Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Homer]

Green bay,

Nice ideas but you framed them much to simplistically.
There is more to the salary then, well the salary.
If the 1.8 or 1.9 contract has great conditions then why not accept it.
It is also HIS FIRST CONTRACT...so 1.9 is not bad at all.

split shifts are bad, that is true but they can be dealt with.

There are good contracts out there for sure but the one he was offered seems to be fair for a first job.
One must not judge first contracts through his or her second or third contract. These are two different worlds.

[Skarp]

The OP has very specific requirements about where and who he wants to teach.

What are his chances of doing better without moving on these points?

As I posted earlier - everything seems fine except the Saturdays. Think about it - 6 days a week - mostly splits....you'll sleep all Sunday and then it's back to work on Monday......


What's the point? When will you have time for a life?

Skarp

[Green Bay]

Dear Gord,

First of all I wasn't complaining about anything.

What could you find possibly wrong with advising someone to take their time and not jump at the first contract they're offered?

Second, I don't think anyone should come to Korea, leave their family, friends and culture behind for less than 2 million won a month. That's my opinion. So you call me a liar because my opinion differs from yours? Well, you must be quite the egotist.

Third, did you take a look at the web site I gave likemercury?

http://www.intokorea.com/information-tax.htm

All of the information about pension payments, basic tax and health insurance is there. So no, I didn't forget about pension payments.

Next, I've taught in Korea for nearly five years at three different schools. I've taught many adult classes and only in my first school during my first year did I have to work split shifts. So there are schools and contracts out there much better than what likemercury has described.

Finally, maybe I shouldn't take a man too seriously who enjoys posting the picture of a 12-year-old submissive girl under his name. Mommy is it?Maybe you should take some of the hard-earned cash you've saved in Korea, head back home and get yourself a $200/hr. psychiatrist

Oh, I would like to thank Homer. He also didn't agree with me, but at least he's polite.

[Homer]

Green,

I didn't really disagree with you.
It was more a question of looking at things differently in the case of a contract.
i would sign for a little less money if it meant getting some much improved work conditions or some other incentive.
The salary is not everything.

[likemercury]

Hi all. I'm the original poster and I'm really pleased with all the responses. I just wanted to ask people a few specific questions about what they've posted so far. So if you'll humor a newbie a little longer, here goes�

[Skarp]

I don't know if my qualifications and experience can be cashed in for a better contract ever and especially first time....

It will be interesting to find out.

I agree on the teaching kids thing - I hate it.

I think splits will be OK. Other people manage. If you live close to the school you can escape home for a siesta when needed.

I hope you get responses on the rest of your last post.

Perhaps we could start the 'contracts' thread when we have signed our contracts?

Skarp

[mishlert]

When I worked at hogwons I told the owners that I only sign my contract, or I find another school. I never had an owner say no, though some tried to change it and that is when they heard me sy no.
If you click to it, feel free to cut, paste and edit to your liking.

[likemercury]

Mishlert, have you been successful enforcing the conditions of your contract? Particularly:

From Section 15: Under no circumstances shall the employer refuse the employee a letter of release or hinder the employee from securing future employment in Korea.

What is the likelihood that an employer will honor this clause when they know you're leaving (or they've fired you)? If the parting is unpleasant, do you think they'll give you the letter or just deny it and take their chances when you go to the Labor Board? A contractually guaranteed letter of release is pretty uncommon, right? If there's any way I can get a school to agree to it (and take the agreement seriously), I'm going to ask for it.

And from Section 21: In event of a dispute, the English version of this contract will prevail.

I've been told the Korean version was the legally binding one (by Korean law). Is a clause that contradicts that law valid?

Thanks

[The Lemon]

[mishlert]

I told the hogwon owners that it's my contract or nothing. There were one, or two who did not like that, but it was no biggie as I went to the next offer I liked.

[likemercury]

Hi Gang:

Well, it looks like I won't be taking the job after all. As VanIslander predicted, they don't offer single housing simply because they don't have it! All their apartments are multi-bedroom. There were other problems too, but this was the deciding factor. I can't blame them, really. What else could they do, rent a whole new apartment at the last minute just for me? I've gotten a couple more tentative offers, but no one has sent me a contract yet.

Oh, question about putting the letter of release clause in a contract: Will immigration allow you to switch your E2 sponsor before your original contract was supposed to expire?

Thanks again, everyone.

[Homer]

mercury,

I understand your preference for single housing. But, a roomate can be a good thing to have in Korea. Especially if he or she has been there a while.
Of course you can strike out and get paired up with a moron.
You should not dismiss shared housing so fast. Haven't you had a roomate before where you live?
My first roomate was a cool dude and we got along great. My second roomate was not so cool but we managed. Its sometimes a roll of the dice...

[likemercury]

I insisted on single housing because my girlfriend wants to take an offer she has in nearby Kumi, but she'd have to live in shared housing. We live together and we're coming to Korea together, so one of us has to have single housing if we're to have any time to ourselves. Other than that, I wouldn't mind a roommate.

[likemercury]

We didn't take the job. When we asked about making amendments to the contract, the recruiter said that not only would the school not allow the changes, but they decided to pay LESS than the amount stated on the contract! Obviously, we're looking elsewhere now.

[BTM]

Nice idea, your own contract language, there, mishlert. Thanks for sharing it with us. Good baseline for newbies, definitely, or even for those who've been here a while.

Two thumbs up.