Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Gollum]

Was told by one of my coworkers, the guy who is the go-between with the foriegners and the school directors, to write up my requests for next year.

I'm curious about what to ask for in a raise. I'm planning to ask for a raise to 2.2 million won, plus adding pension money this year (they didn't do that last year I'm guessing, because they didn't seem to know what it is and I've never gotten a pay stub).

My pay is currently 2.0 for teaching about 17 hours/week. I have to be at the school from 10 to 4.

It's a very nice gig and they are good to me (and they pretty much leave us foriegners alone). I plan on staying if they at least give me some semblance of a raise, but if they won't, I might walk. I was making 2.2 at a hagwon (30 hours/week teaching) my first year, followed by 2.1 the next year at another place (22 hours/week teaching plus school hours). But my pay is at its lowest of the 3 years, although the number of working hours is greatly decreased. I'm starting to feel like I should get something due to cost of living increases, etc. So if they don't offer something, I might leave just because I'm thinking of taking a break. I also probably wouldn't feel satisfied with another teaching job with more hours after having this one.

Does my 200,000 won/month raise request seem in the ballpark? I've got over 2 1/2 years of experience teaching now, and would be entering my 2nd year at this high school.

[FUBAR]

That is too big of a pay raise, imo.

Your hours are pretty good for teaching at a high school. Try for 100k and getting some other benefits included. Maybe get your lunch for free at the school.

[Gollum]

Yeah, I was hoping to ask for 200,000 and maybe they'd meet me in the middle at 100,000.

Last year before I was here, my coworker negotiated a raise and when the contract was given to her, they took it all out because they hired her husband to work too. They argued that since they were hiring him too, they didn't need to give her a raise. She caved.

If they pull something like that with me, I will probably walk just because I am ready to go home for a break should it happen.

[trevorcollins]

[Demophobe]

[sadsac]

Ask for the 200,000 and meet them in the middle. It's a negotiation, find other things that are appealing, pass up on a raise and ask for a return ticket home, so that you can have a btrak at their expense. If you don't ask you will never know.

[Gollum]

[mindmetoo]

Yeah a 10% raise is pretty steep. I'm not sure I've ever been in a job where a 10% raise landed on my desk (save for times when I was like "Okay I got a job offer for 10K more... if you can match it, I'll stay...") That said, yeah, you have to be prepared to subtly and politely suggest you'll walk to another job.

My contract is coming up. I gross 2 mil. I've started to even notice inflation. However, student enrollment has gone down at my school. Some classes I teach 3 -4 kids. Some days I only teach only one or two courses. It's pretty sweet, actually. But I have my doubts the school is actually making money at this pace. I'm not going to rock the boat I think. I save a lot and still have money unspent in my cash spending budget at month's end. I think can absorb any inflation for now. And I like the short hours and the small, intimate classes. I can do a lot of fun things.

You could, of course, complain a bit about rising prices and less favorable exchange rate making for a hard time.

[Grotto]

One thing you could do is point out:

1) They would not have to pay a recruiter the 1 mil won +
2) If you are not planning to go home and stay a second year they will save on the airfare more than 1 mil.
3) You have shown them that you are a good worker and a known quantity and that you will fulfill your second contract year(no worries of a midnight run)
4) Pull up several of the better paying adds off of Daves or spectrum and print them off showing them the higher wages.

[kiwiboy_nz_99]