Korean Job Discussion Forums

curiousaboutkorea · Joined: 21 Jan 2009

So, I've had this recruiter who has been extremely friendly and helpful. The recruiter always responded quickly to emails (within minutes, almost always within the hour if I emailed during Korean business hours), and explained everything in good detail.

However, It seems since signing my contract and sending in my documents, this helpful nature has stopped. Now it's like pulling teeth to get information.

They led me to believe my start date was different than it really was. While the recruiter was in the process of buying my plane ticket (a few days) the recruiter said I was to start work on a Wednesday. The recruiter asked if it was ok if I leave Friday and arrive in Korea on Saturday night. That sounded good, I'd have Sunday, Monday, Tuesday to get ready and moved in and adjust to the new time zone and surroundings. During this time in which they were buying the ticket I kept trying to confirm the first day I was to report to work was Wednesday, INCLUDING training. They always avoided the issue until I was given my final flight schedule and sent my e-ticket. They told me that work started Wednesday, but training started Monday, really just leaving Sunday to move in and adjust! It seems a little deceptive.

Is this sort of behavior normal?

cruisemonkey · Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2009 11:52 pm Post subject:

Welcome to K-land! Laughing

You're lucky... a day to adjust is more than most get. Wink

moosehead · Joined: 05 May 2007

sarbonn · Joined: 14 Oct 2008 Location: Michigan

Yeah, most often the first day your start work is the day after you arrive (sometimes the same day). It's like a really bad cult that indoctrinates you before you've had a chance to sleep.

cruisemonkey · Posted: Wed Feb 25, 2009 12:24 am Post subject:

Jandar · Joined: 11 Jun 2008

Once you land they own you.

The Visa belongs to them.

Teelo · Joined: 09 Oct 2008 Location: Wellington, NZ

Culture shock!!

Oh wait, not quite yet Wink

travelingfool · Joined: 10 Mar 2008 Location: Parents' basement

curiousaboutkorea · Joined: 21 Jan 2009

You're all making me feel so welcome Rolling Eyes

I'll chalk this one up and hope for the best.

I had been warned about this kinda stuff, and here it is... Rolling Eyes

rehab · Joined: 02 Jan 2009

Big Mac · Joined: 17 Sep 2005

Lesson number one about Korea: Never believe a thing a Korean tells you. They are compulsive liars. I've tried to learn to live with it, but it still pisses me off.

Toon Army · Joined: 12 Mar 2007

yingwenlaoshi · Joined: 12 Feb 2007 Location: ... location, location!

I like that story about the two dudes who came over to work for a hagwon. The flight arrived at night and they were brought directly to the school in the country somewhere or something. Right when they arrived, they were sat down to observe a class when one of them just shook his head and asked for them to be brought to their apartment right away which was totally empty save one mattress with no box spring, bed frame, pillows or bedding. I think they just said "Fk this" and went back to their home country.

bobbybigfoot · Joined: 05 May 2007 Location: Seoul

OP,

99% of recruiters behave this way. Once they get you here, they are done.

To get you here, they'll stretch the truth as need by. Outright lying is not a problem. Trusting a recruiter is a gamble.

Lying about start dates is very common. They'll tell you what you want to hear because they know that once they have your documents, they've got you cornered. Are you going to quit over a few days?

Things are much better now than they used to. Before, recruiters would routinely lie about things like income tax rates, pension, health care. But with all this info being readily available on Dave's, that jig is all but up.

Still, they can lie about accomidations. e.g. Of course, you'll have air conditioning. Of course your apartment is within walking distance. Yes it's very nice. Then you get there and find out you must take a bus, only have a fan are your apartment hasn't been renovated in 30 years.

They'll lie about your schedule. e.g. You will work at this location from 4-8. Then you get here and are told, "Sorry but the director has made some changes. You will work at this location and your schedule is a bit longer, 2 to 9. Please understand."

Recruiters and Hagwons lie. End of story. Accept the fact you will be stolen from in some way, 98% guaranteed. They'll take a little extra tax, they'll give less severance. Something. It's part of the culture. Bosses rule and they have every right to take from you if they choose to. And they do.

Welcome to Korea.

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

Too much truth. I'm currently trying to get my recruiter to place specific terms about start/end date and OT pay in the contract, and she insists that it can't be done. So I just promised to send in the paperwork ASAP, and sat on it to make her sweat. 3 days later, she keeps hounding me for the documentation. I told her to make the contractual adjustments or no job and no waygook body. I could hear her seeth over the phone from 9,000 miles away....too funny. Surprisingly, no resolution. Ultimately, I dumped her and went with another recruiter who was more up front.