Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Wombat]

Hey everyone ~

Even though I'm know what's standard and what isn't, I just wondered what the community's opinion is on this.

(Deep breath).

Ok, so I just got back from a job interview a few stations from where I live. The director ("Jenny") picks me up at the station. She is a decent-looking Korean woman, with pretty good English. The first thing she asks me is "Is that your real hair colour?" "Um, yes, it is," I reply. (Later, I will discover that she wants me to lighten it because my dark hair is "too Korean looking!) We walk to her car.

I make the usual smalltalk in the car - how long has the school been in business? (One year.) How many students? (Over 150 - which I take to mean, 151.) How many foreign teachers? (Three - two Canadian, one American.)

We get to the school - a propserous 2-floor deal, with elevators and all that jazz. The classrooms are neat and large. Looks ok! She says, "Talk to _____-teacher." (We'll call her Karen. And "Karen", if you're reading this, hiya! ) Karen and I sit in one of the classes and have a nice long chat about the working conditions, the daily grind, that sort of thing. I like Karen almost instantly; she seems nice, honest. We chat for nearly an hour.

In that time, she tells me that the school works on Saturdays. "But it's only 2 classes - about an hour and a half," she adds. I sigh; Saturdays. Working on Saturday was not part of my master plan. I ask her if there's any way that my Sat. classes could be subbed out. She replies that there has been such foreigner dissatisfaction over working on Saturday that they're going to phase it out for August. "Oh well, that's only...like 4 Saturdays. Big deal."

(Later on, when speaking with the director privately, I ask her if Saturdays are indeed going to be phased out, and she gives the classic Korean vague answer. Wrinkling her nose and half-smiling she says, "Maybe." What she meant to say was, "No," I reckon.

Um, what else was there? Oh yes, in the interview, she informs me that I am not allowed to wear my hair in two plaits, cos that, my friends, is for Students. She tells me that I'll have to wear makeup, highheels and pantsuits. By this point, I'm refraining from laughing out loud. The aforementioned are reserved for weddings, funerals and court dates. I tell her politely, but firmly that I have no problem coming to work looking representable, but that I'm not going out of my way. She gives a vague "Uhh."

The Salary Question. In the contract it states 2 million. I have experience. I'm already in Korea, so she didn't have to pay my ticket. I don't need her health insurance or accomodation. Shouldn't my pay be higher, I ask myself. I had had the figure of about 2.3 in mind, and certainly don't think it's outlandish. But whatever - that sort of thing can be negotiated after I've read the contract etc.

Anyway, I'm wondering how much of what she said is just her trying to establish as many crazy rules and agreements as she can with a new teacher in the hopes that they won't notice and be locked in, and how much is just the usual noise that hagwon directors make with new employees, and is permitted to fly in one ear and out the other.

I'm no negotiating baby. I just wanted some opions. Thanks guys ~

Wombat

[Wombat]

I forgot to add the most important bit! Later, after the director had buzzed off to do some work, I was alone with the aforementioned teacher. I told her quietly what was said, especially about the pay. (Also, I forgot to mention it before, but during the private interview, she asked me if I was pregnant or planned to be!) The teacher was a bit startled, I think, about how she was trying to pay me such a low wage, especially since she's being paid more.

Then, the honesty flowed forth; she said that she'd had personal clashes with her all year. I really appreciated her telling me that. I don't think it's anything I can't deal with, but I'm wondering if it's worth it? I'm hagwon shopping at the moment, and see no need to jump into the first job offered. However, that being said, I find that when you hold out for your dream job, you usually end up taking one that is much the same as the first one on offer.

Wombat

PS - Another pearl: "Your skin is brown colour. White-y lotion ok!"

[Wombat]

Where is my mind today?! I keep forgetting to add stuff.

Also, I think it rather significant that all three foreign teacher's contracts are up in a month, and not one is renewing. Still, I don't want to paint a disastrous picture of the place. It wasn't THAT bad; a standar, medium sized hagwon. Also, with all three teachers leaving in a month, and no replacements hired yet, she's over a barrel to get someone in, and negotiating may be easier because of that. Y'reckon?

