Korean Job Discussion Forums

alabamaman · Joined: 25 Apr 2006

When did you decide to move on from your first hagwon?

Son Deureo! · Joined: 30 Apr 2003

When did I decide to move on? Not long after my first month. WHen did I actually move on? At the end of that year, when the term of my visa and contract ended of course. And I did move on to better.

fancypants · Joined: 22 May 2005

my first job in korea was at the biggest franchised kiddie hakwon chain in korea. after four arduous months there of being a split shift assembly line teacher and counting the days left in my contract on my calendar, i feigned a nervous breakdown, acting all crazy and unstable, and got a letter of release after paying them a 800,000 won freedom fine.

actually the nervous breakdown was only half acting...i really really really hated that place and i swear i would have lost my marbles had i stayed.

regardless, my leaving was kind of scary because i was still pretty new to korea. in the end, though, it was totally the right decision. my next job was at a small potatoes hakwon. it paid twice as much for less working hours and i had a fantastic time there.

jaderedux · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Location: Lurking outside Seoul

At the last moment. Unlike alot of people I worked for a pretty decent hakwon. The owner was above board. It wasn't perfect but never once got paid late. Got overtime. Accomodations were changed after the original place sort of went down hill.

However the lack of vacation time was killer. I do have to say he gave us choices. Gave us the week between Christmas and New Year and that was pretty rare 6 years ago. But I like having some time off to re-group. 2 or 3 days here or there was just not enough.

When I read this board I was always so shocked to see the bad dealings and horrific experiences some people had with their hakwons.

Jade

sadsac · Joined: 22 Dec 2003 Location: Gwangwang

Three years with my first hagwon. Owner was great, but after three years it just got stale. Smile

VanIslander · Posted: Sat May 20, 2006 4:29 pm Post subject:

After the third year for me too.

I got very sick and gave my notice, then got better and thought, oh well, change is good.

I miss my ol' students and my morning jaunts to the beach.
At least now I get a dinner break and fridays off.

ttompatz · Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Location: Kwangju, South Korea

Lets see... year and a half at my first...
1 and a 1/2 at my 2nd....
1 year at the 3rd .... Job and boss were OK, FACILITIES were 2nd to none, pool, putting green, library, computer lab, pretty good haggy BUT
I got a much sweeter position where I am now and couldn't say no...

ALL the kids were GREAT and I miss them all... sorta goes with being a teacher (or baby sitter)

Yu_Bum_suk · Joined: 25 Dec 2004

After six months I had just had it. I decided there was no way I was going to play a part in some imbecile's rip-off scam, especially if it meant me playing the part of an English monkey. I had to get nasty but it was one of the best decisions I've ever made in my life. Now I've got such a great job.

HapKi · Joined: 10 Dec 2004 Location: TALL BUILDING-SEOUL

Year One at one hagwon.
Year Two at another.
Year Three through Ten at my college.
Paid my dues and am now very happy.

Yu_Bum_suk · Joined: 25 Dec 2004

livinginkorea · Joined: 11 Jun 2004 Location: Korea, South of the border

9 months at my first hagwon
3 months at the second hagwon
nearly a year finished in an elementary school and will stay on for another year

HapKi · Joined: 10 Dec 2004 Location: TALL BUILDING-SEOUL

So Bum Suk- Whats the "such a great job" you have?

Yu_Bum_suk · Joined: 25 Dec 2004

inkoreafornow · Joined: 14 Sep 2005 Location: Gyeonggido

After 3 months of dealing with the bosses lies, I decided it was time to go. I did manange to finish my contract but we had several blow up fights over my final 9 months.

Hollywoodaction · Joined: 02 Jul 2004

Nearly 2 years (it closed before the end of my second contract). It was fine during the first year, but then the economy took a turn for the worst. After that, I was never getting paid on time and I had a horrible schedule because my boss had no choice but to bend to the students's demands if he wanted any business (first class at 6:30 am, last ended at 10:30pm). Well, as the hagwon was closing, some of my friends who worked at one of the universities in town told me that they weren't renewing their contracts and urged me to submit an application. They were already interviewing when I showed up with my resume, so they interviewed me on the spot. A week later, I had a job. Been there ever since.