Korean Job Discussion Forums

[inseoul]

I would estimate that 90% of English schools here are members of the local or broader Hogwan association. 90% again of those local associations would be in direct contact with each other.

It is quite fathomable therefore that they do try to work together in keeping slaries of foreign teachers capped at certain levels.

There would always be an incentive for a school to offer more, and no doubt some would at the actual interview, but one can imagine the pressure a large body of hogwans could put on just one hogwan to keep the rates advertised and offered within the limits.

Ever noticed the taxi's all queued up near popular night spots around 11pm-12 midnight? IN Knagnam they just open the window a little bit and let you make your offer, then close it if they dont want to go (which I understand is illegal in Korea and they can be fined for such). They work together to try and keep prices high (by quoting fees and not using meters) during those peak hour times (and night time drinkers not business people who might well complain).

That is the same concept. Forming a group to work together and earn more ie) keep salaries capped.

[Otherside]

agreed,

If one big chain decided to up salaries due to increased demand for teachers...and thus try and get a bigger chunk of prospective teachers, All the other schools would be forced to follow suit...Which doesn't benefit anyone (teachers aside of course).

The "mom 'n pop" hagwons, would obviously not be able to have much sway in terms of price fixing...but it would also be in their best interests to keep salaries lower.

[twg]

I know for a fact they do this. Maybe not not across the entire ROK, but certainly within in the same markets.

Taxis and the guys at Yongsan in cahoots, so are the hagown bosses.

[Homer]

They certainly do so withing the same companies (YBM for example).

Then the market takes care of the rest as companies and schools compare themselves to what others offer...

That is not unusual in my view, it is just market forces.

Business tends to try and keep salaries from sky rocketing. Teachers here however have an opportunity to negociate far better conditions. That requires leverage. What is leverage?

Qualifications, experience (referenced) and credentials (your track record)....you have this and know where to look (research and networking) and you can do quite well.

This system (ESL for foreign instructors I mean) is not like back home where teachers are unionized and the wages are set and negociated through collective bargaining agreements.

When coming here, or in most other ESL marklets, one has to realize how the system works and if one chooses to stay here...how to make the system work for you as an educator.

[hari seldon]

I'll bet that a newbie right now who wasn't picky about location but bargained hard could pretty quickly land a job paying between 2.3 and 2.5.

[expat2001]

[expat2001]

[hari seldon]

[PRagic]

There should be a list of stickies pertaining to topics that have been brought up and talked to death over the past 10-20 years.

This particular topic, while always interesting, has been bounced around since the early 90s, and probably before that, too.

I always get a kick out of posters who say that they're school just LOVES them and RESPECTS them and finds them so PROFESSIONAL...uh..oh, yeah, until they ask for an extra 200 bucks a month! Funny stuff. Everyone has been through it. There's a learning curve here.

Hakwons blow, and you should be more concerned with how you can improve your credentials and/or contacts to get away from having to work at one!

[PRagic]

Before I get flamed..yeah, yeah..it's 'their', not 'they're'. Drive on.

[wylies99]

The Hogwan Associations run workshops about how to cheat teachers out of pay and benefits. That's NOT "market forces."

[Roch]

[Roch]

[Homer]

expat2001,

In how many years have those over 23 jobs taken place?

Are they referenced jobs?

Do you have teaching credentials (Education degree, certification)?

Have you researched the market or just applied here and there?

How did you approach negociating?

This is true for a small percentage of the ESL industry:

[aphong420]

I think the most overlooked aspect of getting a good paying job at a Hogwon is the 'interview'. I'm a Korean-American and just got a job at in Seoul that pays 3 million a month. I have just one year of teaching experience.

So yeah ... they just really want white faces.