly not really helping the OP. Nobody cares. And judging by how you talk about yourself, I'm pretty sure nobody would like to be you.

Again, nobody cares. Thanks.

**

OP, yes, IMO recruiters and Hagwon owners have been attempting to artificially deflate wages in this industry for a while now. It sucks, but hold your ground. With one years experience you should be able to find somewhere that'll give you 2.3.
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creeper1



Joined: 30 Jan 2007

PostPosted: Mon Sep 30, 2013 8:25 am    Post subject: Re: What's happened to salaries?! Salary negotiation tips. Reply with quote

hi54u wrote:
Hey everyone. Anyone have advice (or success stories) about negotiating for more money? I'm about to return to Korea after a few years back in the states


Why on earth did you go back home in the first place?

You obviously failed at whatever you were trying to do.

Big rule for those with well paid jobs they are happy with - don't leave because someone else will fill it and they won't be letting you back in. Wink
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hi54u



Joined: 18 Aug 2013

PostPosted: Mon Sep 30, 2013 4:03 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks for the advice, everyone. Yes, I'm holding out for a better salary. I refuse to be low-balled if I don't have to be. And creeper1, you don't know anything about me to make assertions about what I have and have not done. FYI, I went home because I wanted to. I earned a Masters degree from a very good university during that time, too. If that's failing, then I'll take it.
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IPayInCash



Joined: 27 Jul 2013
Location: Away from all my board stalkers :)

PostPosted: Mon Sep 30, 2013 6:03 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

hi54u wrote:
Thanks for the advice, everyone. Yes, I'm holding out for a better salary. I refuse to be low-balled if I don't have to be. And creeper1, you don't know anything about me to make assertions about what I have and have not done. FYI, I went home because I wanted to. I earned a Masters degree from a very good university during that time, too. If that's failing, then I'll take it.


Wow.... you're getting 2.2 offers with a MASTERS? ROFL... yikes. I make a LOT more than 2.2 and I don't have a master's. Looks like you have a lot to learn about the game, son. Laughing
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creeper1



Joined: 30 Jan 2007

PostPosted: Mon Sep 30, 2013 6:56 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

hi54u wrote:
Thanks for the advice, everyone. Yes, I'm holding out for a better salary. I refuse to be low-balled if I don't have to be. And creeper1, you don't know anything about me to make assertions about what I have and have not done. FYI, I went home because I wanted to. I earned a Masters degree from a very good university during that time, too. If that's failing, then I'll take it.


Well your masters has your career going into a nose dive.

I hope those that advocate getting further qualifications for their Korean TEFL career take a good read of threads like this.

What? Some employer is going to materialize and give you a 2.6 offer?

Korea is well known, especially in the hagwon sector, for valueing trivial things such as age, looks and sex over qualifications.

What can a masters do? Open the door to university jobs I guess. Or maybe serious schools concerned with education will give you the offer you are looking for.

I think the typical hagwon will need some convincing you can get enrollement up to justify a higher salary. And that's something you may have to negotiate on your a SECOND year rather than your first when you are getting your foot in the door because, seriously, masters degree or no masters degree, you still have to prove you are a good teacher.

Why not contact your original employer? They will have an idea of your caliber.
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hacheondo



Joined: 05 Apr 2013

PostPosted: Sat Oct 05, 2013 5:56 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

IPayInCash wrote:
Mix1 wrote:
IPayInCash wrote:
I have a DREAM JOB here in Korea. I work less than uni teachers and get paid more as well. I've also been given not one, but TWO pay raises since I've been here. It's true every other teacher is making peanuts in this country except me. But if you know how to negotiate, that's all that matters. I told my employer what I wanted to make if I was going to re-sign, no ifs ands or buts. They promptly agreed both times without question as they need me more than I need them. It's good to be me.

This is actually a great attitude! Refreshing.
Imagine if the majority of people here thought like this. Almost guaranteed the average salary would be higher.


The last company I worked for, we had a company dinner and the subject of salaries was brought up. Someone said they make 2.3, and everyone immediately said they also make that much. Except me. When it was my turn to disclose my salary, I didn't want to embarrass the others, so I said "it's more than _._" which brought a shock to everyone's face. They then all asked me how I was able to get such a high salary. When they're all dressed in rags (one idiot had a beard and hipster glasses) and I'm sitting there in a designer 3 piece suit and clean shaven. And I didn't give them a single bit of advice. Because I don't owe those losers anything.

