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Korean Job Discussion Forums
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slothrop
Joined: 03 Feb 2003
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 Posted: Sat Jun 27, 2015 3:32 am Post subject: |
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Last edited by slothrop on Fri Jul 10, 2015 12:31 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Coltronator
Joined: 04 Dec 2013
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| Posted: Sat Jun 27, 2015 3:41 am Post subject: |
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| World Traveler, again you say "know of no one". I think you mean you "know no one". I know of like 10. I don't know them personally but I can see their places when I drive from Busan to Ulsan when ever I go. |
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candy bar
Joined: 03 Dec 2012
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| Posted: Sat Jun 27, 2015 3:43 am Post subject: |
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| World Traveler wrote: |
Yeah, so weird, right? I guess my experience is an anomaly. More South Koreans than Americans have swimming pools in their backyards. I was thinking the opposite. Silly me for making such an naive assumption. Maybe you and TUM are hangin' with high rollers in the ROK? I myself haven't been invited into that society. ㅠㅠ
| TheUrbanMyth wrote: |
| World Traveler wrote: |
| I know loads of people in the U.S. who have a large house with a swimming pool in back yard. I know of no one in Korea who fits that description. . |
Your personal experience is irrelevant as it is only a tiny percentage of people in both countries that you know...probably less than 1% in for each. |
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There are big yards in Korea. A lot of big asphalt and concrete yards with lines on them and cars parked in them. Right now, I can go and look out the 9th floor window of my apartment and see one. Well, I can almost see it but the cars cover the view. Also, there are the big yards that are called alleyways that exist between buildings.
Pools are everywhere. Do you mean to tell me that you don't have a pool at your home? I don't actually have one but there is a place near where I live that has one. It's in a sports club that has about 20 people splashing around in the 15 capacity pool at any given time. |
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DaeguNL
Joined: 08 Sep 2009
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| Posted: Sat Jun 27, 2015 4:30 am Post subject: |
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| World Traveler wrote: |
| For a male whose highest level of educational attainment is a BA, weekly median income in 2014 was $1,249. Times that by 52 is $64,948. 2015 wages are actually slightly higher, so over $65K per year is correct ($66,247 per year as a median by my calculations). ESL teachers in Korea do make half of that. So many factors to consider though. But I wouldn't say the cost of living in Korea is half of what it is in America. I feel like that's a huge exaggeration. Then again I could be wrong; it differs person to person according to lifestyle. |
now do it based on the 24-30 year old age bracket. because that is 90 % of teachers here. Not a chance does the average 25 year old in the west make 65,000 |
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World Traveler
Joined: 29 May 2009
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| Posted: Sat Jun 27, 2015 8:46 am Post subject: |
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| Is the average Dave's poster 25? I'd say not. I'd say it skews much, much older. We're talking 30s, 40s, 50s, and 60s. |
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EZE
Joined: 05 May 2012
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| Posted: Sat Jun 27, 2015 11:57 pm Post subject: |
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The average age would definitely be higher than the median age. The median age might be a better reference.
I agree with bossface's overall premise that we're generally able to save more money over here for the number of hours we work. I work 23 hours a week in Korea. Could I save more money in the USA than I do in Korea? Yes, but I would have to work a LOT more than 23 hours a week to do that.
For E-2 people, the USA has better savings potential for workaholics and hustlers since we're permitted to work only one job in Korea. But for those of us who want to work less than 25 hours a week and veg out most of the time, we save a lot more money in Korea. |
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happyinhenan
Joined: 01 Feb 2015
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| Posted: Sun Jun 28, 2015 1:47 am Post subject: |
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| EZE wrote: |
The average age would definitely be higher than the median age. The median age might be a better reference.
I agree with bossface's overall premise that we're generally able to save more money over here for the number of hours we work. I work 23 hours a week in Korea. Could I save more money in the USA than I do in Korea? Yes, but I would have to work a LOT more than 23 hours a week to do that.
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In the UK, we would have to work double the hours to break even/not to get into debt - eurgh! |
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radcon
Joined: 23 May 2011
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| Posted: Sun Jun 28, 2015 2:07 am Post subject: |
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| World Traveler wrote: |
| Is the average Dave's poster 25? I'd say not. I'd say it skews much, much older. We're talking 30s, 40s, 50s, and 60s. |
And the older married guys on Daves aren't working for 2.2 either. At least I hope they aren't. |
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tob55
Joined: 29 Apr 2007
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| Posted: Sun Jun 28, 2015 3:00 am Post subject: |
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| radcon wrote: |
| World Traveler wrote: |
| Is the average Dave's poster 25? I'd say not. I'd say it skews much, much older. We're talking 30s, 40s, 50s, and 60s. |
And the older married guys on Daves aren't working for 2.2 either. At least I hope they aren't. |
Working for more than 2.2, but the wages for foreign workers have been stagnant for so long that many people are finding it not worth staying. Saw a lot of my friends with long term (8 - 15) years of work in Korea, leave just because they felt the time was right to go back home or elsewhere in the world.
