Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Derrek]

My mind is a whirlwind....

I just finished one year of teaching at a school, and took a job with a new place. I am on vacation back home in the USA, and will return to Seoul next week.

I have spent hours training at this new place (at no pay), even worked with some clients. I have a negotiated and signed contract which had me starting soon after I return on June 25th (next week). I have even purchased some materials to bring over, which I am told I will be reimbursed for. And now I am told they can't afford to hire me... can I please wait?

Worse, this all came about after a snafu happened, and my Passport and signed E-2 approval papers were lost in the US Mail after I sent it to Chicago from Iowa two weeks ago. Last week, I asked my boss to send me a new copy of the paperwork so I can get the visa (rushed new passport is on the way). I asked my boss if he had found my new apartment yet, but he hadn't. And now he tells me that he doesn't think he can afford to hire me! This, by the way, is after a contract has been signed, and I basically spent all this time NOT looking for another job while I was in Korea because I was offered and signed a contract for this one.

Ok... calm down, calm down.

And what else is happening... it seems they are possibly hiring someone else for some "special classes" they think they can find a revenue stream for.

I'm not a happy camper because I have stuff in storage with my old boss at my old hagwon, and he expects me to get it out of there next week. Also have stuff in storage at this new place. And now I have no new apartment, and still not sure about a Visa, or if they will just let me in the country on a tourist Visa with no return ticket.

Am trying to work something out with the new boss to still send me the Visa paperwork, get me an apartment for a month, and me possibly do something temporary elsewhere for a month until he knows more about his financial situation. If he can't hire me full in about a month, then he'll release me from the contract. It's a new business, and these are growing pains. I am at least thankful he is being honest with me now instead of bringing me over and not paying me. I told him I am searching for other things in the meantime, and have to look out for myself.

But this is such a huge inconvenience! At least there seem to be tons of jobs open right now!

What would you guys do? My mind is a blur.

[richinkorea]

First, let me save everyone a bit of trouble and say that sometimes I can be a real jerk, a-hole, etc.

Dude, I've read your posts before and you seem to run into problems at every turn. I think it's time to wake up. Some observations:

- It's always dangerous dating a co-worker. Not even just for sex, much less falling for her.

- Prostitution exists everywhere.

- Just because you have the flu doesn't mean you have SARS (I'm assuming it's cleared up and you don't have SARS).

- Never send important documents through the USPS.

- If it's too good to be true, it probably is. or, never count your chickens before the eggs hatch. You knew this job was "a startup". That's the way startups go. People who start companys often have great ideas, making them work is what's difficult.

The point I'm trying to make is to use a little common sense and not put all your eggs in one basket. Try to be objective and see things from more than one angle. You bring it upon yourself Derrek, the key is to stay cool, flow with the punches, etc.

Anyways sorry about the job, since you plan on coming back anyways, just come. Hit the street, you should be able to find a job in a couple of days. Accept this as constructive critism, sorry in advance if I offend.



Common sense is not common !

[William Beckerson]

I'd suggest asking your old boss to hang on for a little bit longer to your stuff, and take a job to get your butt back here.

I assume you saved enough money that coming here in a month or two isnt a problem?

[rapier]

It appears that you won't be able to work for anyone else for a year- that is until your current contract expires...?

[Derrek]

First of all... as stupid as it was to send it thru the USPS Priority Mail:

1. Because of all that mess, I DIDN'T get the E-2 stamped in my passport, which as I understand, still leaves me open to find another job with no contract penalty for a year. So as it turns out, it was a real blessing.

2. I'm American, so I can't "just come here a month or two". We don't get more than 3 weeks, I believe. Plus, they may not let me come over without a return ticket.

3. If a boss is that wishy-washy, I'm glad I'm not locked into working for him at this point.

4. Yes, I have the money if needed. Worst case scenario is that I'm having to accept a job from here and not see the place in advance. But I'd still like to come there and search, if I can make it work that way.

[humanuspneumos]

A. You don't want to be teaching at a school with financial problems- do you?
B. Are you considering this place because it's in an area you're familiar with? If yes- have you thought about spreading your wings into new parts of Korea? Jeju-do is great!
C. Do you have any friends who'll box up your stuff and send it back- so you don't have to do anything rash like taking a job you didn't want just because your stuff is in Korea? If no- have you thought about writing off your stuff as junk- (What- 300,000 WON worth?) in the light of millions that wait for you- or post here and tell people your sony play station, CD player can be picked up at such-n-such location for ________ WON. Anyway, my point is that the stuff is making your decisions for you in part.
D. Perhaps you'll have to think about a Japan run job. Go back- get a Yogwan- (some are 25-30,000 in Seoul)- grab your stuff- hit the PC room-you'll likely have a job under 5 days time (250,000 Won of eating/yogwan and 1.4 for the return ticket- that's 1.650 Won- can you afford to do it or not afford to do it?)

[Derrek]

Actually, I am working on something very similar...

The problem is that the boss wants to hire me, but he's really pressed, since it's under 4 months old, to get students. He's so desperate, he is looking frantically in every direction since his orginal gameplan for the school is not creating the revenue he had hoped. He is honest about that. The thing that bugs me is I'm the one left out to dry here, since he is having to "hire" someone else even after he "hired" me, then tell me he can't, in fact "hire" me. Heck, I was already "hired", and he talks in terms like he can't hire me yet.

I just need to find a way to get to Korea, have a place to stay and store my stuff, and either get this thing worked out or find another job. I was straight with him about that, and he understood. It could be worse, I guess. I just really am upset that I ended up wasting all of my interview time securing this job while I was in Korea, and now I go back (hopefully, I can get into Korea) with nothing. I don't want to sink more money into a ticket there, and a Yagwon, etc., so I might have him talked into finding me a place to stay, and paying for it, for a month. He also might write me the Visa still and has agreed to let me out of it if he can't hire me and I need to look elsewhere.

Oh, the fun of it all. NOT

[humanuspneumos]

I mean- when there are more simple routes to take? Studies have shown of three colors- green, red, and yellow- yellow causes stress. If I were in your shoes I'd just look for an absolutely green light. He must be offering you an above average salary to keep you at the yellow light like this. I guess that's the cost of going for the gold. Am I missing something? Anyway, I understand what you're feeling- it's not pleasant.

[Derrek]

Salary is in excess of 3 million won plus overtime. Housing allowance is 1 million/month.

If this were an average position, I wouldn't have held out this long.

[The Great Wall of Whiner]

humanuspneumos wrote:

[The Great Wall of Whiner]

Derrek wrote:

[Derrek]

Dude, thanks. At times like this, you know who your friends are.

We'll see what happens. I thinks something will work out.

[Zyzyfer]

[humanuspneumos]

Zyzyfer has a good point. You finally get there. Do the work. All the pressure is on. Then- if the owner hasn't realized his/her dream- well, guess who's second in the food-bank line. I know this isn't encouraging. However, I think it can be stated without levity and has enough weight to it to make it sensible. Unless you'll kick yourself if you don't try.

I always thought that teaching in Thailand would be paradise- until I did it-now it's out of my head. I don't think I'd do it again. Yet, it's an experience I can apply in other areas in the future. Be sure you have something other than money to get out of this situation or you could lose in more than one way.

[OiGirl]