Some people (ie most English teachers in Korea) don't know the first thing about professionalism.


Some people don't know the first thing about not sounding like a douchebag.
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hacheondo



Joined: 05 Apr 2013

PostPosted: Sat Oct 05, 2013 6:00 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Bottom line: Some schools are willing to negotiate, others not. It depends on so many irrelevant things: your looks, age, etc. Some schools actually care about experience.

Pick a lowest acceptable offer, like 2.3, and just wait until the right school comes along. I was able to get 2.4 two months ago, but I have a few years of experience. Most of the schools offered me 2.2 or 2.3. It took me three months to get a job. It's definitely not like the good ol days.
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IPayInCash



Joined: 27 Jul 2013
Location: Away from all my board stalkers :)

PostPosted: Sat Oct 05, 2013 11:22 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

hacheondo wrote:
IPayInCash wrote:
Mix1 wrote:
IPayInCash wrote:
I have a DREAM JOB here in Korea. I work less than uni teachers and get paid more as well. I've also been given not one, but TWO pay raises since I've been here. It's true every other teacher is making peanuts in this country except me. But if you know how to negotiate, that's all that matters. I told my employer what I wanted to make if I was going to re-sign, no ifs ands or buts. They promptly agreed both times without question as they need me more than I need them. It's good to be me.

This is actually a great attitude! Refreshing.
Imagine if the majority of people here thought like this. Almost guaranteed the average salary would be higher.


The last company I worked for, we had a company dinner and the subject of salaries was brought up. Someone said they make 2.3, and everyone immediately said they also make that much. Except me. When it was my turn to disclose my salary, I didn't want to embarrass the others, so I said "it's more than _._" which brought a shock to everyone's face. They then all asked me how I was able to get such a high salary. When they're all dressed in rags (one idiot had a beard and hipster glasses) and I'm sitting there in a designer 3 piece suit and clean shaven. And I didn't give them a single bit of advice. Because I don't owe those losers anything.

Some people (ie most English teachers in Korea) don't know the first thing about professionalism.


Some people don't know the first thing about not sounding like a douchebag.


And you make 2.4, which is peanuts compared to my high salary. So keep talking trash. Because at the end of the day you're making a fraction compared to me because I know how to play the game, and you think getting a 100,000 bump in pay is high rolling.

2.4 with years of experience. Ha ha ha ha ha!!! Laughing
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robbie_davies



Joined: 16 Jun 2013

PostPosted: Sat Oct 05, 2013 11:47 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

hi54u wrote:
I went home because I wanted to. I earned a Masters degree from a very good university during that time, too. If that's failing, then I'll take it.


What is your masters in? Is it in any way relate to English teaching?
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DaeguNL



Joined: 08 Sep 2009

PostPosted: Sun Oct 06, 2013 8:13 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

IPayInCash wrote:
Mix1 wrote:
IPayInCash wrote:
I have a DREAM JOB here in Korea. I work less than uni teachers and get paid more as well. I've also been given not one, but TWO pay raises since I've been here. It's true every other teacher is making peanuts in this country except me. But if you know how to negotiate, that's all that matters. I told my employer what I wanted to make if I was going to re-sign, no ifs ands or buts. They promptly agreed both times without question as they need me more than I need them. It's good to be me.

This is actually a great attitude! Refreshing.
Imagine if the majority of people here thought like this. Almost guaranteed the average salary would be higher.


The last company I worked for, we had a company dinner and the subject of salaries was brought up. Someone said they make 2.3, and everyone immediately said they also make that much. Except me. When it was my turn to disclose my salary, I didn't want to embarrass the others, so I said "it's more than _._" which brought a shock to everyone's face. They then all asked me how I was able to get such a high salary. When they're all dressed in rags (one idiot had a beard and hipster glasses) and I'm sitting there in a designer 3 piece suit and clean shaven. And I didn't give them a single bit of advice. Because I don't owe those losers anything.

Some people (ie most English teachers in Korea) don't know the first thing about professionalism.


