Korean Job Discussion Forums

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Offer Option A: Large well-respected National University
Salary 2.4m won per month
Vacation 2 months vacation
Hours 20 hours per week
Office Shared office with half a dozen others
Students Cream of the crop
Location Pastures new
Housing Free, on campus, but very small (9 pyung). Off-campus - bigger of course but only subsidized if no on campus �units� available. (unlikely)
Professional atmosphere Quite Professional (in Korean EFL terms of course)
Colleagues Mix of seasoned heavyweight pros and earnest greenhorn wannabes
Input/Monitoring from above: Moderate


Offer Option B: Small local technical college
Salary 1.75m won per month
Vacation 4 months vacation
Hours 12 hours per week
Office Large private office
Students English not a great priority
Location Familiar territory
Housing Larger apartment on/close to campus (15 pyung)
Professional atmosphere Totally laid back!
Colleagues Sincere but self-taught.
Input/Monitoring from above: None whatsoever.

In both cases there are no "hiddens" or extras at all i.e. camps, weekend/offsite work, unwanted extra hours. In both cases your time is your own when not in class. Perk of A: Could do Ph.D with them! Perk of B: twice yearly large bonus!

Not as easy as you might think. The pay gap is not such an issue because of additional income from other sources. Option A is much better on the CV as a first uni gig in Korea but less of a consideration for a seasoned TEFLer of many years experience around the world but only hagwons so far in Korea (2 years) The locality of B is familiar and comforting. But there's no comparison in terms of reputation and prestige.....There's also no comparison in terms of "cushiness"!!

[Otherside]

Option B. I'm a big believer in doing as little as possible, and it doesn't much easier than B.

Referring to Income from "other sources'. I won't ask what it is, but if it is significant enough to make the 650K difference between A and B negligible, wouldn't it be worth putting the extra free hours from B towards your "other sources", or at the very least prevent you from being overworked?

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It's a fascinating choice in many ways. I'm quite torn so would really love to have others' input. Thank you.

[BS.Dos.]

If it were me, and in the short-term, then B. A third of the year off and only 12-hours per week for the rest of the year? Man, that shit sells itself. 1.75M isn't saying much, but I'm sure with the bonuses you mention and a little initiative, you could make up the short fall.

If I were in for the long-haul, then maybe A as there seems more scope for professional development. Just depends what your priorities are really.