Korean Job Discussion Forums

[it's full of stars]

I'm half way through my contract and I've been thinking about the upcoming one.

I finish at the end of August and want to have a month to 6 weeks break before coming back, if I do come back here. I know that public schools start in September but I don't feel that 2 weeks holiday is enough after a year full of sparkles. Do you think that 4-6 weeks is too long? Will I miss out on the hiring round or will there be jobs available? Will the jobs available be the worst because all the best are gone perhaps?

I work in a public school and don't know if I would consider a hagwon, I'll be on 2.5 next year if I stay in the same area. I would consider working in a hagwon if the money was a bit higher than 2.5.

Anybody got any advice?

[poet13]

I believe puiblic schools (mostly) start in mid late august. Mine starts August 21 I think this year.
There will be plenty of jobs available. You're going to move to a level 1 (2.5). I can't imagine ever working in a hakwon again. I would if I was single and found the right one, but I have a family of soon to be 4, and can't afford to get jacked around.
If you take a long break, you will probably have to go back to Level 2. 2+ is re-signing within the same POE. Level 1 is re-signing + the masters, tefl, toefl, tofu, whatever.
In two years, you will move to a level 1+. About 2,800,000. That's not bad. If you're really unhappy at your school, ask to move to another school within the POE.

[it's full of stars]

Thanks for your reply. Interesting, if I wait too long I stay at the same level and don't move up?

How do you go about requesting a school change, my school asked me if I wanted to re-sign with them and I haven't given an answer yet. The school is ok, VP and P leave me alone but the wrangler is the biggest pain, apartuh is too small, kids are great. I'll stick out the year here because I don't want to have a patchy work history.

Has anyone got any school change stories or advice?

[KYC]

I'm on the same boat...well I'm not at 2.5 LOL. I do want to stay on for another year, but I have no intentions of re-signing with my school. I plan on telling the recruiter I can start at XXX date. I started late August so I'm hoping there'll be positions available mid september. If not, I'll just wait til March & apply then

[poet13]

I think it's only fair to tell you that I'm only speculating what will happen. It's logical to me that if there is a break in your employment, they will start you at the beginning again. That's just "The way the MAN keeps us down.", and a way to save a 100k that didn't come out of their pocket to begin with.
I think it would be hard to get them to agree to give you 6 or 8 weeks. For a couple of reasons. One is that it would take several people in different offices signing off on it, and low level beauraucrats being what they are (In this amd any other country), someone, somewhere along the line is going to ask, "Why is this guy special?" and put a big fat NO stamp on it. Another reason is that they want continuity in the school. Another is that if they do it for you, they have to do it for me, and Joe, and Suzy, and Michelle, and and and and....you get my drift, and then they hvae to make up rules about how long a break we can take, and then someone is going to want to stretch that, and it begins anew.

Just my thoughts...

[it's full of stars]

Haha, yeah I see your point.

I wasn't thinking of asking them (POE) for a break though, I thought if I simply didn't re-sign and took a long holiday and began looking for work starting in late September or mid Oct, would I go back up the scale because I have one more years experience than the year before?

Ok, thanks for your thoughts. Might re-adjust my plans then, if I re-sign I get 10 days extra holiday and I don't want to miss out on a months wages so I will look for a different school next contract.