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Samantha
Joined: 20 Jul 2006
Location: Jinan-dong Hwaseong
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 Posted: Wed Aug 23, 2006 9:13 pm Post subject: any info on the BCM group company? |
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http://www.eslcafe.com/jobs/korea/index.cgi?read=20311
I found this job here on Dave's and I checked ou tthe website listed in the post. I am wondering if anyone has worked for them or knows anything about the company. I am interested in the first position offered at Seoul Nat'l University.
Any information would be helpful.
Thanks |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Wed Aug 23, 2006 9:24 pm Post subject: Re: any info on the BCM group company? |
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| Samantha wrote: |
http://www.eslcafe.com/jobs/korea/index.cgi?read=20311
I found this job here on Dave's and I checked ou tthe website listed in the post. I am wondering if anyone has worked for them or knows anything about the company. I am interested in the first position offered at Seoul Nat'l University.
Any information would be helpful.
Thanks |
That position is NOT at Seoul Nat'l University, it is in the hakwon located close to the Seoul Nat'l University SUBWAY station (line 2 - green line - stop #228.)
It will be teaching Gr.4 to high school ages in a hakwon setting.
They are a chain hakwon. The usual caveats apply.
Each school is different. Irregardless of what the contract says (a bad school will ignore your contract at their convenience anyway) .....
Get e-mail addresses of another teacher/s there and ask POINTED AND SPECIFIC QUESTIONS.
-What are the hours? (start time / stop time / breaks).
-How many classes per day, week, month?
-Do they ALWAYS pay on time?
-Do they pay at the end of your month or do they have a hold back period (5-10 days after your month end) to prevent runners? (no=red flag 1)
-Do they really pay overtime or avoid it with creative book keeping?
-Do you get credit for classes on the national holidays or do you get the day off but still have to work your 120 hours before you get overtime? (no=red flag 2)
-Do they have national medical (with the little booklet)? (no=red flag 3)
-Do they pay into pension? (no=red flag 4)
-What about the holidays? 10 or more WORKING days? (legal requirement here) (no=red flag 5)
-When and how do you get your holidays?
-What extra stuff do you really have to do - mentioned or not in the contract.
-Then consider the quality of life issues - things that are important to you that aren't mentioned here (housing, furnishings, THE BATHROOM, access to recreational facilities, shopping, banking).
Do they take additional deposits in addition to the delay in payday? (yes=red flag 6)
Most newbies are all starry-eyed when they do their interview and DON'T ASK the right questions then get burned when they get here.
OPEN your eyes, take a deep breath. Your job won't disappear if you don't answer today. It will still be there next week. There are 100's of new jobs listed every week. Take the time to check it out properly.
A year in hakwon hell is a long time.
DON'T take my word for it. Ask some of the runners!
Don't check and you will get burned!!! It is a promise!!!
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Samantha
Joined: 20 Jul 2006
Location: Jinan-dong Hwaseong
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| Posted: Wed Aug 23, 2006 9:41 pm Post subject: Re: any info on the BCM group company? |
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| ttompatz wrote: |
| Samantha wrote: |
http://www.eslcafe.com/jobs/korea/index.cgi?read=20311
I found this job here on Dave's and I checked ou tthe website listed in the post. I am wondering if anyone has worked for them or knows anything about the company. I am interested in the first position offered at Seoul Nat'l University.
Any information would be helpful.
Thanks |
(1) That position is NOT at Seoul Nat'l University, it is in the hakwon located close to the Seoul Nat'l University SUBWAY station (line 2 - green line - stop #228.)
It will be teaching Gr.4 to high school ages in a hakwon setting.
They are a chain hakwon. The usual caveats apply.
Each school is different. Irregardless of what the contract says (a bad school will ignore your contract at their convenience anyway) .....
Get e-mail addresses of another teacher/s there and ask POINTED AND SPECIFIC QUESTIONS.
-What are the hours? (start time / stop time / breaks).
-How many classes per day, week, month?
-Do they ALWAYS pay on time?
