Korean Job Discussion Forums

[justin moffatt]

It is likely this question has been bantered about for some time on postings for South Korea. I couldn't find any recently as of late. It's a dilemma that haunts my sleep. Of course, I recognize that all contracts vary, so a general comparison (very broad) of what I have observed so far will ensue. Here goes:

1. University job (Departmental job)
ADVANTAGES
a) You are often deemed the title professor E1 visa (although your Korean colleagues often do not view you as such).
b) Has some form of status in the general Korean and foreign community.
c) Good for the resume for both Korea and most other countries.
d) Less teaching hours (usually 8-20 base hours).
e) Paid holidays range from 4-16 weeks (depending on University).
f) Adult students (sometimes attractive which is a bonus)
g) Job security (generally) for 6 months to 2 years (less likely to be fired during semester).
h) Free accommodation.

DISADVANTAGES
a) More prep time usually required (average 5-20 hours)
b) Pay ranges from 1.8million to 2.5 won (usually)
c) Student evaluations usually determine your stability in keeping the position.
d) Often high stress (perhaps due to competitiveness with other instructors)
e) Sporadic schedule which leads to difficulty in tutoring and part time opportunities.

2. University job (language institute)
SIMILAR TO DEPARTMENTAL JOB EXCEPT:
DISADVANTAGES:
a) less pay usually.
b) More base teaching hours 16-20
c) Less status (viewed as English teacher E2 visa)

3. Corporate Job
ADVANTAGES
a) Pay 3 -4.5 million won.
b) Set schedule (usually 9-5 or less-30-40 hours in office setting)
c) Direct contact teaching hours (usually 15-25)
d) Evenings free for tutoring or part time employment.
e) Has some form of status in the general Korean and foreign community (depending on company)
f) Good for the resume for both Korea and most other countries.
g) Adult students (usually business students)
h) Evaluations not as important (usually) as other institutions.
i) Less stress (depending on company of course).
j) Less prep time more productive time.
k) Free lunch and dinner meals (usually)

DISADVANTAGES
1) Paid holidays only 0 to 1 month.
2) Same schedule every week (sometimes monotonious)
3) Less job security (easily replacable)
4) Less attractive students (usually)
5) Fewer foreigner instructors (for support)
6) Editing usually required of documents (additional work hours).
7) Usually no accommodation (unless outside of Seoul)

3. Public Schools (Full Time)
ADVANTAGES
a) Salary 2-4 million won
b) Direct teaching hours 15-35 hours
c) Less stress (games/activities)
d) Less or no prep time.
e) No student evaluations.
f) Job security (usually)
g) Less administration involvement (usually)
h) Evenings usually free for tutoring and part time (easier to get clients as well).

DISADVANTAGES
a) Paid holiday 2-6 weeks.
b) Child or adolescent students (sometimes unruly).
c) Little respect for English teachers in foreigner and Korean community.
d) Often repetitive.

[justin moffatt]

I forgot to add that I would appreciate additional information, experiences, and revisions to help answer the question: Which is the better occupation? Are there any others I am missing? I had previously heard of company jobs working for an airline, etc. What happened to these positions? Help . . .

[ttompatz]

[justin moffatt]

I purposely excluded hogwans since it seems highly recommend that you should avoid most of these institutions at all costs.

[adventureman]

Yeah, whats up those university evaluations anyway? Is does seem fairly stressful. I will going back to the states next year to get a graduate in a field semi-related to ESL but have toyed with the idea of coming back to Korea to teach at a university someday. Do they do really do an effective job in seperating decent teachers from popularity contest applications? (For example, Mr. Edutainer would pass with flying colors, while guys like me who dont have extremely over-the-top personalties get branded as "boring" or "unprepared"). Add to this the fact that your teaching a bunch of 18-20 mentally immature students in an immature society, most of whom are probably are not there by choice or not intristically motivated to learn english.

Oh, and to the OP, if working with hot women is one of the main criteria you look for in job satisfaction, I think you either need reasses your priorities or grow the f-up...

[Captain Corea]

How many people have Corporate Jobs where they are hired directly from the company? Very few companies can sponsor a teacher's visa.

[justin moffatt]

To prevent from going into a long winded speech, the hogwanization of the universities is upon us. Both in the language institutes and universities themselves. I can't say for all Universities but for the majority that I have researched. Additional posts would be useful . ..

Evaluations can make or break you. You need combination of entertainment skills and teaching abilities. In my experience, it is a popularity contest, and let the best person win!

As for the comment on having attractive students, not necessarily a MUST but definetly a plus . . . sorry but being honest . . .[/list][/quote]

[Yu_Bum_suk]

[PRagic]

Why work a 9-5 here for less than 70K?

[justin moffatt]

70K! Very difficult for a starting salary (unless you have extensive upper management experience). 9-5 doesn't necessarily mean you are engaging in teaching or working for 8 hours. Often in corporate jobs you have a lot of "productive time" which means that you have nothing to do but surf the net (hence my time on Dave's).

[jmbran11]

[SuperHero]

[PRagic]

Why not at least 70? At university, we make around 42 million a year and have 20+ weeks of vacation and all Fridays off. How much is that worth? How much can one generate in that amount of time? I don't think I'd take a job that started at 70, to be honest, and most of my friends working (not teaching) in the corporate sector here make much more than that. Ok, perhaps if you are right out of school and have no experience...

Teachers here at companies are getting a lame deal IMHO. The experience will do nothing for your resume, and you get less time off than if you taught at a university. Too many downsides to count, and the companies are making out like bandits by hiring on cheap foreign teachers.

[Pak Yu Man]

[justin moffatt]

In response to jimbran 11:

It sounds like you have a good gig. I have never heard of 6-8 weeks of paid vacation in any company listings in my searches. I would be extremely curious to know how you managed to secure that position (if you don�t mind). The rest of your comments seem pretty accurate.

In response to Superhero:
Also, a pretty good gig. 20 weeks vacation is pretty difficult to secure, with consistent scheduling. I would be curious to know your salary (not to mention where you work ) Either way, it�s good to know some good positions still exist.

In response to Pragic:
Again, I have yet to see any university position with 20 weeks holidays, let alone Fridays off. Although, I tend to agree companies are making a killing outsourcing to recruiters to hire instructors at a reduced rate.

The question I (and perhaps many others) have is: Where the heck are you finding these jobs? Contacts, colleagues, word of mouth? I search 3-5 websites daily and have little success finding anything except what I described in the OP. I am amply qualified (education-12 years university and experience-11 years professor/instructor) for most jobs I have encountered in Korea.