Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Aussiekimchi]

I would love to be dating the perfect woman. Each time I pass a mirror I am reminded that dream may never come true.
When coming to Korea I told my recruiter I wanted:
2.4mil +
Apgujeong
mornings and early afternoons only
no kindy students
I finished my first year in Incheon on 1.9mil, split shifts with 12 screaming 5 year olds clinging to my ankles.

Now it is all about location.
Some areas are better than others in Seoul. But with that comes higher costs.
What is your priority when looking for a job? and
What would you never compromise?

[MorgolKing]

I'm trying to decide that myself right now....what's more important location or teaching conditions.....

[Farnsworth]

I would recommend just holding out for a job where you get paid on time and your director doesn't break your contract. If you can get that much, I wouldn't sweat the small stuff.

[captain kirk]

I'd visit the place to meet the people and check if it's a laid back mood, boss and staff. And are the kids disciplined in that school, or running around all over the place. You can see that when you go there.

[Qinella]

Well, you have to weigh the factors out. I remember vaguely from my economics courses in college something about a subjective theory of value. Each thing has a different value to everyone, and you have to sort of quantify such items and decide how much of one thing you're willing to forego in order to obtain the other thing.

So you have to ask yourself: what do I value most?

For me, having a position somewhere in Seoul was most important. Second most important was working for a place where education is taken seriously (as opposed to a money mill hagwon). The other items (specific locations, staff size, vacation time) were of less value to me. For me, I can handle working 5 days a week, 52 weeks a year if I love my job. If I hated my job, I'd be going crazy.

Therefore, I compromised. I got a great position in Seoul, not too far from nice areas, but it's a really small school and does have its problems.

If you're the type of person who can put up with a joke hagwon that doesn't sort kids by ability level, doesn't support the teacher, doesn't care about real education, then you can value those things lower and place a premium on location, pay, vacation time.... It depends on what you value most. It's going to be hard to find something that is 100% perfect.

Q.