Korean Job Discussion Forums

CheeseSandwich · Joined: 02 Nov 2006

Any of the oldbies want to relate their stories about how they moved past being just a hagwon teacher or how they upped their pay from hagwon starter salary?

I'm quite curious, I imagine if you've been here a number of years you've progressed past english speaking monkey like the rest of us newbies.

GoldMember · Joined: 24 Oct 2006

The Secret to Advancement in Korea. GET OUT OF KOREA.

hubba bubba · Joined: 24 Oct 2006

After your contract is up, look around for a better job.

Not to be a jerk, but really. Your boss isn't going to move you from 2.0 to 2.5. You can get another job at 2.5 tho... maybe...

CheeseSandwich · Joined: 02 Nov 2006

no crap?!

I was looking for more stories of people who have been here and gotten out of the hagwon market

kimchi_pizza · Posted: Sun Sep 30, 2007 5:44 am Post subject:

Regretably, Goldmember and hubba bubba are probably right. You may have a great school and admin and can contribute to the school, but it probably won't happen, at least not without ruffling a few feathers. From what I heard through the grapevine is that any foreigners placed in a position of authority or "power", even if you own your own hogwon, might face a lot of flack from your local hogwan association. I really can't see them sittin comfortably with a foreigner at the helm of any school.

I've heard of that happening with one foreigner who invested in a school and had to sell after a couple of years because of the harrassment he was facing from the hagwon association.

You may have better luck in a private elementary school.

Again, this is only thru the grapevine....

lucas_p · Joined: 17 Sep 2007

Honestly,

Just work here for a few years and GET OUT of the hagwon system. If you have some experience and perhaps a certificate under your belt, you can get a uni job, which most times relieves a lot of the stress.

Hanson · Joined: 20 Oct 2004

In a word - networking. It's not what you know...

Paji eh Wong · Joined: 03 Jun 2003

faster · Joined: 03 Sep 2006

There are Uni jobs, but they vary widely.

The top foreign language high schools are great, but those jobs can be hard to get.

bassexpander · Joined: 13 Sep 2007 Location: Someplace you'd rather be.

Want a promotion?

Get married to a Korean.

An F2 equals perhaps the biggest promotion one can hope to get.

If you're willing to work for it, you can double your salary, and have little or no fear of problems for doing it.

You an also walk away from bad situations.

makemischief · Joined: 04 Nov 2005 Location: Traveling

I know of at least three foreigners who own (whether in partnership or not I haven't the foggiest) hagwons and do very well- they've been at it for years and so far so good.

Cheese sandwich: I started at a hagwon. I now teach university. this transition happens quite a lot (in the sense that many uni teachers once taught at hagwons- not that most hagwon teachers go on to teach at universities).

Cheers! Very Happy