Korean Job Discussion Forums

Catullus · Joined: 09 Apr 2008

I am a newbie, still in the US, but I am getting ready to move to Korea at the end of the summer. I am talking with ReadingTown about a position that will open in August in Daechi-dong, Gangnam-gu. I have read other posts about ReadingTown, but no one mentions the Daechi-dong school. Does anyone have any information about this location?

Also, while speaking with the school they told me that working hours are 8 hours a day M-F, but that they also have Saturday classes that I can teach if I choose to. How optional are the optional Saturdays? Will I be pressured into working the extra day? I don�t plan on working Saturdays, and I certainly don�t plan on working 6 days a week.

Gamecock · Joined: 26 Nov 2003

Make sure the contract says CLEARLY that they are optional.

I'd never go to a school that said that to me up front. You will be pressured to do Saturdays, and when you say no they will resent it.

Yu_Bum_suk · Joined: 25 Dec 2004

I'd insist on a contract that doesn't even mention anything about working Saturdays. If you do opt to work Saturdays, try to limit it to two per month.

spliff · Joined: 19 Jan 2004 Location: Khon Kaen, Thailand

Set your rate for decent pay for sat and do it...if you don't want to work sat then just tell them that.

Hank the Iconoclast · Joined: 08 Oct 2007 Location: Busan

poet13 · Posted: Wed Apr 23, 2008 6:01 pm Post subject:

1. The first time you say no, they will ask, "Why?"

2. The second you say no, they will ask, "Why?", and when you say you have plans, they will say, "Why did you make plans, it's a school day?" Nevermind that they only asked you to work on Friday afternoon and you and your mates made plans a month ago.

3. The third time you say no, they will say, "Why?", and when you say you have plans, they will say, "Why did you make plans, it's a school day?", and they will grumble to you and anyone who will listen about how you are not a team player, and how you don't understand Koreans work ethic. If you point out that Saturdays are optional, they will suggest that that's only a suggestion in the contract, but it really means you should work as many as they ask you to, and be happy about the ones you get off.

Koreans also reserve the right to skips steps 1 and 2.

Don't do it.

Gamecock · Joined: 26 Nov 2003

Also, they'll paint it in a way that they're doing you a "favor" by giving you the opportunity to work Saturdays for a minimal amount of cash. Why are you such an ungrateful person?

Really, anyplace asking you to work Saturdays up front when you don't want to is a place to avoid. My guess is in the past they dropped this Saturday scheme on previous teachers who left the hogwan angry about it, so now to avoid that chaotic scenario again they are telling you up front before you take the job so you will understand that "optional" really means "expected" and you'll be a good team player and not complain about it.

Or..it could really mean it's just optional...hehe. Good luck!

jellobean · Joined: 14 Mar 2006

Or you could negotiate a "special " overtime rate for Saturdays to be put in the contract and work a few occasionally. Like another poster said, two Saturdays per month isn't bad if you are getting paid well. Anything 2 hours or less or that isn't in a block, minimum should be 50,000/hr... Anything 3 or more (in a block) you should ask for 30-40,000 depending on what you think you can get. Make it clear up front that you won't work on Saturday for the standard 20,000/hour. If they think you are strange, explain the western concept of time and one half for overtime/holidays.

If the school is in Gangnam you may have some success getting them to pay the premium for Saturday.

If you really don't want to work Saturdays under any condition, I would tell them that up front and perhaps choose a different job.

CentralCali · Joined: 17 May 2007

Reading Town? Friend of mine had an interesting experience with them: "We are holding onto your diploma to prevent you from pulling a runner."

When any one outfit pulls a stunt like that, I wish all the other branches in the franchise would suffer by not ever getting another foreign teacher to work for them. Then, and only then, will the franchise headquarters start acting like a headquarters and actually monitor and supervise the branches.

jello: My Western concept of holiday pay is double time. Time and a half is for the first four hours of overtime in one day. Beyond four hours of overtime in one day is also double time pay.

yeremy · Posted: Wed Apr 23, 2008 7:34 pm Post subject: Look for a better job

I wouldn't sign the contract if I were you. It's a teacher's market. If they say it's optional, later they may very well mysteriously change their tune. This would not happen in a public school job but it could easily happen in a hagwon job. Job seeker beware in this case. Good luck.

Return Jones · Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2008 3:35 am Post subject:

In Korea "optional" means you have to do it. It's just the school's method of bait and switch. They'll say "Oh did the contract say 'optional'? It meant to say 'not optional'"

BTW, I'm not joking.

OneWayTraffic · Joined: 14 Mar 2005

Pagoda had a system where Saturday and Sunday classes would pay nearly half the total tuition fee to the teacher. Never any problem filling those classes-it was almost double time.

PGF · Joined: 27 Nov 2006

yes. they will pressure you. remember how to say "no, I'm sorry. I have to go to _____ on Saturdays"

or, I am engaged and the only day I see my wife is Saturday....

LIE

jadarite · Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2008 11:46 pm Post subject:

marlow · Joined: 06 Feb 2005