Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Ukon]

I recently was accepted to SMOE, but still haven't mailed the documents....and then out of the blue, 1-2 months late comes the professor friend saying he got me a job at a private school in Seongbuk, Seoul. Pay is a little higher and he says the apartment will likely be nicer.

I did request the flight ticket from my recruiter for SMOE, but I'm not sure if they've paid yet. I did tell him I've accepted, but is it official yet until I mail my signed contract? Would I be "screwing them over" if I said "sorry not interested right now?". Will I be forever blacklisted by SMOE if I pulled out?

I assume with a private school I'll have more flexibility and probably won't have to stay 9-5 everyday, correct?

Has anyone heard of the Seongbuk private school district?

[Ukon]

Oh and the School name is Cheongwon Elementary School in Seoul.

[Ya-ta Boy]

[Ukon]

Well, after some searching, I found the ad for the school....Seems the pay is slightly better than SMOE. Hours are slightly more as well.

Job description:
Instructors will be responsible for a maximum of 26 classes per week (40 minute classes). Payment for classes
exceeding this amount will be W30,000 per class. Instructors are expected to behave in a professional manner,
meaning that they may be required from time to time to participate in projects or activities that exceed standard
work hours. Instructors will be required to teach a two week camp during both winter and summer holidays.

Work conditions:
One year contract (beginning September 2008)
Salary: 2.2 million won with Bachelors and 1 year of experience
2.3 million won with B.Ed or Bachelors and TESOL/TEFL and 1 year experience
2.4 million won with Masters and 1 year experience
2.5 million won with Masters and TESOL/TEFL and 1 year experience
Housing: Shared accommodation provided or W400,000 per month allowance
Airfare: airfare provided
Severance bonus: 1 month's salary paid at the conclusion of the contract
Medical insurance: Half paid by employee, half by Cheongwon
Vacation: 2 weeks in summer and 3 in winter , 1 week in spring (paid)
Hours: 26 classes; 8:30-4:00 two days, 8:30-2:40 three days (no Saturdays)

[icicle]

I would personally prefer to take a SMOE job rather than this one.

If you read the ad carefully you will see that it only provides shared accommodation ... while with SMOE you will get your own accommodation. It has a vague comment about the fact that "being professional" means that you may be required (which I saw as compulsory) to work outside your normal hours if they want you to. With SMOE you will also get what I have heard is a fairly good orientation program (at least compared to the other public school programs). I have heard of at least some SMOE teachers who have been paid extra for working the summer/winter camps but this job clearly has them as part of your normal pay. Given that the job as you say only has marginally better pay and work hours I would personally prefer the SMOE position very much more than the other job.

[Ukon]

[cruisemonkey]

Most 'professors' I know don't work at elementary schools. Reading 'between the lines', I think you're better off with SMOE.

Hell!... I don't even have to read between the lines... 26 classes/week and shared accomodation?

[Ukon]

He's a prof. in the states, he called some buddies and sent my CV out....one of his students taught at the school and was happy.

[cruisemonkey]

I see...

When you say you've "accepted" a position with SMOE, what exactly, do you mean? i.e. where in the visa issuance process are you?

[KYC]

26 classes with the private & 22 with SMOE.

Although with SMOE I think there will be overtime available.

Don't know about you but the thought of shared accommodation with a stranger is not very....appealing to me.

[Ukon]

Yeah, I think I'll turn them down....unless I can finagle a better deal.

They just called me for an interview....then told me to wait 5 minutes.

[genezorm]

i may know of a better position, pm me if interested

[Ukon]

It's not shared, but rather an officetel! Ha! Yeah right....they tried to talk it up as if it's great


And talk about desperate!

They called me twice already! I said "uhh I don't think so".....they said go think about it and get back to them tomorrow.....they call back 1 hour later offering me 2.3 mil....I say "I'm going with SMOE" and they tell me to think about it again overnight!

I wonder if I can get them to 2.5 mil a month and my own apartment?!

[nautilus]

Avoid the private schools. They think they're sooo special, and they'll tailor contracts to suit themselves without regulation from any education board.

Little more than glorified hogwons.

[bassexpander]

26 at a private school is too high.

I know seongbuk very well. It's very, very spotty -- lots of poor in one area, and some rich in another. I know a public school teacher in that area (different school) and the kids are really crappy to teach.