-Do they pay at the end of your month or do they have a hold back period (5-10 days after your month end) to prevent runners? (no=red flag 1)
-Do they really pay overtime or avoid it with creative book keeping?
-Do you get credit for classes on the national holidays or do you get the day off but still have to work your 120 hours before you get overtime? (no=red flag 2)
-Do they have national medical (with the little booklet)? (no=red flag 3)
-Do they pay into pension? (no=red flag 4)
-What about the holidays? 10 or more WORKING days? (legal requirement here) (no=red flag 5)
-When and how do you get your holidays?
-What extra stuff do you really have to do - mentioned or not in the contract.
-Then consider the quality of life issues - things that are important to you that aren't mentioned here (housing, furnishings, THE BATHROOM, access to recreational facilities, shopping, banking).
Do they take additional deposits in addition to the delay in payday? (yes=red flag 6)
(2) Most newbies are all starry-eyed when they do their interview and DON'T ASK the right questions then get burned when they get here.
(3) OPEN your eyes, take a deep breath. Your job won't disappear if you don't answer today. It will still be there next week. There are 100's of new jobs listed every week. Take the time to check it out properly.
A year in hakwon hell is a long time.
DON'T take my word for it. Ask some of the runners!
Don't check and you will get burned!!! It is a promise!!! |
The numbers are mine
(1) I was referring to the title of the first position. BCM Language School at Seoul National University station. I just forgot the word 'station'  .
(2) I am not exactly a newbie. I have worked in Korea before but it was several years ago, so as I understand it quite a bit has changed.
(3) I haven't been offered a positioin with this company. I found the positioin and it sounded interesting. I wanted to check out the company before I sent off a resume etc. I did a search through Dave's for 'BCM', it seems that the different schools are a hit or miss situation some are decent and some are absolutely horrible. I would like information about the Seoul National University station location, as that is the one that best matches my availability and location preferences.
Again thank you for the information ttompatz, the questions you suggest asking are something that I will keep in mind.
Any other help or information is greatly appreciated. |
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rothkowitz
Joined: 27 Apr 2006
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| Posted: Wed Aug 23, 2006 10:31 pm Post subject: |
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Huh???
Things have changed?What's changed?Why was I not informed.Dammit people..... |
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Samantha
Joined: 20 Jul 2006
Location: Jinan-dong Hwaseong
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| Posted: Wed Aug 23, 2006 11:44 pm Post subject: |
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| rothkowitz wrote: |
Huh???
Things have changed?What's changed?Why was I not informed.Dammit people..... |
Some of the things required to apply are different. The last time I was there all they needed was the diploma, no transcripts. I was able to secure a job with a notarized, certified by the Secretary of State, then offically stamped by the Consulate--degree verification form for my school.
Also I don't think the national pension retirement fund was available, and the healthcare pay wasn't mandatory (or at least I waived paying into it).
That's about all I can think of off the top of my head. |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Wed Aug 23, 2006 11:59 pm Post subject: |
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| Samantha wrote: |
| rothkowitz wrote: |
Huh???
Things have changed?What's changed?Why was I not informed.Dammit people..... |
Some of the things required to apply are different. The last time I was there all they needed was the diploma, no transcripts. I was able to secure a job with a notarized, certified by the Secretary of State, then offically stamped by the Consulate--degree verification form for my school.
Also I don't think the national pension retirement fund was available, and the healthcare pay wasn't mandatory (or at least I waived paying into it).
That's about all I can think of off the top of my head. |
Yup... that is just about all that has changed too.
Now you still need to have your diploma copy certified by the consulate AND you have to have sealed transcripts. That is the only change in the application process.
Pension was always required but usually ignored by hakwon owners cause the teachers had NO idea about it back then. For north Americans it meant the boss saved a million a year in his share and we lost a million a year (getting his share + {our contribution} when we went home).
Medical was optional until Jan of this year. Now it is mandatory but many hakwons still try to get around it and not pay. Most hakwans also still cheat on the taxes and collect between 3.3 and 5% even though the rate on 2 mil (for an unmarried person) is less than 2%. |
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