Korean Job Discussion Forums

[watergirl]

Hi everyone

So, I've applied for a job, and just found out it is the Cheongdam CDI school, seodaemoon branch. Now, I have read some bad things here about Cheongdam CDI on this website, but, according to the recruiter (I know,, not the most reliable..!), this branch, has a low turn-over rate and most of the foreigners there seem happy.
Anyone work there, or know anyone that does that has some knowledge about this branch?
Also, just how regimented is the daily teaching there? I've heard, they give you a class outline/paper where the teaching activities you must follow are literally spelled out?
Thanks in advance.

[Porksta]

You probably won't be paid a salary, instead you will get hourly pay and I do not know if you have guaranteed hours. You will not receive pension or healthcare. You also will not get holidays, and the two or three holidays a year you get off you have to make up on Saturday. There is also the chance that you could come all the way to Korea, fail the orientation, and have to pay your own way home.

[CentralCali]

Just take the job. It's not like CDI has been discussed on this forum ever. Oh, and when you get shafted, too bad.

[watergirl]

Hey Centralcall..
the search button is horrible on Daves and I only remember reading some bad stuff about them once..like most chain hakwons.
But, it does depend on the actual branch..
So, maybe you could be a LITTLE more helpful on what you have read, or not comment at all!!!!
Why, do you bother participating in forums..? The point is to share info. I honestly just come on here every so often,, and, I don't mind answering people's Qs , which can have been asked before,because, hey, they don't read Daves everyday either.

[CentralCali]

CDI is one of the more infamous outfits in South Korea. That's information that even Dave's search engine musters up. Even more information that's not hard to find is that CDI's business practices aren't exactly up to snuff. The fun one, of course, is hiring people as independent contractors when they are no such thing. Then there are the issues of national health plan, pension plan, and, of course, severance pay. "Depends on the actual branch" is BS when it comes to chains that have a huge number of branches pulling the very same stunts. Soon, the usual CDI/Wonderland apologists will be by to tell you how wonderful their branches, along with their chain, are and not to listen to the army of people who've been shafted by a particular branch.

So, again: go ahead and take the job. When you get done with that year, sign up with Wonderland.

[Troglodyte]

[watergirl]

Hi
Whose Almond Tease.. do you remember if ha had any difficulties there?

And, CentralCall.. I read on here some misinformation, at times. Afterschool programs, for ex., are continuously discussed as being 'shady' and only F visa people can get them, but actually this is not true of my, or many of my friend's experience. They, also, pay severance (not all of them) but do not pay pension (which is wrong, and illegal), but you are only required to work 4.5 - 5 hours a day in the ones I have worked in (and that is working time..not teaching time.. you show up at 12:30 and can leave from f5 or 5:30).
So, it is possible and easy to get another job, thereby making-up for the lack of pension.
Also, you almost never have any problems with pay or getting your LOR (although getting it early not so).

Anyways, thanks for everyone's feedback, I asked and got feedback.
I will go to the interview, and see if it is a tense pay, and ask for teacher's email, etc, and probably won't take the position.

[Beeyee]

I see all of the experts who have never set foot in a branch of Chungdahm are pontificating again.

[Troglodyte]

[Died By Bear]

[Voyeur]

The anti-CDI crowd were always uninformed in the past. I worked there for many years. A lot depended on what salary they gave you, but for many teachers it was one of the best and most lucrative jobs available in Korea outside of the boutique test-prep Hogwans.

The idea that they are somehow sleezy for not providing pension, paid holidays, etc. is and always has been ridiculous. Everyone knew the deal going in, and it was their choice. Essentially, Chundaghm paid you cash in lieu of those benefits. If you wanted the benefits and not the cash, fine: go somewhere else.

Problems started arising when CDI started to cut salaries even faster than the overall trend. You work hard at CDI--every class is a performance. Traditionally, you got paid extra to work harder and better. When that stopped being the case (at least for many newer teachers), things often got a bit ugly.

I'm too far out of the game to know what kind of salary makes CDI a good deal anymore: there's both inflation and a changing job market to consider. When I left in 2011, I'd have said that you needed at least 32/hour in your first year to make it worth it, and then only if you were good and intended to stay a few years (at the time good teachers could still get raises).

[ippy]

If it doesnt come with housing i would URGE you to go look at houses in the open market. Did you know that a 5,000,000won deposit is considered "not that much" for a rental in seoul..? I did not The korean friend helping me assured me that this was normal and that she hadnt meant 500,000won like i thought she clearly had. Bit of a shock.