Korean Job Discussion Forums

[askingquestions]

Hi,
I have been searching for a job and sifting thru the msg boards and it seems like everyone is getting screwed, does anyone have any good stories that would instill hope into a newbie? - Also the names of those 'good' schools would be nice,
Thanks

[Grotto]

Do your homework, check out the school with at least 2 or 3 teachers currently there and 2 or 3 teachers who used to work there....there is no reason they cant supply these email addresses.

Choose where you want to work, what grades you want to teach(agewise) and what hours and salary are acceptable to you.

Make sure the contract is as clear as possible as Koreans love to point out anything that doesnt work in your favour and ignore the contrac otherwise.

If you come to Korea with an open mind, are able to be flexible(while still knowing where to draw the line) you will do fine and have a good time.

[Yu_Bum_suk]

Your first job is usually a matter of luck. Like Grotto said, do your homework and try to hold out for a job with the hours and age group you think you'd like best. After getting out of my first crap job six months in I found one that's perfectly suited to me with only the odd minor problem. If you can be in a position with your first job where you can always walk away if need be, ironically, you'll probably feel a lot mor secure.

[wylies99]

OP- the fact that you're reading this site BEFORE you come to Korea means you're prepared for anything. A good experience? That's great. Something bad?- you know how to get the legal help you need.

[seoulsista]

The kids can trully be wonderful and fun to work with and make the job almost worth it. But if you are asking if I have ever had a positive working relationship with an employer here, nope not a single one. I have had a number of great bosses at home who I still keep in touch with. Here, I can barely stand even having to look at them. I find it helpful to just focus on the students and smile and take it when it comes to working for a hagwon.

[Zark]

I spent six years in Korea - and had a mix of the good and the bad. But, my first three years were good enough that I went back for another three - about six years later.

Do your research - speak to the other teachers where you are considering working - and you should do just fine.

Is it trouble free? No, but no where is.

[Pak Yu Man]

This is a place for babies, whiners and complainers. Did you boss ever say "wow you did a good job today" hell no. You'll never hear that. Just like you'll never hear people come on here and say why their job/life is so great. The flamers/babies will crush them.

There are tens of thousnads of people living and working happily in Korea. There are how many people here posting?

Do your homework like Grotto said and you should be fine.

[CAS]

i have a great job... just come with an open mind and remember that although you may be here for an easy job with lots of monetary return... it's still a job and so you need to act like it is. A lot of the people here are people that obviously could not handle work loads back home and so are here but still complain (i work 30 hours a week with almost no breaks which really isn't that much but apparently, that's above avg... find me a job back in Canada that i can work for 30 hours a week, get paid $36K/year after taxes with almost all living expenses paid for AND be hired straight outta uni with almost no experience). Sure, I would have been able to make much more than that back home, especially with my degree... but I would have been working 50 or more hours a week. That's just not cool!. Sure, there are bad jobs out there but then there are also great ones. Just depends on your research and your perspective.

if you're an optimistic individual... you should be set, just don't be stupid about your optimism

[Zark]

[PortHardy]

A lot of good points in the above posts. The only thing I can add is if you like kids then you will enjoy teaching kids. If you don't then you shouldn't be teaching kids. I see a few people that don't like kids and hate their jobs because of this. Teach adults or older kids if this is the case.

Pak-u-man makes a great point as the vast majority of teachers in Korea are content with their job. Obviously, there are some that are getting screwed but don't let that discourage you. Just do the basic checks and I'm sure you will enjoy your stay. Most of the schools in Korea are good enough so you'll always get paid on time and all that. Most of the negative things you hear on this forum are probably true but only experienced by a very small minority. But beware as you don't want to be posting how you got screwed a few months from now.

[sheba]

Double post

[sheba]

Dave's is often used as a place to ask for help or to vent.... kinda distorts the real picture. Sure there is a lot of bad but theres a lot of good too. I really wanted to come to Korea and didnt let all the horror stories prevent me from doing so.... I did A LOT of research and made a list of all the things I wanted in a job here - age of kids, working hours, pay etc and turned down several jobs until I found one that fit my criteria.

I eventually came over expecting to get royally screwed. I questioned my boss about everything! But as it turns out I have a great job - Im into my second year with this school now. Of all the people I have talked to, it seems the ones that did the research are the ones that are happier. Research the jobs, and the country/culture before you come and it will help a lot.

And dont let other peoples problems put you off.

[mikekim]

One of the main problems is that the best teachers and the ones that have the most fun don't post on Dave's.

I think I have a great job. Not a hagwon, 6 hours of teaching a week, excellent english speaking (non-korean) support network, and new, bug-free apartment. I don't want to name the recruiter but even if you have the best recruiter you have so many other factors like school, teachers, students, principal, education office. If anyone of those factors doesn't like you, its going to be a rough ride.

[dimnd]

if they are so good