Korean Job Discussion Forums

[xCustomx]

i've been working for 2.0 since april '05.....i was gonna work part time at my hagwon starting next week, but things have changed. ill still only teach 24 hours a week, so i've actually thought of not asking for a raise because im 6 hours below the 30 hours that most teachers have to teach (unless you're in a public school).

regardless, i feel like i should be getting a raise, and the amount of hours i work, whether its 15/week or 30/week should not matter too much.

i tried doing a search for 'pay raise' and didnt get much....how have you gone about asking for a raise from your boss here? (just point out how much you've improved in your teaching, attracting more students to the hagwon?)

[Juregen]

Just get a better offer from another hagwon, give it to your boss.

Tell him you are giving him the opportunity to keep you.

That is how i got my raises fixed within timely manners.

IF he is not willing to match up, just go, under that presure and not giving in means they never think of giving you any raise whatsoever.

Why point out the obvious, you are putting yourself in a bad postion by having to point out your good points. That strategy will be countered by a lot of bad comments.

[dulouz]

Its easy
Look for a new job with some benefit that you don't get now- money or wahtever. Tell the present boss I want a raise. If he says no, give a 30 day notice.

[xCustomx]

I like working at my hagwon now, so I prefer not to leave. Sure I may make more money elsewhere, but by going to another hagwon I run the risk of having it worse off somewhere else. I don't want my boss to call my bluff, especially when I don't really want to leave.

Is telling your boss that you have another job offer the only way to get a raise? Probably not. I'm interested in other approaches people have taken, so please share

[Grotto]

ask for a raise straight up.

Tell your boss you like it there and would like to stay.....dont offer ultimatims or talk about leaving. Tell him you like the school, you like him, you like the students and would like to stay for another year.

Things you might want to mention to him: recruiters fee 1,000,000.....roundtrip airfare 1,500,000(give or take) and thats just the monetary costs. You have proven yourself a good teacher, get along well with staff and are capable of surviving in Korea for a year(no runner)

If he gives you a 200,000 won a month raise he still saves a little money and has the peice of mind that he knows what kind of teacher he has.

Run it by him and see what he says....if he says too much ask him what he thinks is fair...give him time to think about it(weekend or so)

[VanIslander]

You didn't ask for a raise when you resigned for another year in April? That is exactly the time to ask!

You want to ask for a raise at the same time as you're already expected to work LESS hours?

Are you a certified teacher with prior experience? Or are you a b.a. in whatever with no prior experience. If the latter, then your improved performance on the job is making up for the many months of incompetence, or at least half-competence, that comes with uneducated newbies. Everything evens out.

You cup is more than half full. But ask for it to be topped off, by all means.

Good luck whatever.

[xCustomx]

I didn't resign in April....I resigned, but the agreement was that I would only work MWF 3-9pm, and my boss gave me permission to work at another hagwon part time. That changed after I found out how hard it was to find a hagwon who only needed a teacher on T and TH. So now ill work 2:30-8:30MWF and 2:30-6 T and TH, with the agreement that PT work is ok as well.

The difficulty with asking for a raise is the fact that I work 25 hours a week, compared to the average of 30. But my boss has told me how thankful she is to have me stay at the school, and how much of an improvement I have made since I started 1.5 years ago. I am more confident in my abilities, and my students have told their parents that they really enjoy learning from me. It just doesn't seem right to continue working for 2mill for 2.5 years, by the time my contract is up next august. I think 2.2 is not unreasonable at all, even at 25 hours/week

[Homer]

Grotto provided you with the best solution here...take it and run with it.

If he balks at 200 000 then be ready to bargain down to 150 000 as your floor limit.