Korean Job Discussion Forums

[chaz47]

I'm soon to pass my 10th year here and my third year with the same school. I want a raise... finally. In my previous contract renewals with this school, I kind of gave them a pass because it's a low-stress environment, generally pretty good overall (but also disorganized) and it seemed like finances were tight. But then I found out that they start noob, fresh off the plane teachers out at exactly the same rate as me... with an easier schedule... at their other branch.

The first two years I worked for these guys, I had to endure split-shifts in shoebox apartments with paper thin walls near a university. Lot of soju fights/etc. happening all around and sleep was hard to come by, but I endured. Finally I got a new apartment with decent walls but they don't give me a high enough housing allowance to pay for it, so I had to pay half of the key money and have a further $100 deducted from my salary to pay the rent.

Kinda ridiculous on the face of it.

Anyway, of course they want me to stay. I design my own curriculum which I distribute via a blog. My students (adult school) love my classes and the convenience of having the materials on their phones. And, it's easy for the academy to advertise my class. Also, I'm the only native speaker.

What would you ask for?

So far I suggested 2 million for 20 hours a week plus 500 for housing and they pay the full key money (about 31000 per hour). Currently I'm contracted for 2.7 at 30 hours a week plus 400 for housing an average of 26000 per hour. It is an adult school so I asked in another thread what the average salary increase is like at Pagoda for sake of comparison. Apparently you can receive up to an additional 1000 won a month every 6 months. So after three years a bump of 6000 won per hour would be possible and my 5000 won isn't over the top, especially considering my total experience of ten years.

I'm 90% certain they won't accept my terms. But, how far would you budge if you were in my shoes? I know the market is tightening here and the economy is dodgy at best. But at the very least, they've saved about $4,500US by not having to pay for return flights for three years... they could at least put that into my apartment's key money so I don't have to risk my own cash on the deposit.

Finally, I really have no ties here and my friends in China are making more than me in their first year teaching. I'm kinda thinking in another country, especially one where privates aren't so dangerous, my prospects would be markedly better.

[kingplaya4]

They won't care at all about what you've had to endure. They may care about the value you currently provide. I would go into a meeting on salary by starting with certain things you do (like making your own smartphone ap or whatever your curriculum consists of) that others teachers generally don't. Keep it positive- I provide x, y, and z, not that other teachers won't do x, y, and z. Keep it short, Koreans aren't patient listeners in my experience. I think a basic salary of 3 million plus housing allowance is fair if you are as good as you say. In truth, it's rather low for costs in Seoul today, but I'd say if they give that to you, you're probably at a good place.

I wouldn't bring up the airflight stuff, it's what can you do for me tomorrow, not how did you bend for me yesterday here.

[isitts]

OP, it's time for you to move on. It baffles me you're even considering signing another contract with this school. Go meet up with your friends in China.

Just my two cents.

[edwardcatflap]

I think it's pretty sad that after 10 years in the business you're basing your next move on which country you're less likely to get caught for breaking the law in.

[chaz47]

Although the pay in China might be higher, the pollution scares me.

Not all countries have laws against teaching privates... am I right? lol...

The main reason I stayed with this company was the lack of nonsense. They might be disorganized, but there's never been any micromanagement whatsoever. However, the fact that noobs make as much as I do cannot be ignored (and with easier schedules to boot).

One thing that might work out in my favor, the two branches are supposedly splitting. Perhaps I could take a couple months off back in sunny Wisconsin waiting for the position at the other branch with the easier schedule to open up.

[isitts]

[edwardcatflap]

[chaz47]

Okay, the negotiations are done. I have two choices for my next contract:

A.) 2.8 (2.3 plus 500 housing). Start at 8am and finish at 9pm.

B.) 2.7 (2.3 plus 400 housing). Start at 9am and finish at 9pm.

Both are 30 hours a week and no longer splits, but spreads. I agreed to this so I wouldn't have a morning block starting at 6:50am. Early mornings aren't impossible for me to pull off but the neighbors are university students that can act up from time to time and being sleep-deprived makes me irritable like nothing else.

I did receive a bump in my overtime to 30 per hour and I also agreed to work off-site for 35 per hour plus transportation. If the class is off-site and overtime, the pay is 40 per hour.

I'm allowed one month off unpaid to visit family and 10 days of paid vacation in country but only usable in clumps of two days at a time per month.

I'm favoring option B because the shenanigans are usually petering out at around midnight lately. Prior to these new tenants above me, things were quite quiet, but living a near a university you're bound to get some drunken students acting up from time to time.

What do you guys think? It's sad that after ten years (three with the same company) the pay is stagnant but the schedule should let me get enough sleep and the overtime will be nice.

[Bongotruck]

I think you are settling for too little but you seem to like your job.

If you are happy, accept. You do not require the approval of us.

[tophatcat]

[chaz47]

I misinformed you guys. I can use my paid holiday to do 4 days outside of Korea. It's just that I never do that because I'm too frugal.

And, I won't have to be at the academy between classes.

[schwa]

Seems really meager to me, given your background, & nobody normally adds housing allowance to make a substandard monthly wage sound better. The hours attached to that job also look horrendous.

But if you're happy.

[Mr. Pink]

If you are in Seoul IMO the pollution is just as bad as being in a lot of cities in China.

I am in Tianjin. Yeah we get some crazy bad days for air...but this year has been really good overall and I think that is due to Xi JiPings new stance on putting tougher measures on companies that pollute too much.

So yeah some days like today are absolutely breath taking. The sky was so blue and the air so clean. Other days, usually in the colder winter months can be around 400-500 AQI. It's called stay inside on those days and enjoy the heck out of the blue sky days.

The average here is about 100 AQI. I'm pretty sure Seoul is in that range. I know my home town in Canada is roughly 50-100 AQI average per year.

I know privates are not even looked at twice here by immigration. Hell my contract says I can do it just not to conflict with my current employer. I haven't done them since my first year though. A big part of why I did it back then was connections, timing and I REALLY needed the cash so I was doing 8-10hrs a week at about $50 an hour.

Just stating for the OP your job seems like crap. Having to be available for 12hrs everyday and no chance to take off...damn. You probably would be better off going back home and working for WalMart...

[isitts]

[edwardcatflap]