Korean Job Discussion Forums

[OMGtrev]

I'm finishing my first full contract with a big name hagwon chain (Avalon) and I may be continuing with the chain at another school for another year. How much more should I ask for? And if I decide to go to a different hagwon, how much should I ask for there? I will technically have 15 months experience due to a false start my first time out, if that will make any difference (I don't expect it to). I know any public school job I get would be a fixed deal.

[Carbon]

What do you have or have you done to warrant getting more money?

[OMGtrev]

Well, like I said, the whole one year experience thing. I guess some schools value having a handsome blond guy as well, so maybe that? Seems to me like I should be getting paid more after having one year of experience regardless of anything else.

[Skippy]

If you are lucky you will likely get another 100,000 won per month. Maybe more if you are will to hedge your bets and negotiate with them and be willing to leave if you do not get your way.

A year experience is nice, but in the end it is not much. Some schools may care others - not one whit.

[Skyblue]

[Gaegeum2003]

23 dollars and the knowledge that you're helping the next generation of English language learners.

[Skippy]

Heck in the end the money they pay will not be a loss to the school. As since they likely do not have to shell out for another recruiter, which costs about a million won fee, even other times they can even skip on paying for a plane ticket too.

First piece of advice, do not hemm and haw in the renewing process. Make up your mind to stay or go. If you waffle they can and will likely jerk you around. If they value you the will ask you to stay and you can ask for a raise. But as I commented be prepared to walk.

[willteachforfood]

As Skippy mentioned...one of the reasons that you generally get a raise in your 2nd year has nothing to do with your experience or greater value to the business as a teacher....it is simply a wash for the school to either give you 100 bucks per month or to pay a recruiter. You also have to remember that most hagwons won't give you an extra flight home with a re-sign (some will, most won't), so part of this "raise" is simply more money monthly as opposed to a trip home.

This isn't to say that you can't negotiate more....there are other reasons why a hagwon will be willing to pay more money if you stick around.

1. If you lasted 1 year you will probably last another....a new hire is always a threat to run, so it's not so much your experience that is earning you a raise, but your resilience. This is a factor whether you stay on at the first school or transfer to another.

2. There is a learning curve in each school in terms of learning their system, getting used to the book series, and so on. Clearly there is value to them to not have to 'train' up another teacher.

3. If the kids/parents like you, this is a stronger bargaining chip than having gained experience and having become a better teacher. If enrollment increased during your stay they will be more apt to give you a larger raise.

I would recommend that you test the waters....make them an offer...I will re-sign if I get X, Y, Z...and then wait for a counter offer. Ask for more than you will accept as it is standard practice in Korea to start out high so that they can counter-offer lower and feel like they "win". To a great extent your bargaining power rests on how willing you are to walk if they hold firm and say "100,000/month more and that's our final offer."

[mattdsoares]

Impossible to say. It depends on the school really. I'd say an additional 100,000 to 200,000 a month is pretty standard, but again, it depends on the school.

[tua111111]

I'm coming up at the end of my contract as well and I won't take less than 200k more a month, plus a couple other conditions. I'm looking for 300-400k more a month. We have a lot of foreign teachers at my school but nobody has stayed more than a year for awhile. That should give me some wiggle room.

If I were you I would base my decision on what you currently make now. There's a lot of jobs offers out there for 2.3 million or more. I make more than that, but if I didn't I wouldn't take anything less than 2.3 if I was making 2.1 or lower. Not sure how many hours you work now but do consider that these jobs above 2.3 usually have quite the work load.

[Dog Soldier]

My approach was to ask for 150k per month extra and another 10 days holiday per year, knowing I'd get one or the other (and almost definitely the cash). Lo and behold, the director said no to the vacation but gave me the cash. He thinks he came out on top, but really I got what I wanted.

As for the guy above who thinks he's in a good position to ask for 400k a month extra. I don't know your situation, so you may well be able to get that much extra. But also beware, it is an employers market and lots of hagwons would rather take on someone fresh than raise the salaries. There are more than enough people here looking for work and the market (and salaries) are still a bit deflated. Just don't talk yourself out of the job either.

If you get the increase though...good news. Congrats and all that

[matthews_world]

Most hagwon owners consider your bonus/severance as your yearly raise and you might get a little more per month for staying on.

Also, make sure to ask what your particular school does about your return airfare as most hagwon contracts deem that they pay it when you actually exit the country, not when your 1 year is complete.

If you do go on to better pastures, just makes sure you get a verifiable letter of reference that will stick with you throughout your career.