Korean Job Discussion Forums

VirginIslander · Joined: 24 May 2006 Location: Busan

A friend, who was also a former coworker and roommate, is thinking about coming to Korea for a year or two. He has excellent credentials. He graduated from the UPENN business school, which is the best business school in the states. (I know how much Koreans love Ivy Leauge Schools!)

Also, he has three years experience teaching High School English at one of the best private schools in the Virgin Islands. And he attended one of the best private High Schools in Pennsylvania, too.

What would be his best option to make money while teaching here in Korea?

Work at a university teaching English and Business or work at an Howgron teaching SAT and essay writing to rich Korean kids? Would a Korean Univeristy hire him from abroad, although he does not have any experience with ESL?

Thanks for any advice, and please no "why is he coming to Korea?"

DCJames · Joined: 27 Jul 2006

Hogwon for 2.0 million housing plus housing.

shaunew · Joined: 17 Apr 2007 Location: Calgary

if he gets an e-2, 2 million plus housing. minus costs and taxes and hydro and other household costs, he is looking at 1.6 million a month then expenses, maybe save 800,000. if lucky.

cangel · Joined: 19 Jun 2003 Location: Jeonju, S. Korea

Does he have a teaching certificate?

ChuckECheese · Joined: 20 Jul 2006

In Korea, you're just another white Englishy monkey or clown.

faster · Joined: 03 Sep 2006

Teaching SAT prep can be a good choice for him, presuming he can sit down and rock an 800 on the CR & Writing sections.

VirginIslander · Joined: 24 May 2006 Location: Busan

I've seen ads for school in Busan looking for Ivy graduates. 2.5 was the going rate but I would like to get much more for him. He doesnt have teacher certification but several years teaching experience.

ChuckECheese wrote

Voyeur · Joined: 19 Jun 2003

At some boutique firms where you get a cut of your classes tuition you can make big money. But it is risky, jobs are few, etc...

IBT or SAT prep can do well - but again not an easy slam dunk.

The easiest way to make big money with an Ivy League degree is to apply to CDI. You can say all you want about them or how much you have to work - but if the bottom line is how much you make securely and safely in a month (while still working less than a full-time job back home) then CDI is a good call.

With an Ivy League degree, lucky timing (you apply when they despearetly need say a high level reading teacher), you could easily get 33,000 an hour even in your first year. Maybe even up to 35,000. You can teach 30 ghours a week usually no problem (they tend to not like you to go over that these days IIRC). But after a few months you could be a Head Instructor (about an avg. of 5 hours more work a week) and pull in another 600,000 - 800,000 for that gig.

So on an hourly salary (and you should go hourly) I could see him - if he interviews well - pulling in 4.5 million to over 5 million after a few months. He'd have to pay ghis own taxes and apt. But if he stays away from Kangnam that ain't so bad.

wylies99 · Joined: 13 May 2006 Location: I'm one cool cat!

He must be in some trouble in the US if he has that kind of education and can't get a job. Rolling Eyes

VirginIslander · Joined: 24 May 2006 Location: Busan

wylies99 wrote

xCustomx · Joined: 06 Jan 2006

Seriously, why can't he get a job in the States? I'm not sure about a BA, but if he has a masters degree from Wharton then he should have employers lined up to hire him.

VirginIslander · Joined: 24 May 2006 Location: Busan

Please refer to the original post.

SeoulShakin · Joined: 05 Jan 2006 Location: Seoul

I could be mistaken, but with a degree from an Ivy League school in business, wouldn't that mean he could get a good job at a corporation here in Korea teaching Business English to adults?

I think your friend should look at the big corporations here, and see what they can find.

faster · Joined: 03 Sep 2006

The Wharton MBA will be very prestigious here, but Koreans generally hold the undergraduate school as the one that determines overall prestige. Did he do his undergrad at an Ivy (or similar) as well?

If so, he should be able to find a great contract in Korea. I'd also advise looking into foreign language schools (only the top ones) and universities.

big_blue_21 · Joined: 02 Nov 2005

yeah, CDI is the way to go . . . I graduated from Penn (History, '04) and I got offered 35,000 an hour . . . with that degree, though, he might be able to get a job with Suwon. They are the most prestigious (and best-paying) English school of any kind in Korea. It's a foreign-language high school (the kids have to know english, and two other languages, I think something like chinese, french, japanese, or german). I can give you the contact if you'd like . . . If I remember, the pay is about 100,000 an hour. Also, there was a guy at CDI from Harvard (BA in Classics) and he was earning about 100,000 a hour teaching privates on the side (not with CDI, but on his own) . . . I'm pretty sure the top salary for new teachers at CDI is 35,000 an hour (unless maybe it'd be apart of this new "Prep" (AP) program I've heard about . . . a guy posting on Dave's saying he's being offered 40,000 - 60,000 by CDI for that . . . let me know if you'd like me to introduce you to someone at CDI or Suwon . . .

Feel free to PM me . . .