Wombat

[humanuspneumos]

not that I'm typing- if it's in Seoul or not. The other cities- as far as I know- are paying between 1.6 heee hee - 2 million. Another thing, I never go for the super high wage because I'm not into the super-high pressure.

Also, sometimes it's worth knowing about the school's history and sometimes it's not. The last school I worked at I told myself again and again- longevity is in not knowing anything about the other teacher's battles prior/ongoing. I really tried to just ignore whatever had/was going on so that I could keep my sanity, have a good time, and stay the term. I don't know others would agree with me on the board here. Anyway, I didn't keep that stance and curious George had to delve and reflect on the history of his school and the problems of other teachers. I sometimes think that it wasn't worth knowing anything. I suppose I'm contradicting myself in some ways- but- the more I have read other posts here it seems to be a Shultz from Hogan's Heroes approach that survives the long-run and has a good time. (Mind-you - if the place is going bankrupt- that's good information to know)

Anyway, I don't really know what to say in terms of taking the job or not. I was thinking something strange today- if I really want a stress free year just don't worry about the cash so much- perhaps that's really poor logic. I don't know.

[Derrek]

Hey friend, try hitting the "Edit" button instead of making several additional post.

Also, I think I'd be a little spooked by that Hagwon... didn't sound too good to me.

[Cybersix]

Hey Wombat! I made the post 'Being the Slimy Guy'! Read it please!

The negative realities I felt pressured to leave out to the guy on phone because the boss was breathing down my neck I think I told ya in private, and _____ told you, namely the wierd racial stuff and personality clashes.

If _____ is reading this I hope you got my e-mail about those negative things and I also hope it doesn't turn you off this school too much. It's not that bad.

Oh, and wombat I was the guy, not the girl. And I AM (99%) coming back next year.

[Wombat]

Hey Cybersix ~

I PM'd you - thanks for you feedback. As I said, it's not that I think it's a horrible place (I've come across FAR worse). It's just that I want to take it easy about making snap decisions. And frankly, playing dressup to babysit some kids doesn't turn me on. High heels?!

Wombat

[humanuspneumos]

I've never heard of the high-heels thing before. That's a first. I often wore slippers in the place that I taught in. Unless you're 2.5 feet in height-I don't know what the worry is on that one. Perhaps there's another job in mind for you by the owner outside of the school. hee hee heh?

[HardyandTiny]

I'm Jewish I can't work on Saturdays.

[Son Deureo!]

They want you to work Saturdays. None of the current foreign teachers is renewing. They have a strict dress code. The pay is nothing spectacular. The boss wants you to change your hair AND SKIN COLOR. The teacher you interviewed with mentioned multiple personal clashes with the director.

Wombat, exactly what have you seen or heard about this job that makes you think you might want to take it? I'm not trying to be sarcastic here, but you haven't mentioned anything that's actually good about this job.

I think you already know that you don't want this job. You're just looking for confirmation.

Keep looking.

[captain kirk]

the boss has had experience with foreign teachers. so she'd know that casual is comfortable for foreign teachers. but you're going to be different. you're going to be just what she wants, not yourself, and extremely uncomfortable. that's my impression. i'm surprised she didn't add, 'and a corset'.

[chi-chi]

mods you may delete

[Wombat]

I know I know - the weird requests about my appearance aside, I just don't think working on Saturdays is part of my plan. Yesterday, the director rang me a couple of times in the evening, espousing some sort of desperate timeline. I'm not really sure what she was talking about. I think it had to do with her selecting me for the position or something; nevermind that I might not actually want it!

I sort of knew that I was probably going to give this one a big miss; the question is, how do I gracefully back away now? Saying something like "I don't want to work on Saturdays," is just going to get a reply of "OK! No Saturday OK!"

Wombat

[Canuck]

Tell her: NO THANX.

You owe her NO explanation. Geez, you had ONE interview. Tell her No. Can you tell people No?

Anyway, should you take this job, you really have no right to come ask us questions about how to quit or to complain. You know all the problems that this school has now, before you have signed. Make a decision and live with it.

[Gord]