Just being clean shaven and dressing in a suit is not gonna get you squat in this country. Obviously, looking professional is better than wearing flip flops and a t-shirt, but you need to network (with Koreans), to get a better job.
Learning conversational Korean can open some doors as well, especially if you want to get a non teaching job.
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IPayInCash



Joined: 27 Jul 2013
Location: Away from all my board stalkers :)

PostPosted: Sun Oct 06, 2013 5:38 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

DaeguNL wrote:
IPayInCash wrote:
Mix1 wrote:
IPayInCash wrote:
I have a DREAM JOB here in Korea. I work less than uni teachers and get paid more as well. I've also been given not one, but TWO pay raises since I've been here. It's true every other teacher is making peanuts in this country except me. But if you know how to negotiate, that's all that matters. I told my employer what I wanted to make if I was going to re-sign, no ifs ands or buts. They promptly agreed both times without question as they need me more than I need them. It's good to be me.

This is actually a great attitude! Refreshing.
Imagine if the majority of people here thought like this. Almost guaranteed the average salary would be higher.


The last company I worked for, we had a company dinner and the subject of salaries was brought up. Someone said they make 2.3, and everyone immediately said they also make that much. Except me. When it was my turn to disclose my salary, I didn't want to embarrass the others, so I said "it's more than _._" which brought a shock to everyone's face. They then all asked me how I was able to get such a high salary. When they're all dressed in rags (one idiot had a beard and hipster glasses) and I'm sitting there in a designer 3 piece suit and clean shaven. And I didn't give them a single bit of advice. Because I don't owe those losers anything.

Some people (ie most English teachers in Korea) don't know the first thing about professionalism.


Just being clean shaven and dressing in a suit is not gonna get you squat in this country.


Wrong. When every other weigook at the dinner party is dressed like a hobo and I'm in a designer 3 piece suit it DOES make an impression. Which is why after the dinner my bosses invited only me to the next spot with them while the other bums were sent home. To this day I've yet to hear about another weigook that even sniffed my high salary with that company. Looks like you too have a lot to learn about the game here. Rookie.
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braindrops



Joined: 13 Sep 2011

PostPosted: Mon Oct 07, 2013 11:02 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

This thread is great. IPayInCash is pulling a Ric Flair on you, and you are trying to sully his shine. Learn to love it. He has real talent for cutting promos. I think them promos might sound something like this.

"It's Rolex time, Dave's ESL, and all you teachers out there know it. This man's custom made from head to toe. I made Seoul my backyard. They like how I do. They like the jet airplanes. Woo. They like the long limousines. They like the custom designer 3-piece suits. They like the alligator shoes and the They like that I can get any woman in the world I want. And at Mass and NB, at Octagon and Eden, at Heaven and a couple of places I can't even mention, I tore em all down. Gangnam. Apgujung. Hongdae. I don't care where you are. When you know IPayInCash is in town, woo, things are taking place. So don't be bringing in your Mickey Mouse 2.2 and 2.3 salaries. Don't be thinking about rocking your hipster beards and your hobo rags. That's why I am what I am and that's why you are what you are. You see, life is greatness. and greatness is what you make out of it, you understand? And real men stay up. So Rodeo Street, Chungdam-dong, Garosugil: get ready. I'm on tour, and I'm doing it better than anyone else alive. Ladies and gentlemen, take a look at it, learn to love it: I'm not going anywhere. Styyyyyylin and profilin. Woo!"
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IPayInCash



Joined: 27 Jul 2013
Location: Away from all my board stalkers :)

PostPosted: Mon Oct 07, 2013 6:46 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

lol @ Mickey Mouse 2.2 and 2.3 salaries
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Sireno



Joined: 19 Mar 2010

PostPosted: Wed Oct 09, 2013 8:49 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

If you are really concerned about overall monetary compensation, then what are you doing teaching English in Korea? Rolling Eyes

Yes salaries have been depreciating for years in the Korean ESL job market. What's new? The global labor market is relatively tight, and the Korean ESL market is only tighter because of that. Welcome to classic economic theory.
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Weigookin74



Joined: 26 Oct 2009

PostPosted: Thu Oct 10, 2013 6:51 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

hacheondo wrote:
Bottom line: Some schools are willing to negotiate, others not. It depends on so many irrelevant things: your looks, age, etc. Some schools actually care about experience.

Pick a lowest acceptable offer, like 2.3, and just wait until the right school comes along. I was able to get 2.4 two months ago, but I have a few years of experience. Most of the schools offered me 2.2 or 2.3. It took me three months to get a job. It's definitely not like the good ol days.


Good on you for holding out. If everyone did this, salaries would start going up. I have seen some starting to offer a little more. For a while, it was mostly 2.1 to 2.2ish range. Now, I don't think 2.4ish is out of the question or even more....
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