Korean Job Discussion Forums

wanderkind · Joined: 01 Jan 2012 Location: Japan

Hi,

I'm supposed to come to South Korea really soon to start a teaching job. I've taught in Europe previously, and had a fantastic job and experience there.

The position I'm taking had some bad feedback from teachers but it was from a long time ago, and since I didn't see anything from recently I wasn't too concerned. Then suddenly I came across some really troubling feedback about the school from pretty recently, just listing a dozens of ways in which the company is horrible to work for. Since it's the weekend I doubt I'll be able to get ahold of the company for a few days to address my concerns.

Does anyone have any advice for me? I've invested a fair bit of money/ time so far (as I'm sure you're familiar) but I'm not afraid of pulling the plug if it means dodging a year of frustration and a terrible experience. Especially since it was alleged they habitually fire people right before they would have to pay them their end of contract bonus.

raewon · Joined: 16 Jun 2009

Have you been in touch with any of the teachers who are currently working there? I think this is something you should do before signing the contract. (Well.. it sounds like you are way beyond this stage...)
If you speak with someone while they are at work, you need to consider that someone could very well be listening to their responses. You also need to consider how long the person you speak with has been there. You may very well get a rosy report from the person you are about to replace, or someone with only a few months left to go. It's definitely in their favor to paint that picture.

If you haven't been in touch with teachers currently employed, I think you should. Politely ask for the current names, contact numbers, and the local time it would be convenient for them to speak with you. Personally, I wouldn't say that you wanted to clear up a bunch of negative feedback - give another reason for wanting to get in touch with someone. It certain is a reasonable request. If you have been (or are) denied contact information, then that may or may not be a red flag.

Good luck to you.

Hotpants · Joined: 27 Jan 2006

One way to check the credentials of the school is to insist on speaking to one of the current teachers at the school, or even better, to get two email contact details and arrange to talk to them via Skype (ie away from work) asap. If you just approach the school manager and ask if all the rumors are true, I doubt that he/she would simply say yes to them.

As we don't know the name of the school, it's hard for anyone to help you. If the complaints related to 11-month firings or missed salary from more than one complainant, then yes, I'd steer clear of that school.

ttompatz · Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Location: Kwangju, South Korea

Have you sent the hard copies of your documentation to Korea yet?
IF yes then you are screwed for the next 90 days anyway.

If not then no worry. Perform your due diligence before you do.

IF you are legally working on an E2 then the labor board is there to assist you in cases of 11th month terminations.

.

Troglodyte · Joined: 06 Dec 2009

If you tell us the name of the school and the city it's located in, maybe someone could give you some feedback from experience or from it's reputation?

Is it a big franchise? There are a couple of large franchises that are famous for screwing their employees. Not that the small mom-and-pop hogwons haven't mastered that skill though.

bojangles · Joined: 19 Feb 2011 Location: south jeolla

...roll the dice...see what happens...maybe you win...maybe you lose...but it WILL be a valuable, learning experience...

YTMND · Joined: 16 Jan 2012 Location: You're the man now dog!!

cedarseoul · Joined: 16 Feb 2008 Location: nowon-gu

Generally speaking, it seems that trouble starts after the first few months. I think it's pretty unusual for a school to, for example, refuse pay after the first month--because they know you'll just quit, and it's not in their financial interest to be perpetually paying recruiter fees / flying new teachers in.

So take your flight and come to Korea, gauge the situation--and decide how you want to proceed. If you must quit, it's far easier to find a good job once you're already here.

Order a second set of docs before you leave, and have a family member ship them to K. (You won't need them if you can qualify for a D-10, but it's best to be on the safe side.)

One final thought:
Even at good schools, there's always the occasional disgruntled employee who rages about unfair treatment, etc. The academy where I have worked for four years is decent--not perfect, but generally fair and above-board. I have no major complaints. Even so, we've had a couple of teachers who have hated it (for one reason or another) and taken to the forums. Much of what they write is exaggerated or flat-out untrue. So don't let one or two negative remarks in the anonymous world of the Internet--where instant gratification defines pretty much everything we say--color your experience. Decide for yourself after you've put in a few months.