Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Lollie]

Here's my dilema. I'm looking at two contracts right now...

First Job
Located in Busan right by Gwanganli beach and pays 2.5 million won. The hours are from 4pm-10pm. The only downer is that I'd be working Mon-SAT... I'm just not sure if I want to be working 6 days a week for a whole year - but then on the other hand, it's pretty good pay and in a nice area.

Second Job
Located in Ulsan (where I have friends living) and pays 2.2 million won. This would be daytime hours because I'd be teaching kindergarden in the morning and then middle school in the afternoon. There's no Saturday work in this job, but I'm not sure if I want to settle for 2.2...

I'm going to have to make a decision soon, so any advice that you can give me would be greatly appreciated!!

Thanks in advance!

[adverge]

I worked Saturdays for a month for summer intensives. I was exhausted by the end of it and ended up getting sick.

You'll appreciate those two days to recover.

You may also want them to do some sight-seeing and shopping. You'll come to regret not having that Saturday off to do that.

2.2M is not that bad. I make 2.1M and I still happily send more than CDN $1500 home each month. I also live very frugally though, which may not be your style.

You should really post BOTH contract offers here (without personal details) and let the Contract Gurus go over them.

[Ya-ta Boy]

I agreed to work one Saturday morning a month for one semester. I found it to be tiring. I found I need the two day weekend to rest up.

[gang ah jee]

I worked Saturdays my first year in Korea. It was like being in hell.

[VanIslander]

If 300 thou was the only diff then take saturdays OFF ! I worked saturdays my first year and a half and it was tiring. then i worked a year and a half at the same place without saturdays and suddenly had more energy, and now have a new job with fridays and saturdays off and it's like I'm never tired!

But that isn't the only difference...

the first job doesn't start until 4 pm every day, and for some people that is incredibly good, as your free time every day is when the sun is shining and you are NOT tired yet: can go exercising, shopping, walking, whatever hobbies, especially if you aren't a bar hound.

the second job is "daytime hours", i dunno, sounds like a long day. when does the day end? kindergarten and middle school? 9 am to 7 pm? or a split shift? it sounds like a scary combination. you have to watch out for those kindy+ positions. You could end up spending almost your entire day every day at work and then five days can be tougher.

Where your friends are is a minor consideration. Ulsan is very close to Busan and transit between is very cheap and frequent. You could EASILY go to Ulsan for shopping, visiting and lunch, and be back in time for work on any work day (first job not starting until 4 pm). If your friends have some daytime off and aren't the get-drunk kind of friends, then the first job offers no less opportunities to get together for a few hours here and there.

Plus, Gwanganli beach is a nice place to be, and Busan has plenty to keep your daytime hours filled if you wanna go out and about. Ulsan stinks, literally. But what about accommodation at each place? That might be a factor you want to consider as well.

And have you talked with other foreign teachers at each place? The one which comes better recommended, like in paying in full and on time and with a pleasant work environment, is the sure bet to happiness imo. Talk to other foreign teachers who are there now or have been there. If neither place can offer that then take your time and look elsewhere. There are plenty of jobs available at any one time,
even, especially, in Busan: http://www.pusanweb.com/classifieds/index.htm

Good luck whatever.

[ella]

I won't work Saturdays. I go to church on Sundays and that would mean I would never have a day off where I can relax and sleep in and not have any obligations. That's not going to happen.

[Yu_Bum_suk]

If it were every single Saturday at a hogwan I'd say 'no'. If it were every other Saturday at public school I'd say 'yes'. Saturday school is thankfully being phased out of the public school system, though many hogwans are just picking up the 'slack' by offering more Saturday programmes.

[Son Deureo!]

A six-day work week in a town where you have no friends vs. a five-day week in the same town as your friends? Sounds like a no-brainer to me. Take the job in Ulsan.

Working 6 days a week sucks. Hard. You really don't want to put yourself through that for a year, and you'll never get to do any traveling around Korea if you work that kind of schedule.

If you really want to make that extra 300,000 a month, just pick up a few privates. If you want to work your ass off on Saturdays, do it yourself and make even more money.

[babtangee]

Don't take the kindergarten+ job. You will have no life, other than on Sat/Sun. I did kndergarten + elementary, essentially spending 9-10 hours a day at the school three days a week. It sucked major.

Don't work Saturday for what, 70,000 won more per Saturday. That is so not worth it.

Find another job.

[Lollie]

Thanks so much for your responses! It helps to hear from people who have been there and done that, as they say... Working Saturdays doesn't seem like it would be all that bad at first, but I'm sure I'd be kicking myself 3 months into the contract.

I'm definately leaning toward the Ulsan position now.

Thanks for putting into perspective.

[jlb]

I wouldn't work Saturdays unless I got paid at least 3 mill a month. It'd be tiring but for 3 mill I could probably convince myself that it's not so bad because of the money.

[heydelores]

I work part-time on Sundays, and while I love what I do, there are definitely weekends when I would just prefer to have two whole days off. Among other things, it makes it ridiculously difficult to go away for a weekend.

[Ilsanman]

I was offered Saturday work. I said 'you have to make it worth my while'.

They pay me 40,000 an hour, so it's worth it for me.

[MollyBloom]

My boyfriend and I are looking at a job that has us working Saturdays, BUT we get paid 2.6 WITH housing and all benefits, AND we get 8 weeks PAID vacation!!! It calls for working for one months, then two straight weeks off...

So if we get offered this job....I'll work my bum off 6 days a week to have 8 weeks off.

That's the only way I'll work Saturdays.

[Hyeon Een]