Korean Job Discussion Forums

Dysupes · Joined: 24 May 2005

Hey guys,

I've just been reading a thread or two and it got me curious about how there is a supposed teacher shortage and yet it seems like a lot of people are calling for higher salaries. One poster even went so far as to say that salaries will have to go up or else they won't find the teachers. Now, as someone who is currently looking for someone to teach at my school with me and one other foreigner teacher, I'm wondering how true all of you think this is? Our offer is the standard 2.0Mil/month which I think is totally reasonable for someone just coming over to Korea (which is the majority of those looking for jobs) and yet I'm wondering how hard a time I'm going to have finding someone. Our hogwon is perfectly fine with a good atmosphere that fulfills all it's commitments to it's foreign workers. How will our hogwon fare amongst the other ads though? I'm thinking not so good, especially because I've been seeing so many ads for significantly higher salaries. But then that's what I'm really wondering about: I see all these ads for higher salaries for teachers and yet I also hear about the same stories over and over again (My director stiffed me on my salary/vacation/working hours/overtime). I guess my point is that isn't it better to work at a decent hogwon rather than a crap one that just offers more money? Just a thought...

And really, how much are we all worth? Well, I guess it depends on each of us individually but asking for an outrageous amount of money is really just a little silly coming from the mainstream ESL teacher who may or may not have taught before and whose degree isn't even in Education. Seems a little odd to have such an exaggerated sense of worth right from the get-go...

Yu_Bum_suk · Joined: 25 Dec 2004

Why not offer 2.2, get someone already in Korea who has good references, save half the airfaire, and get someone who already knows what he's doing and is far less likely to pull a runner after he's saved up a few million won?

BigBlackEquus · Posted: Tue Apr 11, 2006 1:36 am Post subject:

I started at 2.2 nearly 4 years ago at a hagwon. That was decent then. It's the starting standard now. Why should it be even less than 2.2 now? You are offering a mere 2.0. Good luck. You might snag someone green and stupid, unless the hours are exceptional.

Seriously. You need to offer more money.

Ya-ta Boy · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Established in 1994

Dysupes · Joined: 24 May 2005

BBE,

I can only imagine that that's the starting standard for Seoul and somewhere nice in Seoul. Way down here in the boonies, the starting standard is between 1.8-2.0Mil and has been for a while. And I guess that's the thing I forgot to take into account: the figures quoted online here are generally only for Seoul. We could offer more to someone who has some experience I guess but really does saving 750,000won on half the ticket really justify paying the person 2.4Mil extra over the year? I don't really think so but it's a point to consider so I'll bring it up with my boss the next time I see him.

The runner thing I'm not too concerned about because quite simply the school is a perfectly fine school and hasn't had much of a problem with runners.

I guess I'm just a little shocked by the idea that people living here in Changwon absolutely must start at 2.2Mil when that seems very extreme if an apartment is provided as well. Just my thoughts though... Very Happy

MixtecaMike · Posted: Tue Apr 11, 2006 3:37 am Post subject:

We have been offering 1.9 and haven't found anyone in over 3 months. It's a decent hagwon, most of our teachers have re-signed (not resigned), but is is in a smallish town. We are not fussy about age, color, sex, and as time goes on even experience becomes unimportant.

It's not up to me to offer more money, but I guess the owner will have to soon, as we will be in serious straits if any teachers leave.

As a side note, I seriously wonder how many of those 2.4 jobs really exist, as nearly all ads for them are from recruiters. Hell, if you're happy with your salary I think you are getting paid enough. If not, then see what else you can do.

Good luck Dysupes, but I think it is now as much luck as anything else for the out-of-Seoul schools in looking for a new teacher.

jinju · Joined: 22 Jan 2006

jinju · Joined: 22 Jan 2006

jinju · Joined: 22 Jan 2006

Golden Lama · Posted: Tue Apr 11, 2006 4:18 am Post subject:

I'd say that you should try to give a few of the teachers who have their CV's posted on Dave's a call. Or an e-mail, as the case may be.

