Korean Job Discussion Forums

[nene]

When I started looking around this website, I told myself I wouldn't take a job unless I read good things about the school on this site and talked to a teacher that said it was good. So much for the best laid plans...I'd love to hear what you all think of this scenerio:

A recruiting company (RBI) has been very nice and accomidating to me and my girlfriend, and they've offered me a position in Busan that sounds exactly to my liking. Big appartment, 2M wan, teach elementary to undergrad students, no split shifts, no saturdays, etc.. BUT, between the recruiter and the director of the school, I've heard three different stories about the last teacher, and I definitely cannot contact her. And the school has only been around for about a year.

Generally, I trust my gut-reaction, and the director seemed like a genuinely good man. With all of my nit-picky concerns, he said just put it in the contract and I'll stand by my word...the original contract says stuff like this: "The Employer shall provide the Employee with full support, shall respect the Employee's dignity and try to keep their relationship harmonious with the Employee." and "The Employer acknowledges the differences of cultures and customs between the two parties. The Employer shall help the Employee to settle into their new residential and working circumstance. In the case of the Employee having trouble such as sickness and/or accident, the Employer is responsible for assisting the Employee." (and that the English shall govern).

I understand they could just be "saving face" of the last teacher or something. What do you think, would you take this job??? I'm so anxious for opinions. Thanks all.

[Grotto]

Without more information anything anybody says would be pure speculation.

What were the 3 stories like? Bad teacher? Crazy teacher? If they blame everything on the teacher then its probable that they will continue to do so(speculation)

Without being here and without being able to contact the last teacher there is little you can do other than take a deep breath, plug your nose and jump into the deep end.

[Gopher]

[Grotto]

Gopher I understand being a little bitter....but red flag

In all fairness to hogwans there are people who come over here and are not ready to teach, social misfits and generally nutjobs of the first degree.

Look at the freaky waygookin thread for examples.

At ECC in Suwon before I got there they had a teacher that attacked another teacher in his sleep(tried to strangle him....not that I blame the guy they guy that he tried to strangle was an ass), when the teacher complained to the hogwan the owner went to the apartment to talk to him and his bedroom was smeared with feces(as was he)the teacher was also naked and had arranged all of his clothing in neat piles on the floor.

Now what kind of story do you think the crazy teacher would have had?

That being said almost all hogwans are spawning grounds for demonic possesion anyways!

[just because]

RBI is the biggest rucruitment and probably the most professional one in the Busan area...

Doesn't mean they are any better than anyone else but they do know what they are doing

[nene]

Thanks guys. The three stories were 1 - couldn't get visa, 2 - mother died, 3 - had baby. I talked with the director of the school for about 20 minutes, and he seemed genuinely kind and interested in my wellbeing. When I asked the recruiter for a contact, even a Korean teacher, she got nervous and explained that in Korean culture it would be insulting to go back to the director and again ask for a contact. Does this sound right? Is there a big emphasis on blind trust in Korea? Also, she could've just been a bad employee or couldn't deal with Korea, and they just don't want me to talk to her, right?

[just because]

[nene]

But that's the wierd thing - they didn't hesitate to give me the name of the school, the director, have him call me. I guess the director and recruiter are friends...I'm not sure if that's good or bad for me...

[blunder1983]

I wouldn't be too worried personally. I came through a recruiter and I've been really happy with them, not only did they get me a great job they've continued to back me up throughout the time i've been here.

Also factor in that there IS a shortage of people working in Hagwons over here at the moment too. If you get here and its truely awful, jump ship to another school!! You'd be out your flight money but apart from that you'd be fine.

[blunder1983]

Oh and my recruiter wouldn't let me talk to the teacher I replaced either. (Tho now I've seen what she was doing I have a sneaking suspiscion it was beacuse she'd have tried to get me thinking on the lines of a lesson = a random handout with no teaching points or structure.)

Seriously, come to Busan meet some fellow Waigooks and if it goes *beep* up then jump ship. In incheon you'd have to just hit the Goose on ur first friday here and you'd have a new job.

[joe_doufu]

I would trust my intuition and take the job. Forget about whats in the contract... intuition and people-skills are about the only thing that's worth anything in this country. I suspect that's why so many 21 year old fresh college grads have so many problems here, they haven't learned out how to judge people or decide who to trust.

[RachaelRoo]

nene - You can't just sign a contract and jump ship if things don't go well. The visa system in Korea does not work that way. You must have a signed release letter from the director to do this, and if the school is so bad that you want to jump ship, chances are the director is not nice and there is nothing to obligate him/her to sign the release letter - leaving you unable to legally work for another school in Korea.

I arrived in Korea jobless two days ago, and my problem was TOO MANY job offers to choose from. I have already found an outstanding position. You have the upper hand and do not need to take a job that is even slightly sketchy.

The story about the previous teacher does sound suspicious - I mean, it's not like you are possibly hearing different versions of the same story - you are being told distinctly different things. Sure, MAYBE is was the last teachers fault, or whatever - but from your point of view, in a market where demand for teachers greatly exceeds supply, I would advise you to not take the risk. The director may sound nice, but for all you know, he is just trying to sound nice to get you to like him and sign the contract. I know you feel loyalty to the recruiter, but this is business. The director and the recruiter have every incenive to lie to you (money). Sure, they might be telling the truth, but this previous teacher situation sounds fishy you gotta look out for #1! Blunder 1983 sounds like he/she's had good luck, but that doesn't mean you will.

[Gopher]

Concur with Rachel. Her method may indeed be the most prudent way for a first-time Korean EFL instructor to begin here...

[Freezer Burn]

I used RBI, the contract is the same contract at most schools they deal with give or take a few points, they speak english, but they are still a business and will get paid if they get you here and deliever you into the hands of the school.
I was lucky I got a great school and everything was cool, a few other people I know got screwed pretty much using the same recruiter, just with housing, sh-itty apartment, not really RBI's fault but hey.

[sheba]