Korean Job Discussion Forums

[chest rockwell]

that is going down the drain?

Just curious.

[denverdeath]

Yep. One of the best bosses I've had, both here and Canada, went under about four years ago. Actually, he got out before he completely lost his shirt, so he was a bit lucky. He was operating a branch school of one of the big elementary/teen franchises and may have had a little extra support from the head office. He now has a smaller place operating within the same corporation and focusing more on phonics for little punks and has no need for a foreign/native teacher and he seems to be doing okay. I left and went to another place at the end of my one-year contract as I knew he was hurting badly and I had just gotten married and had to bring home at least a little bacon. My other co-worker during that year was American and had started before me. He actually extended his contract for a few months and stayed with the owner to the end. He then got transferred to another branch in a different city. Funny. That one went out of business too. Hmmm...and I thought I was the one with the bad luck. Main problems for the boss? Bad location and fierce competition, I think.

[jlb]

Even though my hagwon screwed me in the end at times I felt sorry for and still feel sorry for them. The owners were at the place from 8:00 in the morning to 9:00 at night or later trying to make it work. Mix in a little kissing ass to rich parents and dealing with the waygooks. What kind of life is that?

There was just too much competition in my neighborhood, crappy but it seems that someone has to go. I hope it's the evil hagwon I worked at!

[bosintang]

Yeah, I feel sorry for my hagwon. This time last year I'd say that were at least 40-50% more students. My boss had made some really bad decisions in the last year and got burnt a few times by them. Watching the last year unfold was like staring into an oncoming train.

I work in a neighbourhood with plenty other English hagwons so there's not much room for error. I wonder if my hagwon will be around in another year or two.

[some waygug-in]

I did for a while, but it was the constant lies that changed my mind.

I would have had more respect for the guy if he had come out and said "Sorry, I don't have the money to pay you this month".
But instead it was, "oh next week" and when next week came it was "oh next week" again and again and again.

The worst part was he did nothing to promote his school. No advertising, no flyers or posters......nothing. I told him I would be willing to teach an extra morning class (or even 2) in hopes that it would bring in more students. He just said, "Nobody will come" and that was the end of it.

The guy didn't deserve any sympathy, although I did feel sorry for the other teachers there.

He knew he wouldn't have enough business to pay me when he hired me, and he was actually surprised that I stayed as long as I did.

His only plan, if you can call it one, is to hire new teachers, pay them for the first month or 2, then fall behind and hope they quit so he will get a month or 2 free out of them.

So if you are reading this: Don't work for Hyundae Interpretation in Gimhae!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[cellphone]

heeelllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll no.

[tomato]

When my director started the school 4 years ago, her school was the only English school in town.
She made the mistake of listening to her chauvinist husband, who didn't want her to worry her pretty little head with too much business.
So she didn't grab every inch of territory she could get, like most businesspersons who are getting in on the ground floor.
Other entrepeneurs noticed that, so now there is an English school on every corner.

She can't keep up with the competitors because she doesn't have a granule of business sense. Her phone rings all hours of the day, but she won't buy an answering machine. There is no telling how many customers she lost that way.

Her physical plant has mildew in the wall, holes in the window screens, and patched-up linoleum on the floor. So what does she do? She pours a million weon a month into the idiotic Child U series.

She and I are the only English teachers in the school. So I am her most convenient scapegoat. When customers quit because they don't me, they say so. But when customers quit because of her, they are too polite to say so. This gives her the impression that all the customers love her and all the customers hate me.

I have half a mind to say, "I'll make a deal with you. You will hear all the complaints about me and I will hear all the complaints about you."