Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Jimmy]

I'm a new teacher going through recruiters who are trying to convince me that everybody and they're dog is out looking for a job in Seoul and I should go for another location such as a satellite city if I want anything.

Just hoping somebody could comment on this because I'm hesitant to believe that. I'm still stuck in my desire to work in Seoul one way or another whether it's through a recruiter or not. I understand the pros and cons of using a recruiter and will just do my best to research any potential position that comes up and hope for the best. Ok, I admit I'm too cheap for a plane ticket and too lazy to start wandering around seoul amelessly looking for a place to stay and a job if I can avoid it

Jimmy

[eamo]

Seoul has about 11 million people.
Gyeonggi-do (meaning Seoul's satellite cities) has maybe 5 million people.

If you do the sums then there's twice as many jobs in Seoul as in gyeonggi-do. If you really want a job in Seoul you should get one with a little persistence.

[rapier]

As i've said before, times are getting harder. if you lower your expectations a little, say accept 1.9 instead of 2.2, agree to teach kinder as well, etc, you'll have a job in a couple of days....

[Starperson]

Part-time or full-time?

[Jimmy]

[Starperson]

I reckon you'll get one in Seoul.
Don't listen to recruiters, they'll tell you anything if it's to their monetary advantage.
But having worked here, there's no way I'd sign a contract without having a) met the director and other staff b) seen the school and if they have enough money.

[2CuteNCanadian]

I've been told the same thing about Seoul by the recruiters. My gut instinct tells me that they're just saying that to force you into a less than adequate position.

[Toby]

Try and avoid recruiters. Go to the school directly and make sure you speak to one of the existing teachers at the school. They will tell you what the school is like and will give you an honest opinion.

[hellofaniceguy]

Someone wrote, "if you lower your expectations, you can get 1.9, etc."
WHY lower ones expectations?!?! The idea is to raise the bar so we will ALL benefit from better pay, working conditions, etc. Most hokwon owners in korea get together once a month or so to talk about whatever. One of these "whatevers" is keeping the salaries low and amount of classes high. I know, I have attended a few. Hokwon owners KNOW that some fool, excuse me, uninformed/uneducated on korea screwings, teacher will sign a bad contract. School owners want teachers to leave early. They want to make it rough for you. That's the idea. It's all about money. True, some school owners are great and treat staff with respect. But as we know in korea, most hokwon owners are the pits, scum of korea. Hokwons are not a school, they are a business. This is not meant to attract flame responses but to point out what is common knowledge in korea.
Some schools have also been screwed over by teachers that they have hired. It's a two way street. The point is, get the best contract you can for yourself. Don't worry about what the going rate is. Why accept the going rate just because. Don't ever agree to teach 120 hours a month! That's a LOT of classes. Only agree to teach 5/6 50 minute classes a day. Elementary student classes by law are limited to 40 minutes. Don't agree to share housing. NEVER! Does the school owner want to share? Of course not. Five day work week.
Do what you were hired to do and that is teach. Do your best. If the school owner turns out to be a jerk, short of not getting paid, stick it out and work your way to a better place. If you have to work out in the sticks, far from the city, take the job. It may turn out to be the best one. Getting a better position in korea means ONLY ONE THING, connections. Who you know. You have to know someone, who knows someone who knows someone. Pay your dues and the better jobs will come. Put up with the korean nonsense and learn how to play the game.

[Starperson]

Basically recruiters want to fix you up with a job so that they can get their fee. End of story. So if they've been hired by a school in a non-Seoul area, then they're going to do everything they can to get you to sign up for that job. I repeat, don't listen to a single thing that recruiters say. Just be nice, do a bit of people-talk (blurghhh), keep it short, make precise agreements on work arrangements.

I can't stand recruiters. Even the semi-nice ones.

As for settling for 1.9, why?????? This is a year-long contract. I've found that if I'm getting paid a decent wage, I'm more likely to want to do a good job. If I feel that the employer has taken advantage of my naivety and pressured me into accepting a low wage, then I feel my motivation for doing my best goes down. Get a high wage and do your best for them.

[TheUrbanMyth]