Korean Job Discussion Forums

miss mamie · Joined: 08 Jun 2006

i signed a contract with a company where i am supposed to be "developing" teaching materials and teaching them, only their definition of developing is creating a 400 page workbook in two weeks from scratch with one other person. i could go on, but that is not the point of this posting.

i know i should give this some time to see if it will work out, but i spent all of last night and much of today either in tears or on the verge of them, which does not bode well.

i also (stupidly) signed a contract that has me give three months notice if i want to leave. i don't know if i can handle working here for three months.

point being: what are my options?

OiGirl · Joined: 23 Jan 2003 Location: Hoke-y-gun

Stay or leave. You will probably gain more emotionally and economically (although not karmically or morally) by leaving without giving notice. Perhaps the next person will do more research into just what "materials development" means to a Korean organization.

BrianInSuwon · Joined: 10 Jan 2006 Location: Korea

you could work at your own pace. Whenever your boss gets mad or criticizes your work, agree with him but continue to work at your own pace.

You could submit sub-par work. Crank out cookie-cuttered worksheets. Don't worry about the quality or usefulness of the material.

You could be honest with your boss; tell him that the workload is too much. Tell him what you are comfortable doing. Then let him decide if he wants to fire you.

babtangee · Posted: Fri Nov 10, 2006 10:13 pm Post subject:

Develop a thick skin, do you job either slowly or poorly, and when your boss complains just fall asleep a lot. Tell them you have narcolepsy.

jajdude · Joined: 18 Jan 2003

Creating a 400 page workbook in two weeks from scratch with one other person?

Are they insane? Who could do that, unless you just photocopy everything from various sources?

People who ask you to do work that nobody can do are not reasonable people. Do they think because you are an English speaker this is not hard to do? Even if you and the other did only this full-time for 2 weeks, could it be done?

Paddycakes · Joined: 05 May 2003 Location: Seoul

400 pages in 2 weeks in beyond nuts.

ChuckECheese · Joined: 20 Jul 2006

Hotpants · Joined: 27 Jan 2006

Have you discussed your sentiments with this 'one other person' that you are working with? Does he/she feel like you?

I've had a bit of experience teaching and being asked to do things at the drop of the hat, so I would see this as a sharp learning curve to ride out and see what I can gain from it to my advantage. It's harder said than done, but every experience can be turned into a positive one. As for the 400 pages in 2 weeks, you can only do what is humanly possible, so if you don't accomplish it, I don't think it would be a big disaster. Perhaps your boss will then realise the scale of what they are asking you and rethink their plan. If they fire you, then don't see it as your loss. Again, turn to your coworker for support. Don't feel you are totally on your own.

Pighting!

TJ · Joined: 10 Mar 2003

poet13 · Posted: Sat Nov 11, 2006 12:28 am Post subject:

You don't have to give three months notice. I think Korean law is 1 month. But like the other posters said, you're probably better off going somewhere else if your owner....er...boss, won't see that his or her demand is unresaonable...

VanIslander · Posted: Sat Nov 11, 2006 1:23 am Post subject:

Allow yourself to fail. Sounds odd but it works. Do your best. You will NOT be fired when you fail to meet their expectations as long as you work hard even if at a turtle's pace. Take everything with a smile. Very Happy

Everything. The two weeks will come and go. And there will be new demands. This too will pass. Find your centre, your sense of self-resolve, inner strength, compass, whatever you call it. Think of it like weathering a storm, then another, then another... Do your best. You can't make them happy so don't try, just try to do well. Take at least Sundays off to do anything but work. This is crucial. Everyone needs to TAKE time for oneself. Even if you can't meet their expectations. Remember, allow yourself to "fail" by their standards. Do what you can, with a smile... don't forget that smile...

Good luck whatever.

kimchikowboy · Joined: 24 Jan 2003

For an eight-hour day, two five-day weeks, it works out to five pages an hour. Ask your boss to take two hours and produce 10 pages (in Korean is OK) as you want to get an idea of how much text and graphics should be on each page. Also, you would like to see how much research should go into compilation. Watch him or her. If you are going to quit anyway, might as well have some fun.

By the way, do you work with Wise or Apple? They always seem to be advertising for materials developers. And if it makes you feel any better, they may not have any intention of paying you for your work anyway, so don't stress too much.

It is just the way things are done here. I wrote a longer post containing some personal examples, but thought better of posting it here. Good luck.

OiGirl · Joined: 23 Jan 2003 Location: Hoke-y-gun

Junior · Joined: 18 Nov 2005 Location: the eye

Call a meeting with your boss and explain how you feel.
Suggest a realistic workload that you can handle.

if he doesn't go for it...then quit.

oldfatfarang · Joined: 19 May 2005 Location: On the road to somewhere.

This is Korea. Ask about 'the money'. Will I get paid if I don't complete this unrealistic guideline? Their reply - or evasive guestures/answer - is your guide as to whether it's worth perservering with.

It doesn't matter what your contract says: legal notice in Korea is 30 days.

Incidently, what sort of clown expects you to do this work properly in this time? It took me 5 months to write a 350 page thesis.