Korean Job Discussion Forums

[elizabethbennet]

This is just a post to say that 3 months ago I was miserable, hadn't eaten solid food for a week due to stress, and was facing the prospect of a year in a miserable job in Pohang where I was constantly criticized despite working my ass off. Then I quit. I left my contract early - giving notice.

It was terrifying; many people told me I was an idiot to quit; I was afraid that I'd end up back in the States without a dime; I was afraid I couldn't get a new job in Korea.

But now, after a month in a hostel in Gyeong-Ju, and after rejecting 3 suspicious jobs, I am working in probably one of the best hagwon jobs in Korea in Busan. It pays less than my old job - only 2.1 plus a housing allowance. But - I work fewer hours than almost anyone I know, the boss cooks for everyone, no one at my work is stressed out, not even the head teacher, and I am praised by the other teachers nearly every day. I feel so happy and satisfied.

So if you're working the job from hell, you don't have to! Save enough money to get by in a hostel for a month, get on the phone with some decent recruiters - in Busan I recommend Su (I can't remember her exact business name, ESL Korea, maybe?) and Mary and James, and get yourself a new job! You don't have to put up with a horrible job. And if more people call the bluff and leave their bad jobs, maybe conditions will start to improve!

I don't believe in midnight runs, however, except in truly heinous circumstances. Give notice, do the honorable thing, and then enjoy your new life. If you've held an E-2 visa you CAN get a new job in Korea - don't let anyone tell you different. It doesn't matter if you worked your whole contract. Several recruiters told me it wasn't possible. They were wrong. Call the national immigration office; they will tell you straight. Some schools and recruiters won't want to work with someone who left a job, but many will. Play straight with your old school, brush up your references in your home country (a letter might help if you can get one), and get a new job.

This might seem random, but this is the pep talk I wish I could have read three months ago. I hope it helps someone!

Here's to being happy in Korea!

[blackjack]

While I really would love to say congrads, I would also love to hear what you are going to say in six months time

[elizabethbennet]

I understand that one might imagine my new job will also not be good. But this is vacation month, with extra classes, and I'm still working a manageable schedule. The last teacher said it was an awesome job in his e-mail - no reservations - and NO ONE at my school is stressed out - NO ONE! At my last job there was a palpable air of tension every day. Here, literally everyone is happy. It's just a completely different environment.

Sure, there might be an annoyance or two down the line. But I really feel like I walked out of a nightmare and back into a normal, even enjoyable life. I wish I had known 3 months ago that the outcome would be so positive.

[cassimira]

thanks for this post, Elizabeth! I'd been getting a bit stressed out after wading through all the horror stories here and on other sites, worrying that if I select poorly, I'd waste a year being miserable.... It's so nice to see a post from someone who managed to turn their situation so completely around, and makes me worry a little less about getting "stuck!"

[lifeinkorea]

Welcome to Korea newbie.

[brento1138]

Good going! Too many people feel chained down to their jobs because we are led to believe that the schools "own" us for a year. That's not true. Nobody should own anyone.

I say let the companies who treat their employees badly go suffer from the natural selection process.

After a while, we'll mainly see that good schools become the successful ones.

[bassexpander]

The boss cooks for you? Being expected to eat that is enough to scare me away from that job.

[mc_jc]

I was also in a similar position back in 2003. I was working for an awful after school program that paid late, kept my passport and didn't process me for an E2 visa (I was in the process of getting one, but they kept on putting it off). Since I was considered "in between jobs" at the time, I used my connections at Yongsan and the base pass I got for volunteering at the USO to start looking for a job onbase. At first, the only ones that would hire me were the AAFES New Car Sales and the Dragon Hill Lodge (both paid crappy). But then I was introduced to my now ex-boss who gladly hired me and processed me for an A2 visa (SOFA).
I work long hours (especially during base inspection times and GAO audits) and some weekends, but I am paid on time, the military pays for an awesome apartment within a stone throw from the base and I am guaranteed 30 days vacation a year (which could be saved for up to 2 years, which gave me 2 full months once to wander around the Himalayas and India) and annual performance bonuses.
Yeah, if a person is persistent and determined, they could find a great job.

[PaperTiger]

The thing I've found here...first impressions are SO important, but the extent to which your situation will change after the first month or two is impossible to predict...no matter how awesome, inspiring, or whatever your new school and bosses might seem at the outset.

The might treat like a rockstar until they get you locked in, and then start doing all kinds of rotten stuff to offset the cost of your good treatment. It might take as long as waiting to sign the contract for next year, only to find your contract gutted and the conditions you thought were great deteriorating like a cheap American car.

[mc_jc]

I agree that first impressions are very important- the problem is that many people think of Korea as being so laid back and so laxed that when they get to their school, their first impression is not the greatest.
Part of a person's first impression is what I call "personal presentation" (another way of saying "appearance"). If a person goes in looking, acting and working professionally, then the people around them will treat them that way. Granted- a person's level of professionalism is determined by what type of students they are teaching (casual clothing and activities for young learners and shirt/tie (blouse) and structured lessons for older learners).
But one thing I've learned from my time as an ESL teacher is to be nice but firm, fair but determined- the person should go to work willing and able to be flexible, but also let them know that you mean business (learning and knowing the weaknesses of your school is a definite asset though).
However, I would like to point out that in more than one occasion, I've seen some NESTs (Native Speaking English Teachers) have outbursts in class. Korean students already get enough of that from their Korean English teachers. My advice is to be impartial but approachable, friendly but also know the ethical limit to one's friendliness.
I think the best thing to be is to look professional, act professional in order to be treated professionally (though many people will laugh at this).
But its no joke- for those that want to be in Korea longer than a year- the more you act and look professionally; word gets around and you will be in demand and who knows, you might even score a non-ESL teaching job .
Also, I want to give you guys a hint- The Communicative Method (though the most prevalent these days), DOESN'T WORK IN KOREA. Students need structure.

[wylies99]

[wylies99]

[hoopslam]

I have a similar story, though my situation was probably easier with my f4 and Korean fluency. I couldn't stand my first job here with CDI so I quit early on in my contract. Most people I knew here told me I was crazy and naive to think I could find a better job. It took me 2 weeks of living in a "Goshiwon" (cheap dormitory type room with free internet) and searching all over the internet to find a replacement job in a much better location.

The pay's a little less but I only work five 40 minute classes a day with minimal prep time. My hair's stopped turning gray and I have time to actually enjoy my stay in Korea. My boss is super cool and let's me teach my way (games, games, and more games). Basically, my prep work consists of learning how to play one new game from the handy game list here at Dave's every day and incorporating the vocabulary my school provides me. Students love my class and my teachers are fascinated by how many different games I seem to know. All in all, a much better situation than my old CDI position.

I know that the thought of quitting your job and losing your apartment can be scary but know that there are plenty of decent teaching jobs at good locations here. Don't let a crappy hagwon screw you over for an entire year. Life's too short and too precious to throw away that much time suffering.

[spc525]

True life is too short. But a shitty hagwon is better than an average office job back in the states...

Just sayin...

[djsmnc]