Korean Job Discussion Forums

[bry0000000]

I was interviewed by a hogwon for a school, and I was surprised that a foreign teacher was on the other end of the line. Apparently, the owner of the school knew that prospective teachers like to talk with teachers who currently work at the school. Anyway, he told me everything was great. He says he always gets paid on time (ahead of schedule most of the time), always is treated with respect, nothing at the school is bad, ect. He sounded less than enthusiastic when I spoke with him, but maybe that was because it was at the end of his work day.

What do you guys think? Was he just saying this because he was at work? Or could a hogwon really be as good as this guy was saying it was?

[cruisemonkey]

For what it's worth, I've never heard of anyone being paid ahead of schedule. I think you should take that with a giant grain of sodium chloride and 'read between the lines' - assume the person you were talking to was trying so send a covert message while the boss was listening.

[The Grumpy Senator]

My old hogwon had the 10th of every month written in the contract as payday, however we were always paid by the fifth of the month because most of the teachers had bills due on the tenth.

It is not common, but it does happen.

[Gnawbert]

It could be a million things. It could be he hates the school but wants to fill his spot before he leaves, or that he's getting a finders fee, or that his boss literally grabbed him a minute before he was leaving and jammed the phone in his ear while listening, or that he genuinely loves the school but is leaving for another reason.

I made sure to ask the teachers at my new school why they were leaving, and also to list some of the negatives about the school (because there always are) in addition to the positives. If you're still skeptical, send an email and ask for another contact person. If they're really legit and confident they're a good school, they'll be happy to oblige. Mine was.