Korean Job Discussion Forums

[ewlandon]

I am being asked to renew at my Seoul hogwon. My contract is not up till September but they want me to think about this now. I have already been thinking about it and thinking that I wouldnt mind working for the same hogwon since everything has been relatively smooth with them. I like everyone at the place and I have always been payed on time and I'm pretty sure that my pension is being paid etc.

Now the things that I don't like are A. My apartment B. My pay (its fine but i want more) C. Not going home.

My current pay is 2.3 million which is pretty good as a first year but I know with 2 years teaching abroad now etc I could make quiet a bit more so I was thinking of asking them for another 100,000 each month.

Also, my apartment is pretty bad (not the worst) but still bad mostly because of the size of the bathroom and the neighborhood.

And finally I want to go home for a couple weeks after my contract is up and see my friends and family. I already have a flight home in my contract and if they hire another teacher they will be paying that teachers flight.

My question to some of you guys who have been at this longer than me is are these reasonable things to ask for when resigning. Is it too much? Should I ask for more?

-100,000 increase in my pay
-a nicer apartment (could be same price) that we pick out together or I just get a housing allowance.
-A round-trip ticket to my home in USA for 2 weeks between contracts

I should also note that they seem to really like me at the school and that I am the ONLY foreign teacher at this particular branch.

Thanks in advance for advice.

[YTMND]

Sounds reasonable, but the apartment thing might be hard to arrange. If they won't do it, maybe you could offer to pay for moving expenses.

Another thing in conjunction with this is coordinating this with time off. You could try to get an apartment a week before the end of the year, like the third week of August. Then at the end of the 2nd contract, you would have to move out earlier. This way they wouldn't be paying for an empty apartment during your time off.

Also, make sure overtime is at 20,000 or more.

[littlelisa]

The two weeks going home will likely be an issue too. You're the only foreigner at your hagwon, that means that if you leave for two weeks, they have no foreign teacher for that time, or they have to pay much higher prices to get someone temporary. Parents won't like it, so the school will be loath to give you the two weeks.

[ewlandon]

hmmm. I'd really hate to not see my parents or friends for two full years. If they cannot give me 2 weeks or at least 1 week at home should I just use the ticket home thats in my contract and find another job and have the new job pay for the ticket back? I could find the job while I am here. The two weeks at home is the thing I want the most.

The company is big and I think the boss can cover classes when people are sick etc so I guess i'll just have to see what they say.

[surendra]

OP, here are my 2 cents from a non-experienced person. Regarding the flight, unless they are nice and you get something in writing saying that they will pay for the flights, they will not pay for that. From a contractor's view point, it is a financial risk. As for visiting, is there not vacation time in your contract?

Anywho, good luck!

[ewlandon]

I already have a flight home in my first contract. What I am asking for in the 2nd contract is to have a return flight to korea, and another one home at the end of the 2nd year.

[surendra]

Ah, understood. From a contract point of view, that seems legit as long as the contract dates do not conflict. They could however say that a "renewal contract" is different that an "initial contract". The "initial contract" could have the plane ticket included while the renewal includes the raise but no ticket. Just worst case scenario :p. I'd say if you have a good standing with the company (which you said you did) just ask at the appropriate time and as most would say, get things in writing or something.

[ontheway]

Negotiate.

What you are asking for seems reasonable.

1) Your housing unit could be under a long-term rental agreement or even owned by the school, so changing could be more difficult than just moving expenses. Try for this anyway, but be prepared to back off if the school is stuck with the unit for the long-term. If they can change units by only paying the realtor's fee and moving, you can make a deal.

2) You should either get payments equivalent to another set of tickets to Korea and back home for the second year or ask for a 200,000 won raise. Again be ready to deal.

3) Does your school have a vacation period? Can you travel home then? If so, maybe you don't need this one. However, you should ask if it's something you really want. Ask for two weeks, settle for one week.


Ask and negotiate.

You don't ask you don't get.

Make sure everything is in writing.


You should also include terms that indicate when you will receive your airfare and severance that are paid at the end of your current contract. You should try to get these no later than your first pay date under your second contract and not leave them to the end of a second year.