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Is anyone happy with their job?
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schwa

Joined: 18 Jan 2003
Location: Yap

Posted: Fri Feb 21, 2014 10:19 pm Post subject:

Teach well & rewards follow.

EZE

Joined: 05 May 2012

Posted: Fri Feb 21, 2014 10:28 pm Post subject: Re: Is anyone happy with their job?

csgallag wrote:

Is there anyone who actually likes their job? Is there anyone who is satisfied with their pay?

I'm considering working, possibly uni or possibly afterschool program, and I know my starting pay would be 2.3-ish. I also have a dependent. It seems like people are saying that 2.3 is not a livable salary, no way to pay off student loans or save, and all the jobs suck anyway.

My job is okay and I'm satisfied with my pay at a hagwon. My salary is exactly the 2.3 you quoted, but if you cook 90% or more of your meals at home, drink coffee and tea instead of alcohol, stay out of the red light districts, stay out of bars, don't spend a lot on clothing, don't date a parasite, and so on, you should be able to save around 1.7 plus whatever you make from teaching privates. It's not Donald Trump money, but it's good enough for me and I consider it good for anyone who talks about being in a "bleak" or "desperate" situation. Similar to Hokie21, I had a low level managerial position in the States where I was making $1000 a week, but I actually save more money here in Korea, work is less stressful, and the hours are much shorter. There's no more working all night long until the problem is resolved.

If your dependent is your wife, maybe she can work too.

EZE

Joined: 05 May 2012

Posted: Fri Feb 21, 2014 10:34 pm Post subject:

World Traveler wrote:

I just don't think the stress levels of most ESL teaching jobs in Korea are "non existent". You do?

S--t happens in a classroom, but it's not like stressing out about potentially shutting down a factory full of workers on the clock because of a potentially late JIT order. Some on here (not me, and thank goodness) have probably been in combat. A classroom isn't that bad, especially if you're dealing with kids. Kids are usually a lot of fun.

Hokie21

Joined: 01 Mar 2011

Posted: Fri Feb 21, 2014 11:05 pm Post subject:

World Traveler wrote:

Hokie21 wrote:

the worst thing you might have to put up with is a kid crying or puking in class. I just don't find anything about my job stressful at all.

I guess if the hagwon is successful (making a lot of money) that could be the case. However, when a hagwon loses students, a boss will be ticked off I think. How many hagwons have been losing students/going under lately? A lot. Hagwons can be really stressful places (but not for everyone I guess; everyone's situation is different).

Fair enough, but I'm only speaking for myself and my situation. I am not stressed out by my job over here. My school is doing fine but even if it were not I wouldn't lose any sleep over it. My financial situation is OK as I was lucky enough to put money away from my previous jobs so if worst came to worst and my school went under I would either use my contacts to try to get another ESL teaching gig or I'd just return home. That's out of my control so why worry about it?

All I know is that I wake up and happily go to a job where the people I work with are friendly (the Korean and foreign teachers go out for drinks, trips on weekends) and our management gives us a lot of leeway on how we are allowed to teach our classes.

I'm sorry that not everyone has such a pleasant experience as I, but as someone who has worked in corporate America where the stakes and stress levels are MUCH higher.....this is simple as.

curlyhoward

Joined: 03 Dec 2008

Posted: Sat Feb 22, 2014 12:25 am Post subject:

happy with my job

tophatcat

Joined: 09 Aug 2006
Location: under the hat

Posted: Sat Feb 22, 2014 12:48 am Post subject:

World Traveler wrote:

Hokie21 wrote:

the worst thing you might have to put up with is a kid crying or puking in class. I just don't find anything about my job stressful at all.

Dude, welcome to adulthood. That's why they are paying you.

frankhenry

Joined: 13 Mar 2007

Posted: Sat Feb 22, 2014 2:07 am Post subject:

World Traveler wrote:

Hokie21 wrote:

the worst thing you might have to put up with is a kid crying or puking in class. I just don't find anything about my job stressful at all.

try taking a couple of months vacation
maybe seek some professional help for your problem

it's apparent that your stress level is far beyond the norm
it's probably not really safe for you are the students

without a doubt, teaching ESL in Korea has been a wonderful experience for me

World Traveler

Joined: 29 May 2009

Posted: Sat Feb 22, 2014 4:05 am Post subject:

Everyone's experience is different. Some people have stressful work environments. Some don't. http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?t=131898

wooden nickels

Joined: 23 May 2010

Posted: Sat Feb 22, 2014 4:29 am Post subject:

2 people in the same work environment doing the same job under the same exact conditions. Person A will be stressed. Person B will happily humming along. It's just how it is.

World Traveler

Joined: 29 May 2009

Posted: Sat Feb 22, 2014 4:34 am Post subject:

But some of it has to do with the job itself.

frankhenry wrote:

I had a crappy public school job. About 2 months before the end of my contract, I began to search diligently for a decent hakwon. I can now say that the hakwon I'm working at is one of the best jobs I've ever had. I really like it. The pay is much better. The hours are shorter. The people are nicer. I love the small classes. Everything about this job is better than the previous public school.

schwa

Joined: 18 Jan 2003
Location: Yap

Posted: Sat Feb 22, 2014 4:35 am Post subject:

wooden nickels wrote:

2 people in the same work environment doing the same job under the same exact conditions.

