Korean Job Discussion Forums

[time for adventure]

Just a couple of brief questions surrounding contracts. I have been corresponding with a school (no contract yet) and they indicated that they would reimburse me for the flight once I get here. Is this pretty standard or should I ask for this up front? I don't want to offend them as they seem to be great and my dealings have been very positive, however I also don't want to be naiive (and that's a lot of money on my credit card)In general, how much room is there for negotiation around wage and vacation? In the Korean culture, is this expected or would it be frowned upon. Besides the 2 weeks vacation, are Korean holidays usually paid? Also is it okay to come on a one way ticket or does it have to be round trip? I would prefer to it to be one way as I am not sure what I want to do after the contract is over. I just want to make sure that immigration isn't going to have a problem if I do this.

Time is ticking and the questions are mounting. Any info is greatly appreciated.

[Grotto]

One way ticket is fine.

For reimbursement of airfare...ask for a timeframe for repayment. One week? One month?

2 weeks holidays is usually a bit more than the usual 10 days.

Korean holidays are paid.

[The Bobster]

A lot of contracts ask you to buy the ticket for reimbursemnt on arrival. Some do not, and instead arrange to have you pick it up at the airport - I forget what it's called, some kind of electronic ticketing (on standby) where they don't get charged if you don't happen to show up. Obviously, this is the best way, from your point of view, and it is sometimes possible to negotiate the first type into the second. Just point out that other schools offer to buy the ticket upfront and ask them to do the same, if possible.)

Might sound a little scummy, but another negotiating ploy is to simply wait until the the final moments of a hiring process, when there are just a few weeks left before they need you to start and they have likely discarded other candidates , then say, oh sorry, I didn't notice this and gosh it's just not possible for me to buy it myself for various reasons, and well, I did have another offer from a school that was going to pay for it upfront, so ... this is one way that the common Korean practice of waiting until the last minute to do things can work in your favor. If there were recruiters involved, sometimes they will buy the ticket and have the school reimburse them rather than lose a commission and risk the school going to another source next time. Generally, tho, it's probably not the best way to start a working relationship, just one possibility.

Grotto's got a good point about having them spell out exactly when it will be reimbursed - I've seen some contracts that reimburse you at the 3- or 6-month mark. By law, I believe, they can fire you for no reason up until 3 months, and good luck trying to get your airfare back in that case.

Also, this is one question you ought to be asking any current or former teachers you talk to from that school ... oh, you forgot to request a phone number or an email of someone on their staff you can ask such questions as whether they pay on time? Don't forget to do that. The school can check your references if they want to, though it's true thatmost don't, so you should be able to get refs for them also.

[time for adventure]

Thanks for the info. Greatly appreciated.