Korean Job Discussion Forums

Ed Provencher · Joined: 15 Oct 2006

What are the best hogwans to work for?

laogaiguk · Joined: 06 Dec 2005 Location: somewhere in Korea

Usually not the ones that are advertised on the internet. You can find a lot of average ones, but the good ones are usually held by people who stay for a long time (because they are good), and when they leave, give it to a friend or someone they know. Not always, but enough of the time.

just because · Joined: 01 Aug 2003 Location: Changwon - 4964

The best positions are the ones not advertised...

I know that is not what you want to hear but the nicest jobs, people when they leave give them to their friends...

In Korea it really is not what you know but who you know.....

Ed Provencher · Joined: 15 Oct 2006

Well then... is there anybody here with a "best " job to pass along to a friend, but has no friend to pass it to?

Trevor · Joined: 16 Nov 2005

I work for a great Hogwon. Found 'em on Dave's.
Here's what you do:

Send out a million resumes and when they respond do the following --

1. Ask to speak to at least two current and former teachers (mandatory).
2. Ask for a detailed description of the living conditions - pictures if possible.
3. Ask to see the contract and find out how many hours you have to teach.
5. Post the contract here if you like and get familiar with how it compares
5. Ask if there's a split shift. If it is a really wide split, don't take it move on.
6.Be UNFAILINGLY polite but firm in all of these requests. If you can't get answers to your satisfaction, move on.
7.Become an expert in what's available. Don't be pressured into signing before your positive it's the school for you.

You'll find a great hogwon on Dave's if you do this.

Also try Craigslist, Seoul or San Francisco. Also try www.koreabridge.com Classified.

Also consider Busan, Daegu, Daejeon, Ulsan instead of Seoul which is too damn big for my taste.

I worked a Winter Camp for a month before I took a year contract. The winter camp sucked but it taught me many valuable things and got my feet wet. I travelled to meet my hagwon director in person and see the setup before I signed (always a good idea).

Smee · Joined: 24 Dec 2004 Location: Jeollanam-do

Looks like you'll need to pay your dues, "friend."

Ed Provencher · Joined: 15 Oct 2006

So, one can only become a "friend" from enduring some sort of suffering or sacrifice?

Trevor · Joined: 16 Nov 2005

Don't listen to that stuff. It's Ka-Ka. There are TONS of good jobs. The shortage is in good teachers to fill them.

Remember: You want a good Hoggie. The good Hagwons wants a teacher who is, professional, not an alcoholic, etc.

Prove to them that you are the best with your professionalism and then let them prove they are the best for you.

Also, many people feel that the public schools are best, these days. Salary is a little higher and they'll definitely pay. Much less risk, tons of holidays and lots of down time to surf, write, finish your masters...

seoulsista · Joined: 31 Aug 2005

Ed,

The deal is that hagwons open and close and change managers and change policies and change names and change staff on a minute to minute basis here in Korea.

There's really no way for anyone to tell you a list of the better companies to work for because generally speaking the big chains are not that great, the medium sized chains are not well known by everyone because they are too small to have a great deal of noteriety. The same goes for the little places. Furthermore, I can tell you this today and it may not be true tomarrow or in another city. Someone else can come and tell you their experience was not at all like this.

As said above, make sure that you fully research and go with your instincts. DO NOT get a bad feeling from someone and brush it off. If they are being even the slightest bit dodgy during the interview things will only get worse. However, expect a great deal of incompetence - that's just Korea.