Korean Job Discussion Forums

[benblex]

I'm interviewing with a place and the employer seems decent enough. They claim the job wouldn't be a "typical hagwon job" in that I'd help with college prep (i.e. correcting essays, SAT, etc.) But, when I asked for more specifics like actual salary, rate of insurance, vacation, hours he kept responding, "we don't really like to talk about that before you get the job but I can tell you it's one of the most competitive out there." Any time I push it, he pulls back again. It's frustrating and I hate to sound too paranoid but is his reluctance fishy?.. They're "WISE Education" by the way, if anyone knows about them.

Also, anyone familiar with these other places: TLC Education Center, GLS Language School, or VERITAS. Thanks.

[Grotto]

If they arent willing to talk money up front then they are most likely jerking you around and they know it.

Ask for a sample contract to be emailed to you if they refuse then toss them aside and look elsewhere.

[Ya-ta Boy]

My Korean friends say this is typical for them. Some of them have told me they didn't learn how much they would make until their first payday.

However, anyone looking to employ a foreigner has to know that that is not how it is done in other countries. I would be leery about this if I were you.

[nrvs]

You might find this interesting.

[muggie2dammit]

[benblex]

Thanks nrvs. 55 hours plus some Saturdays? I'm being offered a position and the guy says it's "not a job you punch into." It's full-time so you're expected to work more sometimes, less other times. 2.8 million plus housing? Seem reasonable? It's grading essay an SAT prep. I heard grading writing papers is the WORST. CDI offers 28,000-29,000 won/hr for a minumum of 24 hours a week (including some Saturdays). That's 2.6-2.7 a month. But at least it's hourly there. Shouldn't a writing/college prep gig compensate a lot more? Any thoughts?... Thanks.

WORK IN SOUTH KOREA -WISE EDUCATION
COMPANY DESCRIPTION
Based in heart of Seoul, South Korea, WISE Education specializes in the
educational development of students studying abroad. We offer various
subject and test preparation courses, including SSAT, SAT I, SAT II,
TOEFL, and courses focused on developing fundamental English skills as
well as secondary school subjects. In addition, we provide College
Admission Consulting services focused on preparing high school students
for top U.S. Universities.

AVAILABLE POSITIONS
We are currently recruiting for the following 2 positions:
1) Full-time Summer 2005 Instructor positions (1st week of June ~
August 13th)
2) Full time 1-year contracted positions for 2005-2006 (Graduating
seniors or recent college graduates)

RESPONSIBILITIES
Effectively prepare and teach selected courses on SSAT, SAT I & II
subjects, TOEFL, writing, high school subject including AP courses, and
various WISE Education curriculums. Other responsibilities include
advising students in the college application process. Though exact work
hours vary depending on the Instructor's class schedules and personal
work-style, they are expected to work roughly 55 hours per week including
some Saturdays. There will also be a few seminars for the students that
require Instructor attendance.

COMPENSATION
For summer (10-week) program: 5.5 Million Korean Won (approx. $5,000),
round trip airfare, and fully furnished residential accommodation
For One-year program: Monthly rate starting at 2.8 Million Korean Won
(approx. $2700) depending on experience, round trip airfare, fully
furnished residential accommodation, health insurance, and severance pay
upon completion of the term equivalent to 1 month salary.

QUALIFICATIONS
Applicant should:
- be a graduate of, graduating senior, or student at a top U.S. university
- have confident knowledge of advanced high school subjects
- be highly motivated, responsible, and a team player
- have strong communication and organizational skills
- have excellent records of SAT I, SAT II, and/or TOEFL, GRE, GMAT exams.
- preferably have prior teaching experience (but this is not required)
- preferably have science and engineering backgrounds (but this is not
mandatory)

TO APPLY
If interested, applicant should submit a resume and cover letter
including the following information to jiehae.choi at gmail.com:
- any SAT I (breakdown of verbal and math), SAT II subjects, AP, SSAT,
or Graduate school admission test scores
- previous teaching experience
- tests subjects or courses you can teach most effectively including high
school subject courses.

APPLICATION DEADLINE IS MARCH 26, 2005

[BigBlackEquus]

Walk away.

I am so sick of Koreans wanting/expecting foreigners to be treated as Koreans when they want to hire you.

Be their slave? Heck no.

Can you imagine an international company doing business with a Korean who said: Well, I will not tell you how much profit I can make you up front, but after you start the business here, I will tell you.

The Korean says: Do you not trust me? Answer: No, where I am from, trust is earned. At the very least, details are written into a legal contract.

The Korean says: In my country, we do not have contracts, and the teacher trusts the employer. Kindly tell them that unless you get it written on paper in a legal contract, you will have nothing to do with them.

Koreans hate contracts. Show zero quarter or leeway with Koreans. In fact, be more scrutinizing.

[nrvs]

[benblex]

=
Based on what some of my gyopo acquaintances are earning in similar positions with similar hours, I think you should be asking for 4 million plus housing. Especially if you're gyopo, and especially if you went to a good American university.

I can't name names, but there are at least two test prep institutes on Gangnam-ro paying that much and more to qualified (mostly gyopo) teachers. However, you're gonna be sweating for that pay, so be ready to work.
=

4 million won a month, seriously? That's nearly $48,000(at least 40 hours week) a year. Of course, even in the States a Kaplan/Princeton Review course instructor probably makes around that amount. I take it those Gangnam-ro test prep institutes do more or less the exact same thing? (i.e. college essay editing, test prep, some SAT instruction) You sure about this nrvs? I like the figure, don't get me wrong, but if I mention this number isn't it a huge leap from 2.8? I DO agree that the skills required are much more advanced. Plus, I did go to a "good American university" and have extensive writing experience in my resume. Geez, if they're only offering 2.8 million won ($33,600) without housing and no set hours that's really exploitation, no?

[antoniothegreat]

even some of the best Koreans will interpret anything in the contract their way. They will interpret it loosely when it benefits them "asks mean you are required..." but literally when it benefits them "it doesn't say you get summer vacation off."
and they have no morals that we would consider when in a contract dispute.
Maybe screw with them. if you are back home, ask them for the plane ticket before you sign the contract, then you can come to korea, if you dont like it, sign elsewhere.

[TheUrbanMyth]

[antoniothegreat]

i know a couple people in my town that came on a hogwan paid ticket before they signed the contract. but i have never worked at a hogwan. is that very unusual???

[ilovebdt]

I know the first time I came to Korea my school paid my airfare for me. However, this time I had to buy my own ticket and was reimbursed when I arrived. I think the trend is moving towards that nowadays.

[TinTin]

If the deadline was March 2005, why are they recruiting again now? Maybe the teacher left for some reason? Speculation perhaps, but I take it as a bad sign.

Tell them to give you a copy of the contract now, or you walk.