Korean Job Discussion Forums

[kingstonian]

I was just offered a job in Daegu and it seems to be a large chain. Does anyone have experience working there?

[schmoove]

I have a close friend who worked there in the Daegu branch for one year.
(They have 3 Daegu branches I think).

Pros-
Big company.
Professional.
Pay on time.
Well organised.
Good, well organised curriculum.
No messing around regarding pay/insurance/pension.
Generous incentive schemes and bonuses (on top of your basic salary).
Social club (I think you have to pay a very small amount for it)
Teacher's day out sometimes (sports day etc) with good prizes (laptop 1st prize for example)

Cons-
Quite high pressured compared to some other places
Lots of phone calls to make (yes for the foreign teachers)
A fair whack of paperwork


Again, I haven't worked there, but my close friend did and she generally liked it.
She didn't renew her contract as she wanted to travel.
Other foreigners there didn't renew their contracts, as they were going back to their respective home countries.

[funkyfish]

Well, I work for a corporate branch. Thats the first thing you need to find out., if it is a corporate school or a franchise.
If it is a corporate they are starting a new syllabus in which you will be working saturdays. They tend to leave things to the last moment, expect you to stay late, and to attend work related functions (for free) on the weekends.
On the other hand, you do get paid on time, the syllabus is organized, and you aren't asked to contribute anything other than you being a waguk (foreign person).
There are worse. However, watch your step- they will try to manipulate the contract to their own ends.

Just my experience.

[munybse]

The 3 campuses in Daegu are franchised not corporate.

[Peter258]

which campus in daegu were you offered a job in? there are 3.

[globusmonkey]

I just signed a contract with them, but it stipulates that the work days are Monday through Friday. I don't know if this is a corporate or a franchised one - is there a way to tell without asking them (I haven't arrived yet). If it's a Saturday type deal, will they make me sign a new contract? What experiences have others had with this change so far? Does it change how the hours are scheduled though the week, or are you just going to be working another day without extra pay? Any info is appreciated so I can prepare...

[funkyfish]

Actually according to the Avalon website there is a cop orate branch in Daegu. As for Saturday work, it is something that will happen in march, they are trying to sort out the details now. There would be two options.
1. Work 6 days and get paid overtime (the hours are 10-2)
2. get a day off during the week to compensate for working on Saturday.

Either way, you end up working Saturdays. If you have signed a contract they can try and make you sign a change of contract. Ask for an email address of someone who works there and ask them.

[globusmonkey]

Cool, thanks. I'm fine with working Saturdays, as long as I get paid for it or I get a different schedule to compensate. I first heard these rumblings a few days after I sent off my signed contract, so it was a bit of a surprise. Oh well.

[munybse]

[munybse]

[globusmonkey]

It's in Changwon. I spoke to the NET before I accepted, and she didn't mention anything about Saturdays, but in the interview, they did ask if I would be open to something like that, so I think they're probably a corporate run school and are planning to make the change. Like I said before, I'm OK with working weekends (I have before), as long as the compensation is there or the schedule reflects it. It still sounds like a decent place to get started in Korea, so I'm not too worried about - I just like to be prepared.

[DaeguNL]

I worked at one of the Daegu Avalon campus, PM if you want more details. Also the campus you are referring to is known as the 'Chilgok' campus, and it is a franchise (same owner for all three branches)

[mandrews1985]

I'm currently at Daegu Avalon, feel free to PM me any questions (or if you cant PM yet, just message in this thread).