Korean Job Discussion Forums

[greatunknown]

Hagwon owners always seem to live up to their reputation. I have been working at what I considered to be a good hagwon for 2 full years without any of the normal hagwon problems. Going into my third contract my director has changed his tune and there has been problem after problem. My workload has increased and my overtime has been cut. He wont pay airfare allowances any more. He wont increase my pay (actually with no overtime or airfare allowance I am now making considerably less).

To make matters worse he refuses to even give a contract (I have an F6). The writing on the wall pretty clearly spells out that he plans to replace me with another teacher.

I also found out that he gave me a less than glowing reference when a school that I was interested in working for called. He also flipped out at me for looking for other jobs for blah blah blah reasons.

Basicly after nearly 3 years of hard work I am about to get canned without even the courtesy of a good reference.

I am kind of ranting right now. Sorry about that. I do need advice on what to tell recruiters or directors who ask for a reference. There are some head teachers and supervisors here who are willing to give a reference.

So any advice? Do references really make a difference?

[basic69isokay]

No offense but, why are you working at a crapwon with an f-6?
Just quit and do private lessons. Flip him the bird on your way out.
Seems like he's already not giving u good refs anyway, right?

[greatunknown]

Thats not a bad idea. Ive had the f6 for a very short time. I would like to transition myself into doing just that. But for now i still want the security of a regular paycheck

[KimchiNinja]

[greatunknown]

[kingplaya4]

Forget about private lessons full time, you won't make enough. You won't get paid for any holidays, when families decide to go away for the summer/winter, and the killer about a month before each midterm and final test. Maybe you could get a part time job at another school and moonlight. Why do you need a recruiter? Just stop in at other hagwons in the city on your own and if you need to, have a Korean teacher you trust be the reference. If a job you likes contacts the owner, explain to them how you worked there three years, and he only became unhappy once you decided to leave.

[KimchiNinja]

[Chaparrastique]

[greatunknown]

This is really is a crappy situation to be in. Even though I have a letter of reference from a supervisor who is also willing to speak on my behalf, I keep getting told that it would be better if potential employers could call my actual director.

3 years of hard work and I cant even get a good reference...

I am beyond frustrated with this crap situation.

[greatunknown]

Double post

[Chaparrastique]

[PRagic]

Biggest mistake? You used your employer as a reference. Tough to get around as a potential Korean employer will often call up your current or ex employer EVEN IF they are not listed in your formal list of references.

Still, the concept of trust here does not match up with notions back in the west. Your employer found out you're looking for another job, and that, in their eyes, means you're dog meat. This is why job searches here are done VERY quietly, and when leaving, people often lie about the reason for departure. The water is further muddied here by cross cultural differences and the fact that, in many cases, the employer owns the visa.

In your case? You have an F6. You can skate. Drop the place from your resume' if they're giving you a crap verbal reference, and then add them back to the list later.

[greatunknown]

[PRagic]

Yup, damned if you do, damned if you don't.

[Chaparrastique]