Korean Job Discussion Forums

[pixykat222]

So after scouring these posts I'm not finding much on this subject (my search function isn't working...)

So this is the first time my boyfriend and I are heading over to Korea, and we're both pretty psyched about it. We had an interview with YBM a couple days ago, and it went pretty well (mostly just the guy trying to sell his school). I know we'll have to work hard for a company like this, but I'd rather work hard than take my chances with a Hagwon... So is there anyone who has actually worked for YBM that has any advice/opinions?

I was supposed to get an interview call from CDI, but he never called. I emailed him and he said there was a scheduling conflict so he rescheduled me for yesterday. Once again, no call. He emails me and says (and I quote): "I had an emergency meeting to attend to that just ended now. All of us got yelled at." ... is there something going down at CDI that I should know about before applying there? Seems pretty sketch to me.

Pagoda we know is legit because we have a friend working there at the moment and he loves it. The question I have about them is the school that is in need of teachers is in Hwajung, any opinions on the area?

I'd appreciate any advice you can give (besides the "change your mind and don't come at all" nonsense that people tend to write all the time)

THANKS! ^_^

[soviet_man]

YBM, CDI and Pagoda are the 3 biggest hagwons. They all have 20 or 30+ schools each and various divisions (kinder/elementary/middle, some have adults branches, like YBM ELS).

Some schools are "company owned" = run by head office (these are better).
Others are franchised out = potentially run by any mom and pop sideshow act (these are generally not too well regarded).

I worked for a company-owned YBM ECC in my first year (2004). Against all odds it was an ok 1st job in Korea. Housing provided, always paid on time, they made some attempt to vaguely meet most things in the contract. The pay was low and vacation time was almost non-existent, but I still look back on that year as being relatively good in terms of stability, friendship and career building.

The main criteria is to get the schedule. 3pm to 9pm is standard. Daytime kinder shifts + evening classes is not good.

I'd put Pagoda in essentially the same boat, it is comparable to YBM ECC.

CDI has a different and I'd argue worse structure. It is more demanding, there are higher expected deliverables and staff are effectively performance managed from day 1.

Hwajeong - I've lived there. Nice area. Solidly middle-class. The usual filing cabinet style apartments. Easy transport to everything (subway to anywhere, bus to Gangnam/Ilsan, long distance bus terminal near the station). It's fine.

If the pay, timetable, accommodation is right, and you are happy with it, then I would cautiously say take it*

*If you are a couple and can share an apartment, then you should insist for higher pay in lieu of a 2nd apartment.

[pixykat222]

Thanks a lot, that really helps! We are planning on sharing an apartment so how would we go about insisting on higher pay? I've obviously never done this, so is it acceptable to try to revise a contract? That is, are we "allowed" to demand a higher wage in lieu of the 2nd apartment, or a certain shift?

I've decided against CDI - that place just seems a tad too sketchy for me. I don't want to travel half way across the world to get jerked around.

Thanks again for the help ^_^

[maingman]

don't come at all

[maingman]

don't come at all

[pixykat222]

Thanks Debby Downer, real helpful.

[ChinaBoy]

I thought it was helpful. Anyone should definitely consider not coming here. Sometimes people get too psyched up to try something new and wacky and don't realize that it will be difficult and frustrating.

[PRagic]

The good thing about coming with your boyfriend is that you'll both have someone you'll know and can lean on a bit here as you get adjusted. There are a ton of foreigners here compared to 10 or 15 years ago, but people tend to stick to the groups formed at their schools.

Can't say much about CDI other than from what I've heard and read; they tend to be more demanding, offer less vacation, and give very little if any freedom in the classroom. THe insist on 'training' even thought they hire the majority of their teachers from non-education backgrounds. Why deal with that?

YBM and Pagoda, as another poster wrote, are two of the biggest chains in Korea. Pagoda concentrates on teaching adults and has a decent reputation. YBM has a lot of kiddy hakwons, but also has adult hakwons. Way back when I knew a few people who worked at ChungMoon Language Institute in downtown Seoul (Jeongro) and they liked it well enough. However, if they still insist on split shifts, I'd give it a pass.

Personally, I'd suggest shooting for a job at either of those chains you mentioned at a location in Seoul. Take positions WITHOUT SPLIT SHIFTS IF AT ALL POSSIBLE! If you and your boyfriend don't mind teaching kids, don't let that be a deal breaker. However, kiddy jobs can often include hidden extra work such as reports to parents and constant level/progress testing and grading. Adult teaching tends to be much more carefree.

You may be planning on sharing a place, but don't push it. Korea is still pretty concervative, and many chains don't like unmarried couples living together on their dime. If so, roll with it and take a couple of single one or two bedroom places and split your time between them. Odds are you'll be pretty close to each other anyway, and the places won't be so large as to drain your income with large utilities.

The won has weakened again, and may not shore up again for a while. If you and your bf plan on sending money back to pay off debt, this may figure in to your plans. Korea can be a great experience, but the first few months can be stressful for new teachers getting used to the job and the change in the landscape. Weigh your options. If you have debt that's pressing, Japan, given the strength of the Yen, may be a better option right now, if only for a year. You can always transition to Korea after that should the Won strengthen and/or your debt burden is reduced.

Good luck to you whatever you decide. Let us know how things pan out.

[yingwenlaoshi]

The Pagoda and the YBM that I inteviewed with offer pretty low housing allowances. I think YBM's was 400,000 and Pagoda's was 250,000 or less if you wanted them to provide the key money. Neither offered a furnished apartment. Those were adult hagwons. So getting seperate apartments wouldn't be the way to go.

[PRagic]

Wow, if you could get 400 each for housing, then you could get a pretty nice place for the two of you. Even with the 250 each plus some key money, you'd do all right in some neighborhoods. I was talking about the apartments directly supplied by hakwons, which usually aren't the greatest anyway. Good input.