Korean Job Discussion Forums

jessf · Joined: 16 May 2005

Hi,
I'm going to be making the trek over to Korea to try my hand at teaching sometime in early August. I'm planning on going to Busan (a friend of mine is already there) and I'm going with my boyfriend. I was wondering if anyone had any opinions on getting a couple position or getting jobs at different schools. Advantages? Disadvantages? Good experiences? Bad experiences? Also, is it better to try to get a job before I leave or after I get there? If anyone knows of good schools in Busan that might be hiring around that time that would also be great to hear.
Thanks!

Zark · Posted: Wed May 18, 2005 1:06 pm Post subject:

I have, at times, worked at the same college/university as my wife. It had good and bad sides.

The good sides are fairly obvious - but the more difficult parts may not be. We weren't always able to really let off steam about our jobs - as often people she got along well with - I didn't - and vice versa. Someone with whom she was feeling tension with � might show up and have a very friendly chat with me � and I would be viewed as being �unsupportive� � and not unfairly - but I didn�t want to trash my relationships with people I was doing fine with . . .

Sometimes it is best to know nothing about your mate's job - and then you can blindly support them in any situation. Which is all we want sometimes - when we are frustrated.

Understand that even if not married - you may well be considered a "package" and problems with/for either of you will result in problems for both of you. Why did he call in sick - it created a problem for everyone - and YOU should solve the problem or make up for it. If you have a dispute with your boss - he is also viewed as being uncooperative, etc etc.

Being married also is different form boy/girlfriend - but it isn't uncommon in Asian cultures to communicate via a spouse and particularly via the guy to girl. I'm not saying you can't resist these cultural tendencies, but you probably won't change them. And it can create a fair amount of tension. Paricularly when the communication is about anything in dispute.

I could continue with a long list. It wasn�t always bad � sometimes it was VERY convenient. Both of us could commute to work together, live near work easily, solve some problems together.

It was never a total nightmare - but we don't seek employment at the same places anymore. It helps our relationship..

kprrok · Joined: 06 Apr 2004 Location: KC

One option you have is to take separate positions, and view each apartment before hand. Take the one that is better and ask the other school for a small payment in lieu of apartment. That way you get to "choose" your apartment and you get a bit extra cash each month.

KPRROK

Derrek · Joined: 15 Jan 2003

We had a marreid couple here last year. Only the guy stayed because the wife was sick of having her contract cut apart and made worse for the 3rd year in a row.

They are thrilled they separated. They make more money working at two separate places. The school was saving about 400,000 a month because they only had to provide one apartment. Wouldn't you rather work at two separate places and be making that money instead of getting a free apartment at one of the jobs?

Also, if you both go to the same stinky school, you both have to tough it out or face the scary possibility of not being able to work in Korea if you both run. If one of you has a good job at one school and the other has a bad one, the bad one can still come back and live with you because the spouse has a teaching visa. Then you can work PT (although illegally) and make money anyway (probably more than you were making at the other place).

hellofaniceguy · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Location: On your computer screen!

The best bet is to take different jobs AND each of you get housing. The school is paying for it anyway...live together in one place. If either of you gets a job with a idiot school owner or you get fired...at least one of you has an apartment!
Until you know the ropes and find your way around....seperate positions is best. Many jobs available and I am sure you will both find jobs close to each other.
Couple positions...again...not good for many hakwon positions.

pegpig · Joined: 10 May 2005

Aw, I thot this was a sex-related thread.

Saxiif · Joined: 15 May 2003 Location: Seongnam

In general I'd say go with the couple position. That means that you have more bargaining power with your boss since if he pisses of one of you he risks losing two teachers instead of one and having a couple pull a runner is every hagwon boss's nightmare.

Atkinson · Joined: 15 Oct 2004 Location: Land of the Golden Twist-tie

I think you'll find trouble getting work in the first place for exactly the reasons Saxif mentions. A couple working together has too much power, and carries a larger risk for grief, especially if they're boyfriend/girlfriend, rather than a married couple (not to say non-married couples are weak, rather, that on the whole, married couples are less likely to split up within the year).

When I was looking for my job, I was hoping to work at the same school as a friend, so we were looking for work together. For this very reason, all the owners asked if we were a couple, and would we be willing to work apart. They did not want to hire a couple, and were wary of two people wanting to work together, but claiming not to be involved. They were clear. So we stopped looking for work that way, and immediately both got offers.

Right after I came, a couple at my school who had recently been hired split up, and one of them became incredibly bitter about life. The school had to find her a new apartment overnight, and she did a runner a couple months later. They'll not hire another couple, I'm sure.