Korean Job Discussion Forums

ModernDayDrifter · Joined: 05 Dec 2007 Location: Raleigh, NC USA

To make a long story short:
I have accepted a position at a school in Daegu. I was able to secure this position with the help of a recruiter. I have interviewed, reviewed, and signed the contract. I received my visa issuance number. In the interview I stated I would not be available till mid-late Jan due to my current work contract here in the US. I verified with the recruiter tonight about my arrival date. I was informed of a new date, that was news to me. I found out the new date is for traning, which I understand. But I have stated from the get go when I will be available. The new date is no where near that date. The school has been informed that I will not be arriving as soon as they had planned. ( I do not know who got their hopes up, bc I have stated that my arrival date would not be until atleast mid jan. ) Apparently the school is very upset about this.

I do not know what to do. I am upset about the current situation. I am not sure what my options are since the school needs someone sooner than my arrival date. I am afraid that since I already have my issuance number for that school, that I will not be able to get a job at another school, if things do not work out. I am worried about starting out on the wrong foot with the school as well, ya know... The whole thing has turned into a huge mess.

Anyone have any advice or whatnot... I do not know what to do!

PGF · Joined: 27 Nov 2006

It's not your problem. Have they sent you a plane ticket yet?
Don't get worried about it. Let the recruiter sort it out. They are paying for your flight over, right? I hope so anyway. Keep on the recruiter for the plane ticket in mid january and not sooner. Do not cave to these people. If you do it will start a chain reaction of them making ridiculous demands.

Do not worry about them replacing you either. It's unlikely.

cbclark4 · Joined: 20 Aug 2006 Location: Masan

Seriously, no problem.

Is this a public school?

If it's orientation, they'll have another orientation in a few months.

tob55 · Joined: 29 Apr 2007

There are many reasons why they may have changed the date of your arrival. However, if they (the recruiter) knew of your arrival date when you signed the contract, they probably went back and lied to the school thus creating a situation where they can put you wherever they want to, without your knowledge. This happened to me 4 years ago when I first arrived in Korea. Hired on and signed a contract for a public school, and then when I arrive the recruiter had conveniently switched me to a hagwon two hours in the opposite direction of where I was supposed to go. I was too dumb to be aware of what was going on, but no more.

Tell your recruiter if you signed a contract with a public school you expect them to follow through with their promise regarding that school. It is quite possible that the recruiter has been lying to everyone throughout this whole hiring process. This is one area that the Government should actually be looking at and setting up some stringent regulations. The recruiters are not very trustworthy and have caused a great deal of hardship for honest people who put their trust in the recruiting system.

ModernDayDrifter · Joined: 05 Dec 2007 Location: Raleigh, NC USA

They have not purchased my ticket yet. I have all my paperwork that needs to be sent to the consulate here in the United States all ready to go, but I do not know if I should sent it in now. It is not a public school. I am starting to think I made the wrong choice going with a private lang institue. I think what makes me to most upset is that I have been telling everyone from the get go that I am not available in early jan...

I really do want to teach ya know... this is all just starting to put a sour taste in my mouth. My recruiter has been wonderful up until the contract was signed, then started to come off a bit pushy. It has not been anything rude, but the tone has seemed to change a bit.

Boodleheimer · Posted: Wed Dec 26, 2007 9:12 pm Post subject:

it's a hagwon? change in the recruiter's tone?

i'd stay away. dump the recruiter. go with a different one. and get a PS gig.

ModernDayDrifter · Joined: 05 Dec 2007 Location: Raleigh, NC USA

tob55 · Joined: 29 Apr 2007

KWhitehead is giving you great advice. I would stay away mainly because the recruiter is pulling something and you will get burned. Remember, to the recruiter in some cases it is mostly about the money. You are just a number to them. They quickly forget your name once they have the money from the hiring school. Do what was advised and switch recruiters. There are some good jobs in this country if you want them. You just have to be careful about the recruiting scene.

ModernDayDrifter · Joined: 05 Dec 2007 Location: Raleigh, NC USA

does anyone know of any complications due to the school arleady starting the visa process with the goverment?

I def want to find a good job in South Korea.

Ugh, I had shopped around and thought I had found a decent recruiter. I am very weary now.

Boodleheimer · Posted: Wed Dec 26, 2007 9:29 pm Post subject:

i *think*-- and you'll have to check with ttompatz on this -- that a visa number is issued and lasts 90 days. then it expires. then you can get a new one. but once again, ttompatz is the user to talk to.

PGF · Joined: 27 Nov 2006

ModernDayDrifter · Joined: 05 Dec 2007 Location: Raleigh, NC USA

My recruiter is a westerner who is located in Seoul. I know that they use this website to post job ads, so I am weary of calling them out. Mostly because going to South Korea is something I want to do and I do not want anyone to prevent me from going. Well, I may have prevented myself due to my situation, but we will see...

His english is great. He was always just an email away when it came to answering my questions while I was searching for schools. He is still nice, but I have noticed the tone has changed in the emails. He does not call as much to check up on things. I know that I am one of many he is helping, but I do think that things should be the same as they were to an extent. The verbage of the emails has changed. When I was sent the contract, it was a "target" date. Tonight in the email he sent, apparently my arrival was "slated" for. I know there is not a big difference in the words, but at the same time in my book there is, or maybe I am retarded. lol...

I do feel that his emails over the past week have been putting the pressure on me. Tonight, I felt as if I was being given a guilt trip. That is what has pushed my buttons, I have been honest about my arrival date since the start.

My contract here at my current job was mis read by my boss, so I have 8 more days of work left that I had thought. I notified my recruiter of this as soon as I found out. He said he would talk to the school. I told him weeks ago about this, it was a few days after I signed. I reminded him again of it yesterday and this is when the whole situation arised. I reminded him of this because he had never told me anything new about what the school had said and whatnot. I have been upfront and honest, because 8 days still fits into my arrival of atleast mid jan.

PGF · Joined: 27 Nov 2006

" I reminded him again of it yesterday and this is when the whole situation arised. I reminded him of this because he had never told me anything new about what the school had said and whatnot. I have been upfront and honest, because 8 days still fits into my arrival of atleast mid jan."

How did he react? Last night, did he say you had to be there before mid January? You have a contract with a target date of what? January 15th?

They are pushing you because this is the busy season for hagwons. They are going to be having their winter intensive course at the start of January. It's 5 weeks long. Trust me. You do not want to jump into this job at a hagwon at the start of the winter intensive program. Just stand your ground about your start date.

I doubt they have someone to replace you. A lot of hagwons are scrambling for extra help right now for their intensive programs.

If the guy gets rude or insists that you come early, just be firm.

They are buying your plane ticket, right? please say yes.....

ModernDayDrifter · Joined: 05 Dec 2007 Location: Raleigh, NC USA

CentralCali · Joined: 17 May 2007

Do not fall for the "your contract begins after completion of training" line! Your contract begins the day you land in country. And the thing lasts one year, meaning that if it begins on January 15, 2008 then it'll end on January 14, 2009.

Since the contract--and your employment--begin on arrival, then they'd better get skippy about paying you full pay for the full month.

I'm seeing too much wrong with the current situation to trust hopping into this particular hagweon gig.