Korean Job Discussion Forums

Austin Powers · Joined: 09 Mar 2003 Location: Incheon

Well I'm on the job market again and WOW, some of the lousy contracts that have been passed my way. They must think we are real schmucks.
The problem is there are a lot of teachers out there who are schmucks, and that makes it hard for the rest of us. If these twats would not accept such lousy conditions then things would improve for the rest of us.
To the schmucks out there, PLEASE do not sign lousy contracts.How to spot a lousy job.
1. The apartment is so bad, even the bugs are complaining. REMEMBER you are going to have to live in the dump for 12 months.
2. Unreasonable hours, one clown wanted 130HOURS!!! for 1.9m. 120 is the MAX!!!!!!!!
3. Lousy Overtime, You want at least 18,000 per hour. Not 11,000!!!
4. Sick days, at least 5 days. There are some dudes out there offering ZIP
5. Accomodation allowance. 300,000 will get you diddly squat, plus there is the key money. Amazingly some jobs I turned down because the housing allowance deal SUCKED BIGTIME, were filled the next day by some schmuck.
6. Deductions to cover the recruiter, bills etc. DON'T agree, NO if's no Buts, DON't Agree
Do the maths, it's simple. You have completed your 12 months contract, you are now owed.....
1 months pay (maybe more) 2.0 m
1 months severance 2.0 m
Airfare (maybe more) 0.8 m
Money withheld 0.6m

TOTAL 5.4 m

Think about it before you are foolish enough to sign.
Do you want to be an UNSECURED CREDITOR to a dodgy stranger in a foreign country that discriminates against you to the tune of 5.4 m won

7. Finally you need some time off 5 days a year is pathetic. You must get the 2 weeks at LEAST.

In Summary PLEASE PLEASE let's stick together DON"T sign lousy contracts. Don't sign on the spot, take it home and sleep on on it.

Always Always, talk to previous/current teachers. Always check out the digs.

Finally smile, let them think you are stupid, be nice, get everything in writting and don't trust them.

If you are EVER owed money, don't let it pass, Go to the Labor Board and make life hard for them. One guy I know got his Boss Arrested!!!
Most of you out there are too meek. The meek may inherit the earth, but we want cash not dirt!!

Kristsoy · Joined: 23 Mar 2004

never gonna happen man

Crois · Posted: Fri Apr 09, 2004 10:56 pm Post subject:

I excepted the first contract I took.

Basically my contract is what you have said to accept.

hellofaniceguy · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Location: On your computer screen!

I've been posting just that for years, no one can use you unless YOU let them.
Why oh why, would anyone sign a lousy contract!?!? Common sense ought to come into ones mind! 120 hours? No way! Only agree to "X" amount of classes PER month. I think 5 a day is more than fair at hokwons. 50 minute classes max. Universities? 10-15 hours a week is the average. Hokwons ARE NOT schools, they are a business and the owner could give a rats a$$ about the foreign teachers let alone the korean teachers. Most will use you and work you to death if you let them. True, some fair hokwon owners around. Have not met one but I have read on this site that some teachers are happy with the school and owner where they teach. It is a two way street, some teachers are lousy. Don't prepare, dress shabby, bad hair styles, bad breath, alcoholics, come to work at the last minute and run copies off the copy machine and call it a lesson and so on. Some complain on and on for no reason. If you have a valid reason, I'd complain also! But, use finesse. Contracts ARE
NEGOTIABLE. Get the best deal you can but don't screw over the owner.
No one forces anyone to come to korea. No one forces you to sign a contract.

rapier · Joined: 16 Feb 2003

What happens to someone who wants to work here but all thats on offer is lousy contracts? my point is , I think contracts are getting worse because the market is being saturated by westerners fleeing unemployment back home, and the directors are having everything their way now.

Its pretty hard to find the perfect contract: there's always some disadvantages. You just have to make sure the main factors are in place. Otherwise, be prepared to hang on a long time for your dream position.

Skarp · Joined: 22 Aug 2003

THE market is not saturated with good people.....

it is saturated with youngsters right out of college who know nothing about nothing and desperately need to pay for the college that took their money and gave them a worthless scrap of paper...

If you can do the job and are willing to do a fair day's work then you can get a decent deal here. It may take a few weeks to find a good contract but they are out there and they are desparate to find good teachers.

If we all stuck together we could get a much better deal.

Of course - we can't organise - they would break any union or similar organisation and immigration would help them.

Best thing is to warn the young kids not to come - they will mostly have a bad time, make little money and get cheated.

IMO - The only people to come here should be serious about becoming competent teaches and planning to stay 2-3 years.

Skarp

Crois · Posted: Fri Apr 09, 2004 11:41 pm Post subject:

I'm straight out of University and I plan to stay here a few years.

I do try. Thought this job was a joke but attitude has changed slightly and I want to be a good teacher and get a better job next year.

ryleeys · Joined: 22 Dec 2003 Location: Columbia, MD

Why do I get the feeling that alot of foreigners here consider me the souce of all evil?

I'm 22, came over here just 3 months after college graduation, and am American...

Does that make me the devil?
Some people here seem to think so.

Crois · Posted: Sat Apr 10, 2004 12:49 am Post subject:

Depends on how many STD's you are gonna spread Laughing

I dont think you are the devil...I meet the devil everytime I drink Soju Shocked

phaedrus · Joined: 13 Nov 2003 Location: I'm comin' to get ya.

Real Reality · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Location: Seoul

Skarp wrote,
"Best thing is to warn the young kids not to come - they will mostly have a bad time, make little money and get cheated. IMO - The only people to come here should be serious about becoming competent teachers and planning to stay 2-3 years."

I tend to agree.

I would add that experienced people applying for university positions need to expect and accept reasonable offers. Some experienced people come here thinking Korean university professors do not earn much. They accept half the salary and benefits of a Korean professor (or Korean instructor with similar or fewer qualifications).

Salary of a Korean Professor at a Public (State) University
5,511 US$ per month (or 6,285,000 WON per month)
http://www.asiaweek.com/asiaweek/features/salaries/2000/popups/content/skor.html

Skarp · Joined: 22 Aug 2003

Some people straight out of college are willing and able to take EFL, even in Korea seriously...

Just that a lot of recruiters make it all sound so easy and dupe a lot of suckers in who will fail miserably and usually run home when they are messed about by criminal wanker hogwan owners.

Often these people make no profit on the year as they have to buy a plane ticket home and sometimes leave with money owed to them.

Bad deal and it only makes it harder for the rest of us...

Skarp

phaedrus · Joined: 13 Nov 2003 Location: I'm comin' to get ya.

Kristsoy · Joined: 23 Mar 2004

i've been here 3.5 years and I'm not competent at all.

Ok teacher maybe but competent yeah right

TheUrbanMyth · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Location: Retired