I don't hate my job, in fact I love my job. Been teaching for better than 32 years now as a public school teacher in the USA, as well as university instructor both there and here in Korea for the past 11 years. I don't particularly like working with the money grubbing administrators who steal money and then pass off their lavish lifestyle on pay cuts to their employees. |
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Pianote
Joined: 29 Apr 2015
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| Posted: Tue Jun 30, 2015 3:15 am Post subject: |
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Sorry candybar! I have been under a lot of stress lately.
I am supposed to interview students at the academy to show off how great their English is. Management keeps changing the topic countless times. My students have been memorizing the script, then they tell me we can't use it.
Today it really escalated. Korean teachers gave me a task to do, so I did it during lunchtime (since I had no more breaks). At the very end of the day, they tore apart my work, saying I did it all wrong.
My Korean co-teacher's English is bad and I realized she is not able to tell me what she wants me to do.
The Korean staff at the hagwon is starting to do "wangtta (왕따)". Basically, all of them turning away from me and refusing to look at me, or even acknowledge me.
I think they are trying to make me quit. If I get fired from a hagwon, does it automatically cancel the E2 visa? Do I still need to get a letter of release from them?
How would you put that on your resume? I have worked there long enough that I want to show I was employed, but don't want them to damage my professional reputation. I have put a huge effort into this job, just to hang on to this point. |
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Chaparrastique
Joined: 01 Jan 2014
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| Posted: Tue Jun 30, 2015 5:21 am Post subject: |
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| Pianote wrote: |
Management keeps changing the topic countless times. My students have been memorizing the script, then they tell me we can't use it.
Today it really escalated. Korean teachers gave me a task to do, so I did it during lunchtime (since I had no more breaks). At the very end of the day, they tore apart my work, saying I did it all wrong. |
You're being deliberately bullied, obviously. I feel for you pianote even though I think you needed to be more assertive earlier on.
Hogwons tend to employ inexperienced young people because they know you will be unprepared for their bs and likely take it too. And because they can pay you less and get less resistance than they would from someone who knows the game here. Seems that a lot of Korean workplaces are quite toxic, because they are based on outdated Confucian approaches.
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| I have been under a lot of stress lately. |
I'm not surprized!
I think you need to a) realize that you do not deserve to be treated like this, under any circumstance. b) resolve to assert and defend yourself, no matter the outcome and c) get into the mindframe that you don't need, can let go this job.. at a moments notice.
Because they are controlling you with the fear you have of not being able to get something else. Start exploring other options. Browse the international job board.
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| If I get fired from a hagwon, does it automatically cancel the E2 visa? |
If they fire you then they legally have to give you one months written notice, which must be signed or witnessed by you, and a copy given to you. As far as I know, they then have to go with you to cancel your visa within two weeks of your final termination date. Which allows you to get a D10. If they don't want to cancel your visa, you can use a copy of your letter of notice to prove you were fired (that you didn't just quit) to get a D10.
They can only summarily dismiss you if you do something serious like stop working or threaten to burn the place down.
You need to start documenting things and call the labour board to ask their advice.
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| How would you put that on your resume? I have worked there long enough that I want to show I was employed, but don't want them to damage my professional reputation |
I've also been unfairly fired. Its not that big a deal. You get a work reference from an earlier supervisor/ manager who liked you, is all. If the next employer asks why, you make up a story. Only took me a couple weeks to find a new job. And that was only 4 months ago. The job market is not as bad as some say.
Your dignity and self-esteem is worth a lot more than this crummy hogwon job. Really. Chin up and good luck. Let us know how it goes. |
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ThingsComeAround
Joined: 07 Nov 2008
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dhan89
Joined: 24 May 2012
Location: Los Angeles
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| Posted: Tue Jun 30, 2015 3:44 pm Post subject: |
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i feel you mannn..... I really really do...
My advice is to have a plan. Like a solid plan.
Are you planning on staying indefinitely? Then hunt for a better job...
Are you planning on leaving relatively soon? Then bite the bullet, save, and do your exit.
Stay strong man. Korea.... is korea. |
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Pianote
Joined: 29 Apr 2015
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| Posted: Wed Jul 01, 2015 3:45 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks for the responses everyone. I think I will stick it out because hopefully in the future I will have some changes in my life soon.
Work is really crazy. My boss was straight up yelling and shouting at some ajosshi yesterday. Also I heard 2 hitting sounds, like someone was hitting the table or something in a rage. Just shows me, she can't get along with anyone.
I had to leave the academy to brush my teeth yesterday, as there is no adult bathroom. This was 10 minutes before a class of mine. While I was gone, 2 Korean teachers decided to start my science class. I got back early, before class time, and the kids had all their books and materials. They had already put together their project. For science I have a plan where I explain everything, then give them the parts. This was all blown away by Korean teacher's giving them everything while I was out.
I took it in stride and dealt with it like a trooper but it is ridiculous. They end playtime after lunch, 10 minutes before their next class. This was just an attempt to shuffle them into my class before class time, so the Korean teachers don't have to deal with them. Since I was out of the academy they just gave them all the material. Soooo annoying. I teach 50 + classes a week and am not going to start a class 10 minutes early. |
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Chaparrastique
Joined: 01 Jan 2014
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| Posted: Wed Jul 01, 2015 4:39 pm Post subject: |
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The most difficult thing about working in korea is surviving the hostile, negative coworkers.
A lot of therapy is needed in this country. |
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