Korean Job Discussion Forums

[xCainAndAbelx]

Hi guys,

I'm in my final stages of processing for Korea. I've already selected a job, sent my documents, got my approval number, and sent off my passport.

But I keep getting offers from my recruiter who keeps telling me that a particular school in Bundang that I reluctantly interviewed with wants to hire the hell outta me. I took the interview in the first place because I was advised to never turn down an interview, and interview as much as possible so that I would have "options." In the end, it kind of paid off. I was able to secure a decent paying job, with good benefits in downtown Seoul. I'm happy with it. The director seems really pleasant to talk to. He has been straight forward with me, and has provided me all the answers to my questions. He has even put me in contact with current employees who teach there, and a few of them are on their second or third contract.

At any rate, I'm very pleased with my decision and look forward to going to Korea. But this other hagwon won't stop bothering me - even going on Skype to message me directly. They are coming up with some really ridiculous offers. Ridiculous in the sense that they seem too good to be true. Now, to amuse myself I DID research the school and was able to contact a current teacher there who is on her FIFTH contract with the school, and she says she loves it. Everything about the school checks out, except for the fact that all their teachers are females, which I guess isn't bizarre or anything.

Anyhow, they keep sending my updated offers that include a 2.8 pay rate, a first class ticket to Korea, and upgraded accommodations. When I graciously declined them in an akward conversation of Skype, they said they would pay me 2.8 the first 6 months, followed by a 200,000KWON pay raise after the 6th month. 3.0 mil. KWON a month seems crazy and unheard of. I mean... I'm not an English major or anything, and I don't consider myself to be an "authentic" English teacher.

Has anyone ever ran into this kind of situation before? I wouldn't necessarily consider it a problem because I'm sure if I ignore them they will go away, but I hope they don't cause trouble for me since they seem so adamant about hiring me. I'm not sure how hagwons handle vindictiveness, but I hope it doesn't cause any troubles on my end.

Do you think I'm handling this correctly? I don't want to be rude and just ignore them...

Thanks in advance!

[happyinhenan]

Hahaha - no, that has never happened to me at all. Why do you think - if I am not being nosey of course - that this hagwon are so into wanting to hire you? Qualifications? Good looks? Don't be modest - I have to pretty much say it is unheard of - but then I have a face like a bulls nutsack.

The only way to do it is be polite but firm, communicate by email only, so you have all proof of correpsondence if they start trying to say you agreed to something you didn't.

Write an email like this:


To Whom It May Concern,


I am writing this email to thank you for your interest in my services, however, I have decided to take employment elsewhere and I won't be pursuing a job at your school at this moment in time.

I am very flattered with the interest you have shown regarding myself and my teaching abilities and I hope you find someone suitable for your school. I wish you continued success for the future and thank you once again.


Yours Faithfully,


(name)


That is all there is to it, firm, polite and there is no way they can get around the fact that you are moving on to something else.

[Troglodyte]

I am also curious as to why they are so insistent on hiring you. I've met a lot of places that pestered a lot but they rarely improved their offer much.

If you really want to be done with it then just ignore them.

[Coltronator]

I had something similar just cause me to change my primary employer. Was offered 2.6 in December from a Hagwon just outside the city (but across the street from me.) They had had bad luck with their previous 2 teachers. (One runner and the current one is old and the are a Kindygwon and he doesn't have the energy) They contacted me 2 weeks later and offered me 3.0 for 4 hours teaching/2 down time a day.

My thing is that I got a referral from 2 Kindergartener's mothers. I actually never applied for the job but got an interview offer passed on directly from a mother.

[TheMeerkatLover]

I have a theory on this.

In the early 2000's, it was easy to get hired since all you needed was a pulse. After some fake credential scandals, the requirements became far more strict. There were fewer teachers here and the English industry was booming.

The gov't hired a substantial number of teachers and for a while, there were far too many openings than people. It was a golden ride for a period if you met the standards.

After the beginning of the phase outs in public schools, thousands of people were still in country looking for positions (3-6 months at a time). This has led to an immediate availability of people to fill positions as they were being phased out of public schools for the past few years. As a result, the 'end of the golden era' which was started by the gov't was seemingly ending. Hogwan's had little to no difficulty filling positions. I know myself a few people who were let go a few months ago and opted to stay in Korea for a few months to find work. If unsuccessful, they would return home.

With public schools ending their phasing out period, the number of 'teachers' immediately here and available for hire has been cut back. You are not seeing hundreds of CV's for a single hogwan position anymore since people are not desperate to get into a private academy. The number of people leaving is also in part due to the inability to enter universities with the new hiring requirements requiring a graduate degree + experience.

So if you've left a public school job and unable to get into a university you are faced with trying to find another public school that has funding or return to the private academies (with all their pitfalls). Many have left. As a result, the 'excess supply' of teachers has a very limited shelf life as people are leaving to find work elsewhere. Though it may have been super easy to hire 6 months ago may not be so easy today.

That is probably why I think your hogwan is trying to get your locked in before the easy access to a supply of teachers runs dry.

[Qonny]

[ttompatz]

[ippy]

[Chaparrastique]

[xCainAndAbelx]

[xCainAndAbelx]

[xCainAndAbelx]

[Sector7G]

This may or may not be relevant, but in my second year teaching in Korea(2008) I was offered and accepted a position at a hagwon for 2.7k, which was significantly higher than most of the other standard 2.2k jobs that were posted at that time. Three weeks in I found out why the pay was so high - the hagwon owner had decided to sell the school. She knew when she hired me that she would not have to pay my salary anyway. She just had to have a teacher in place for the sale, someone who was already in Korea. I guess what I am trying to say, when something sounds too good to be true..............there is usually a reason.

[PRagic]

I read the title of the thread only, and he first thought that rocketed to the forefront of my thoughts was, 'Young, inexperienced, female, with a high probability of blondness.'

Was I way off?

At any rate, you're all set for your first year. You can always keep in contact with the other place, even visit them, and then either play them off against your original employer for a higher second year salary, or just jump ship. Never hurts to have options. Don't burn the bridge.

[happyinhenan]