Korean Job Discussion Forums

[ohme_ohmy]

I just got off the phone with a recruiter about a job position and she is having one of the foreign teachers at the school call me in 30 minutes. This is the first job I'm seriously looking into so some advice would be great.

What are some important questions I should ask him/her?

[Rory_Calhoun27]

good luck!

if it's a public school, ask about your role, and if the school understands you're part of the team, and if they can help with that... a question I wish I asked MY coteacher, but that's a long story....

otherwise, just build off what he or she tells you. if it's a another English teacher, ask them to summarize the school and how it works.

[lifeinkorea]

There are so many things that can go wrong. The interview is for you to get accepted by them. They ask the questions. After they want you, then I suggest you post the contract and give the details of their offer.

Then, we can help you.

[ohme_ohmy]

I spoke with the director of Kids College in Busan. Her name is Jamie and she seemed very sweet. I also spoke with one of the foreign teachers who has been there for 4 years and he was very informative and helpful as well.

I've read a lot of really bad stuff on here about Kids College, but I felt really good after talking to both of them. The teacher I spoke with told me this particular school changed ownership recently and they are moving to a newer location in Centrum City in Busan. They are relocating from Namguedong I think they said? (I couldn't really understand/catch the name of the part of town).

Everything sounds really great so far, but I'm a little wary...especially after reading all of the awful remarks about this particular chain of schools. But I also have to wonder why someone who has been there for 4 years would stay if things weren't pretty good there? It's a tough call and I'm not sure who to trust. =/

[lifeinkorea]

You aren't really working at the same school then. I did this last year. I went in for an interview thinking I would work at that location, and they did the same thing. They said they have a new school in a different area and handed me a contract for it. I took the job, and it wasn't bad. However, it was a new school. This means there are a lot of issues that have to sorted.

The previous owner has to pay the current teachers until the new owner fully owns it. Until then, the new owner may refuse to pay the old teachers. There might also be issues with implementing a new curriculum. Parents might not like it if the new owner just automatically changes books on the students.

You may have to play along with the other school's system. Everything you stated happened with me, and it wasn't the same franchise.

Personally, I would prefer to be the third or fourth teacher hired in these cases, not the first.