Korean Job Discussion Forums

[JD_Tiberius]

for the past month I had been looking at schools in another province for my next contract, but had no luck. Last week I was pressured into renewing with my POE as nothing had come up for me. Then today, a recruiter informs me that a school has been seriously considering my application and wants to do a telephone interview with me on wednesday. I had been holding out all week last week for that and it never came, but now I get it today.....

Basically, I really want to take the interview as I want to move there, but I fear the consequences if I do(regardless of pass or fail), as it will get back to my co-teachers, who informed the Office of Education that I was looking at other provinces last week. As you can imagine, they said that was not allowed as I said I would renew with them. Oh, and the recruiter put my application into the school before the POE received my document...Its tough and I'm worried what might come of it

[koreatimes]

To me, this isn't a clear yes or no. There are legal and moral aspects I see.

Legally, there is nothing to say the new contract for your current school will be what you want to sign. So, you could back out anytime before signing it. In this case, the letter of intent is just to show interest in continuing. It's not a legal obligation on your side or theirs until the new contract is signed.

Morally speaking, you shouldn't bail out of it if you have agreed to it after a significant period of time. What is significant? You said last week your current school talked to you about this. I don't think this is a significant period of time. If you said no, they would have to get another teacher and possibly one abroad. One week is not that much time.

So, I would get this new interview done as soon as possible. If it doesn't go well, then you are back where you are now. If it does go well, this is where things get tricky/normal.

You can play the trust game with the new school and let them know how much you want to work with them and that you are leaving an already good job for a school that wants you to re-sign for another year. They could easily do the same to you as you would be doing to your current school by hiring another teacher. This would leave you without your security blanket school.

In reality, which is why I used "normal", you don't need a security blanket school. You should be willing to move on to another school regardless if it is this new school or another new school.

Too summarize my points, 1) get your interview 2) decide on a new school or your current school, 3) live with the consequences of your decision (1 more year at the same school, 1 year at a new school which might not be the one you are planning on interviewing with).

[JD_Tiberius]

I should add, I already decided I would be changing schools within the province on the letter. I decided not to renew with my current school in May so the letter of intent was for them to get confirmation that the POE would have to find me place at another school - one not of my choosing of course....

My yes was a very reluctant yes of defeat and I regretting signing the letter of intent seconds after I did it. My contract ends at an irregular time so its difficult to find jobs when most POEs are streamlining their jobs into two hiring seasons now. This offer was out of the blue as I honestly wasnt expecting it. Its exactly where I want to be though.

and if I do take the interview, then it has to be in absolute secrecy. if my coteacher gets one whiff of this, the game is up for me and she will have lost face(= hell for me)

[JD_Tiberius]

I havent had the interview yet, I rearranged it to a more suitable time on friday. However the school contacted my coteacher for a reference. They are so impressed that they want to hire me and have offered to stop looking for other candidates if I say yes. The interview is on friday but My co-teacher is telling me and the school its impossible for me to go there because the POE here has my letter of intent. surely thats BS right? I haven't signed a contract, nor have I even seen the new contracts for this province yet.


It's madness.

[koreatimes]

[JD_Tiberius]