Korean Job Discussion Forums

Panda_Dude · Joined: 06 May 2005

General Scenario:

Interview goes well...
But feels very short. (Only about ten or fifteen minutes of general questions of how I feel about children).

Within a few hours, I get sent the contract and am already told that the director is getting my flight ticket.

Is it typical for Hagwons to act this fast with hiring an employee?

It literally seems BANG BANG BANG BANG BAM.....

azjen · Joined: 29 May 2004 Location: Youngtong, Suwon

The school is probably desperate and they are running out of time. Koreans typically do things at the last minute and then things become an issue. Your director may be moving so fast in fear you find something better elsewhere. Double check your contract. See if you can talk with another teacher about conditions.

Make certain everything is peachy before you head over. Keep in mind there are many other schools here and hagwons are simply a business.

tommynomad · Joined: 24 Jul 2004 Location: on the move

Panda_Dude · Joined: 06 May 2005

Well, I am not one to name names openly, so I'll list the facts in general terms and say what I am currently doing:

1) School is part of a major franchise. Goofy name Wink

[I think I said too much already]

2) Pay is average and the hours are less due to the classes being thirty five minutes. (Still the standard 30 classes a week)

3) I have compared this contract to another sample contract, and nothing seems out of the ordinary except the housing management deposit is higher in this school's contract than the sample contract. (Perhaps it's a sign of a previous employee being trouble?)

I just feel disrespectful to the institution if I openly show the contract for everyone to see... It's not that I see anything wrong with the contract itself, it's basically the speed of the hiring procedure.

( I realize Korea is a very last minute culture. At least that is the impression I got when I travelled there before. But still, maybe my cultural bias makes me edgy Smile

)

However, if someone needs an excuse to stay up late and feels altruisic, will anyone help me look over the contract through PM? As I said before, I want to show some decency towards the institution and not start a "public humiliation."

Edit: I forget to mention, I am trying to contact one of the foreign teachers at that institution at the moment to ask them some questions.

azjen · Joined: 29 May 2004 Location: Youngtong, Suwon

Many of us have had not the greatest experiences with employers here. I'm currently being swindled out of my return airfare home. As I have learned too, your contract is just about as good as toilet paper when it comes right down to it. I've learned that I could have made at least 200,000 won more a month just based on my experience alone.

Hold out, find another school. Play it safe. You don't want to get here and be in an awful situation.

My advise on the teacher issue: Get more than one address. Search the blacklists. I asked the teacher what my school was like before I came. It was only when I got here he told me I couldn't trust my employer. Many of us have learned there are better oppotunities. Ditch the recruiter, they'll just sell you out first chance.

the_beaver · Joined: 15 Jan 2003

Both time I used a recruiter everything was hurry up at first, stalled, and hurried again. Pretty common I would think.

Real Reality · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Location: Seoul

Panda_Dude · Joined: 06 May 2005

Real Reality · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Location: Seoul

Poll: Have you been paid late in Korea?
A. Never - I must be lucky! 30%
B. Once or twice - no big deal, minor annoyance... 23%
C. Several times - hate it! 20%
D. Several times - but I understand the culture, doesn't bother me... 6%
E. Many times - sigh... 16%
F. I've never been paid on time! ARGH! 2%
http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/korea/viewtopic.php?t=18732

sheba · Joined: 16 May 2005 Location: Here there and everywhere!

Yes it is typical for things to happen this quick!

I was told that a school would get back to me about a job in a few weeks - they rang the following morning and asked how soon I could start. (I should have been happy but the timing freaked me out so i said no).

When I accepted my current job they asked me to leave my country in less than a week... there was no way I was going to be ready, and how could they process my visa in that time? After that they changed my departure date 3 times because my visa wasnt ready!

Ya-ta Boy · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Established in 1994

Ummm...unless you showed up at the interview with a third arm growing out of your forehead, you had the job as soon as they read your cover letter. The demand for teachers outstrips the supply of young white females. That's why the interview was so short and the job offer so fast.

I've been offered jobs on the subway and I'm neither young nor female.