Person A will be stressed. Person B will happily humming along. It's just how it is.

Truth.

World Traveler

Joined: 29 May 2009

Posted: Sat Feb 22, 2014 5:21 am Post subject:

Some of it is adapting and doing one's best, but I still think the job itself can be a big factor.

frankhenry wrote:

mayorgc wrote:

I hear Gepik is hit or miss sometimes, so for those who have signed up, what can you say about it?

positive? negative? neutral?

GEPIK was a MISS for me. I'm glad I'm out of there!

frankhenry wrote:

I'm happy to no longer be an unhappy teacher at GEPIK. Almost every week, and I do mean every week, was filled with late pay and other antics at my school.

frankhenry wrote:

...believe me, I'm more than paying for my roof...the apartment isn't free, just like my salary isn't free... A lot of people get pissed off in Korea, for a good reason.... I know many people complain, but many have reasons for being in an ill mood...

frankhenry wrote:

almost everyone that I know here has (or is) been ripped on pay or vacation or other things at their workplace. When people or getting shafted at work they may tend to let other small things bother them outside of work.

frankhenry wrote:

I didn't want to be asked to do the little extras.. the little favors,.... because my pay was weeks behind, etc. So, when the lady breaks line, pushing and shoving, in front of me at the mart, I'm pissed.... When I hear a racist remark behind my back at school I'm pissed....

That's why you have a lot of people here complaining. Many of them aren't getting their contracted vacations, pay, etc. Thus, the little stuff begins to annoy them. Therefore, they complain.

frankhenry wrote:

Bob: High Mr. Doodleberry.
Kim Doodleberry: Hi Bob. So, we agreed/contract...20,000 won to cut the grass.
B: Right.
KD: Ohhh you are finished with the grass...would you mind taking out the trash..
B: uhhhhhh..OK..
KD: Now, wash the car..........
B: Buuuuuut.... OK
KD: Paint the house..it's our custom............
B: Gripe...complain...........
KD: Now, here's the 15,000 won...just like we agreed.............

frankhenry wrote:

I'm sure over 50% of the complaints here are legit.

frankhenry wrote:

I've been here for much more than 3 years....and a lot of the complaining I hear has some merit. XXXXXX school doesn't follow the contract, etc. Thus, it helps me avoid some of the pitfalls that are here.

frankhenry wrote:

I prefer a good hogwan. But, you don't want to be rolling the dice and hoping you will luckily fall into a good hoggy. Good hoggys are 1/10, 1/20, hmmmm...you get the picture... It's best if you know someone already in Korea who can help you get into a good school, public or hogwan.

frankhenry wrote:

Believe me, I know some teachers out there who have had some good and bad experiences in the professional teaching field. And yes, the public schools are somewhat screwed up too in many places. But, this hakwon system is a con game. Well, I figured that out on day one. Almost everyday I think about the carnival scene in the movie, �The Jerk,� starring Steve Martin. Some victim dishes out a lot of money to win a thimble or something. Steve has a conversation with his manager, and then Steve says something to the extent of, �Oh, I get, it, this is a profit �..�.

actionjackson

Joined: 30 Dec 2007
Location: Any place I'm at

Posted: Sat Feb 22, 2014 5:37 pm Post subject:

World Traveler wrote:

ActionJackson, where do you work? Did you say uni?

Hokie21, where are you working?

"Sure the pay and hours aren't great but the stress levels are non-existent…"

I didn't know such ESL jobs existed (the non stressful part I mean).

No uni for me, just an elementary school but I like it.

World Traveler

Joined: 29 May 2009

Posted: Sat Feb 22, 2014 5:46 pm Post subject:

Cool. I'm glad you like your job. I know a lot of people who enjoy teaching kids. If that's a good fit then great.

World Traveler

Joined: 29 May 2009

Posted: Sat Feb 22, 2014 5:50 pm Post subject:

tophatcat wrote:

Why don't you try something better suited for you? Perhaps you could go back home and buy a bicycle with the money you have saved up since being in Korea. Then maybe use your bike to do a paper route. I know it's a job intended for kids, but it might be just the thing for you.

ring ring ring bicycle bell and give the paper a toss

All I'm saying is not every English teaching job in Korea has non-existent stress levels. (In fact, I can't think of any teaching job that has no stress at all.) Is that such an unreasonable statement to make?

tophatcat wrote:

The first hagwon = lies, vacation day rip-off, stolen wages, etc. I encountered some type of problem, sometimes more than one problem, at the first hagwon nearly everyday.

tophatcat wrote:

I'm an older certified-teacher who has taught in three countries and held various jobs in different backgrounds, so I'm familiar with both the teaching world and the working world. I had never encountered any major type of on-the-job problem until my first hagwon job. It was the worst job I've ever had.

tophatcat wrote:

the blood pressure rises when thinking about the old job.

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