Korean Job Discussion Forums

xCustomx · Joined: 06 Jan 2006

I told SMOE last week that I would accept their offer for a position starting in the fall. I had been posting my resume on worknplay and englishspectrum for a few weeks, looking for both FT and PT positions. When I came into work today my boss told me I should change the picture I had on my ad, so basically I was caught looking for a PT job. She didnt really say anything else....we talked about the public school job, and how it compares to working in a hagwon. i have read a lot about the public school jobs for several months, so I was initially happy to get an offer, but am now having second thoughts. After seeing my ad for the PT jobs, my boss offered to negotiate a new contract. As it is right now, I do most of my teaching on MWF, about 7.5 hours each day. She said that while I am in Korea I should make as much money as I can, so she would be willing to give me Tuesday and Thursday off and give me permission to work PT somewhere else. This seems like a lucrative offer, especially if I can negotiate a decent salary, hopefully somewhere in the range of 1.8-2.0 million, plus housing. Keep in mind that I would be teaching 22.5 hours (those are 60 minute hours, not 50 like most places). If I could find the right PT job(s), I figured I could easily make 3.0-3.5 a month.

Provided I get everything in writing, especially regarding the issue of multiple employment and the school giving permission, specific block hours on MWF and never having to work on TTH, is this something that you would do? (please don't mention anything about burning out)

Homer · Guest

please don't mention anything about burning out

Well it is kind of the only issue left according to your post man.... Laughing

You said you have the time (days off) and the legal permission (boss will sign the papers needed) so what else is there to consider?

The money issue vs your free time and your quality of life is the only remaining issue here.

You just need to ask yourself if the money outweighs the negatives.

You might find you are burning out however...or you might not...but it is an issue unless you are indefatigable of course.

xCustomx · Joined: 06 Jan 2006

well, i guess this is more for the guys who have public school jobs now, or have had them in the past. i plan to get married next spring, and then move back home in the fall. i am trying to save as much money as i can, and would like to do so legally.

sure my school has some drawbacks, but i think if my boss was willing to give me exactly what she mentioned today, i could look past the bs, especially since i'd only be there 3 days a week. for the most part i like my school, especially the kids i teach, and the fact that class sizes are limited to 5, though i usually teach between 1 and 3.

at this point, im seriously starting to reconsider the public school job....but im still curious what other public school teachers might do if they had this opportunity.

Homer · Guest

If you are looking for a money run then do it.

You can tough it out then since you will have a clear goal ahead.

By the way...early congrats on your wedding plans... Very Happy

Deciding factors for me would be:

Location of other job (how much travel is involved)

Qualify of part time gig (good conditions?)

Does that help?

xCustomx · Joined: 06 Jan 2006

The thing with the SMOE job is that I have no idea where I will be placed this fall, until later this summer. I like where I am now, about 30 minutes from Gangnam via subway. If I were to stay where I am, I could definitely find a decent part time job either in my immediate area or in Gangnam, Jamsil area, Seochu, etc...Money is clearly my goal right now, and I don't mind working my butt off to secure a better future for both me and my wife-to-be.

Since I was just offered this proposition today, i would still need to work everything out contract wise. Obviously what she says verbally, might change later. Provided she keeps true to her word and I get everything in writing, it's hard to say how the part time job would be since this would take effect later this summer. Just the prospect of having 2 prime days off per week to make 30-40k per hour legally is very tempting.

teachingld2004 · Joined: 29 Mar 2004

Sounds good, but be carefull. Part time jobs are not legal unless they are on your E2, No matter what your boss says. LEGAL, NO.

What is legal, is if she lets you do them at her school.. If you can get that in writing, you are fine. Other then that, take your chances.

xCustomx · Joined: 06 Jan 2006

What do you mean they have to be at her academy? As long as my boss writes a letter to immigration giving her approval and I bring in contracts from both jobs and get them approved by immigration I should be able to work at any location

I_Am_Wrong · Joined: 14 Sep 2004 Location: whatever

yup, part-times that get added to your e-2 are fine. the other poster was mentioning non-legit part time jobs. Ie. teaching kids at apartments or adults at starbucks etc.

It sounds like you could potentially have a good deal going at the hagwon, especially if you like teaching there. I taught Elementary School last year and also did pt's. taught a regular 24 hours at my school and did 6 hours of after school at a neighbouring school. On top of that I had another 12 hours that I did in the evenings and on weekends. I was making a lot of cash but burnout hit me hard.

VanIslander · Posted: Mon May 29, 2006 4:02 pm Post subject: Re: What would you do?

The job is only Monday, Wednesday, Friday for 2.0?

Dang. Why not? If you take on extra part-time work Tues, Thurs, Sat and decide after a few months that you don't wanna work so much then you could quit the part time job and still have your visa (through your main job).

I'd ask to work Tues, Wed, Thurs... or Mon, tues, wed.... and have megaweekends off. Has anyone done that? Maybe I should rethink my aversion to public school positions.

I_Am_Wrong · Joined: 14 Sep 2004 Location: whatever

xCustomx · Joined: 06 Jan 2006

i can't do t, w, th and have 4 day weekends because all the students come on MWF for 1.5 hour classes. as of now, i only teach 1-2 hours on T and TH, so it's not much at all. in august i will have 1.5 years experience, and im still making 2.0, so i don't think it would be unreasonable to ask to stay at 2.0, or maybe drop down to 1.8-1.9 per month so I can get T and TH cleared from my schedule. im going to try and negotiate later today and see what happens.

teachingld2004 · Joined: 29 Mar 2004

x,
If u read what I wrote, I wrote as long as they are on your e-2 you are fine. I am saying even if your boss says yes, you still can not do it unless it is on your e-2.

poof · Joined: 23 May 2005

Isn't it strange for a Korean hogwan owner to tell a foreign employee that they should 'make as much money in Korea as possible'??? Something is fishy here.

xCustomx · Joined: 06 Jan 2006

well the owner is korean american, and she saw my ad for pt jobs. i also mentioned in the ad that i was looking for a ft job in the fall that would give me permission to work at multiple locations (permission via immigration). i dont think there is anything weird about her teling me that i should try to make as much money as i can. she knows i have received a job offer, and i think she is willing to cut a deal to keep me working there (i am the only foreign teacher) and save herself of trying to find a new teacher, while paying for airfare and/or a visa run. i only taught 1.5 hours today (tuesday), so by giving me T and Th off, she won't be losing much, which is why i would be willing to drop my salary a little bit, because in the long run i would easily be able to earn that money back.