Korean Job Discussion Forums

[noright85]

Hey Everyone,

I've been at my job (hogwan) only two months, but I know I will be asked to renew in the next 2-3 months and I'm curious as to how I should handle myself.

I was asked to renew within the first two weeks of teaching. I politely declined and said that I would definitely consider re-signing at a later date if everything went well in the school. They understood and said they would give me time to think about it.

Within these first two months I have made a name for myself in the school. My students enjoy having me as a teacher, the staff seems to enjoy having me at the school (I am the only male teacher) and students that I don't teach at all also come running when they see me. I feel like I've started to build something here that I can be proud of.

With that said, I know other teachers, when asked to renew their contracts, asked for a raise and received one. I'm not sure how much the raise was.

I've also volunteered my photography skills, incorporated music (I perform) into the classroom, and have been asked by parents to have me as the teacher for their child.

What should I ask for when the time comes?

[Young FRANKenstein]

[Troglodyte]

Is this a 1 year contract?

You've been there only 2 months and they're already asking you to sign on for a second year? Seems a bit strange. I've never been asked to renew a 1 year contract until about 2 or 3 months at most before the end of the first one.

[noright85]

Yeah I only have a twelve month contract. I found it a bit odd as well. Part of me wants to believe that they want to offer the extension to ensure that the children I have will have me until the end of their "school year" in February of 2012.

[Troglodyte]

Tell them that you'll consider renewing the contract 2 months before your current contract expires. If you had wanted a 24 month contract you could have signed one from the get go.

You have to wait and see what the average job offer is in 8 months from now. Then add 100,000 Won to it. That's probably about the only bonus that you'll get for renewing a contract. You might negotiate and extra few days vacation.

But in any case, hold off on renewing until you're almost finished. You might decide by then that you'd like to work elsewhere (another city, another country, or many even just another school).