Korean Job Discussion Forums

ruby_tuesday · Joined: 09 Apr 2008 Location: Seoul

I have a feeling I know what the answer to this is, but just wanted to throw it out there anyway...:

A friend and I have been working with a recruiter to get public school jobs in GEPIK. Everything is going great except that at the moment, they are having trouble finding positions that meet all of our requirements/preferences (location, etc). The recruiter said that more jobs will open up in June/July and if we sign essentially a blank contract now and then fill in the name of the school later, she will have something for us then.

Is this a really terrible idea? I'm not sure if all GEPIK contracts are the same and therefore it doesn't make a difference, or if this is basically signing away our lives.

Thanks for any help!

jadarite · Posted: Tue May 27, 2008 10:35 am Post subject:

If you are out of the country (Korea), I don't think it matters. Just make sure the location of where you want to live is clearly noted. I signed a contract a month ago without knowing the actual location. It has turned out fine, but I was informed of the general location and what subway line it was near, as well as meeting with the school owners during an interview.

If you are in the country, then you would be able to visit the school before signing, and that is something you have to take into consideration. Personally, I wouldn't. I would tell them to send a contract when they have the actual school and visit that school before signing anything.

Draz · Joined: 27 Jun 2007 Location: Land of Morning Clam

TBirdMG · Joined: 09 Dec 2006 Location: SF, CA, USA

Ruby_T

You could add an addendum to the blank contract stipulating the area in which you want to live, and add that the contract would be invalid if this request cannot be honored.

As long as you present this is a pleasant, diplomatic fashion, you should be OK. Try to get everything in writing, and be as clear and precise as possible.

Good luck!

TB

bogey666 · Joined: 17 Mar 2008 Location: Korea, the ass free zone

I had to deal with this.

I applied for my PS GEPIK job thru a recruiter who was advertising/trying to fill that specific position.

the conditions at my school are easier/better than the standard GEPIK contract and I was assured I wouldn't have to come to school during their long vacation breaks, for.e.g

so I wanted to come work for this school, not just any GEPIK school.

yet, they of course sent me the standard GEPIK contract to sign.

I chafed and waffled and even read a horror story here where a girl signed a contract but they put her in some other school different from her stated preference.

I basically said I'm not signing a blank contract.

so the Korean handler simply added the name of my highschool to the contract, and added the principal's name as the Korean signee, making it a contract between the school and myself, rather than GEPIK and myself, even though they didn't change /specify the standard GEPIK contract to conform to the better conditions at the school (other than vacation for e.g. my weekly teaching load is less than 22 hours)

so I'm taking them at their word about the other things but see no reason to worry. No one is here to "deceive" me, they just want(ed) an English teacher.

so I signed, I'm here and so far so good.

Bibbitybop · Joined: 22 Feb 2006 Location: Seoul

In Korea, every little detail not in the contract will screw you over later. EVERYTHING needs to be on a contract and very specific.

A blank contract? Who in their right mind..........

A recruiter can align you with a job and never needs a blank contract signed. The recruiter is simply trying to hook you and secure his/her finders fee.

Whistleblower · Joined: 03 Feb 2007

It's like signing a blank cheque and giving it to a stranger to hold on to till you have the money pay him for something.

ruby_tuesday · Joined: 09 Apr 2008 Location: Seoul

Thanks for all of the advice. It basically confirmed what I was thinking so I think instead, I'll go with another recruiter. Too bad as I did like working with this one, but I don't want to go signing away the next year of my life...

Sody · Joined: 14 May 2006

khyber · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Compunction Junction

Bibbitybop · Joined: 22 Feb 2006 Location: Seoul

ruby_tuesday · Joined: 09 Apr 2008 Location: Seoul

Just to say, I appreciate responses from both the positive and negative experiences. It's understandably a toss-up. I've decided to go with another recruiter--better safe than sorry.

Mr. BlackCat · Joined: 30 Nov 2005 Location: Insert witty remark HERE

Along these same lines:

When I applied to SMOE a few months ago they weren't sure about my pay scale. I had experience but they had to wait to get the official docs to make sure. However, we were in a rush to get everything done so my recruiter asked me to sign two contracts; one for the pay level I knew I should be at, and another at the bottom of the scale. Yeah right. I'm going to hand over two signed copies of different contracts and let my boss decide which one to follow? I just sent in the one I knew was correct and told them I wouldn't work for the pay level of the other.

This isn't just about Korea. I wouldn't do that anywhere in the world. Why would you do it in a new country without understanding labour laws and the language?