That would go a long way to make up for the lesser salary as it would put you ahead of the crowd by a long shot.

It's always nicer to be chased, ya?

jacl · Joined: 31 Oct 2005

Dysupes · Joined: 24 May 2005

Golden Lama,

That's exactly what I'm doing at the moment! Very Happy

Thanks for the good advice though! Laughing

See guys, the thing is that the salaries you guys are demanding, no offense, seem HORRIBLY overpriced. A total newbie should be making on the order of 1.8 - 2.0Mil tops with all the bonuses included. Someone who has been working for a few years should be making 2.2ish or maybe a bit more depending on what they do for the school. Your way of calcuting your worth seems to be: Years in Korea X 100,000won. That seems to me, not necessarily my boss, to be relatively silly. What, just cause you can complete a contract you deserve a lot more money? Well, I'm afraid I can't agree with that. It's the job you do that determines how much you should get so if you're a wonderful teacher, as I'm sure most people here will claim they are, then perhaps yes you should be getting such a steep increase. However, the reality is that some people are great teachers, the majority are mediocre at best and a sizeable portion are absolutely horrible and will move from school to school every year cause they constantly find little useless things to complain about. So every one of these people should be paid equally? Nope, and it's the same thing with a newbie. Prove that you are worth your money and you'll get a raise if you stay with the company, simple as that.

Sorry for the rant but this idea about people's salaries simply shocks me. I just can't comprehend the logic behind it and will probably stop trying to defend my point after this point. You are freely able to determine how much you are worth and if someone is willing to pay you what you think you are worth, that's awesome. Very Happy

jinju · Joined: 22 Jan 2006

VanIslander · Posted: Tue Apr 11, 2006 6:56 am Post subject:

Karabeara · Posted: Tue Apr 11, 2006 7:00 am Post subject:

I'm looking at this topic and wondering if Dysupes is a recruiter or a hagwon owner. Or maybe a bored lawyer trying to stir up trouble? Ok, that one was really below the belt! I'm sorry! Wink

I have never seen a teacher try to argue lower pay. When I worked for schools and was leaving, I always encouraged the owner to pay more money when the going was tough finding a new person.

Your school is more than welcome to offer low pay below 2.0. It is perfectly within their right to do so. It is perfectly within your right to believe that teachers should make below XXX won. We're all entitled to an opinion.

It is also perfectly within the right of every teacher out there to pass on your ad. And this is exactly what will happen.

If your school is as good as you say, then I seriously do hope you find someone who is good for your school. The pickings are slim. Believe me, I know. I also helped my former school find someone, and I've seen resumes lately! And you can bet that the ones who look good are juggling several offers. That is the way the game is played (on both sides).

In the end, they chose someone who was recommended by another school, and they had to raise the pay to 2.1 and give him more vacation before he signed (I heard he got 2 months guarenteed, like another poster mentioned his public school had to do). And that's with a really nice pad, and a year-end bonus. The location is not out in the sticks, either. It's very close to Seoul.

Out of the 20 to 30 resumes that came in (during the peak time a month or two ago), they didn't find a single person online that they could work a match with. If it were my school, I would have bothered to interview maybe 2 from that mix. The guy they did hire didn't even have an E-2. They couldn't bother with the time shortage between hiring someone and getting the transcripts in time. He worked illegally in a government school for nearly a month.

As someone mentioned, fewer people are coming to work here. The word is out, from Cape Brenton to California. Korea is not an easy place to live. School owners are nasty and want slaves- not workers. They promise things and often don't deliver. People get put in jail and fined huge amounts after being chided into bar fights by locals. Immigration people show up in little vans with red lights on top to haul you away for not jumping through their crazy hoops and getting the proper paperwork. Not to mention for doing privates, which are legal everyplace else on this Earth, that I know of. Even US and Canadian Embassy websites all but say, "DO NOT BOTHER COMING HERE."

A lot of things are finally coming around to bite Korea in the ass. I can play the game, so I am fine for now. Others are finding places like China competitive. Good for them. Maybe that will be me some day.

But for now, my salary is finally going up again.