Korean Job Discussion Forums

[spyro25]

i've been offered a job at a university in busan.

i havent signed any contract yet, but they state the basic salary is 1.8 negotiable depending on experience.

my experience is 3 years in korea, teaching mainly kids but i have had around 1 year of experience with adults too. i have a 40 hour online tefl cert from i to i and have a BA in english.

Do you think I have any room to negotiate for a 2.0 salary? and how should i go about this? I don't want to lose the offer because of any 'rude' attempt at negotiation.

[aarontendo]

Without knowing the rest of your benefits its difficult to say I think.

I'm pretty new here but I think 2.0 is a very reasonable request.

[spliff]

Right, 1.8 is way to low....try for 2.1 and settle for 2, is my two cents...

[spyro25]

What do you think of this email to the uni office?

Dear (name)

The salary stated in the advertisment for the position is 1.8 million won a month negotiable depending on experience. As I have been 3 years experience in a variety of institutes around Korea, I would like to ask for my salary to start at 2.1 million won a month. I ask for this because of my experience and alsp the fact that a housing allowance is not yet provided by the university. I'd like to get married next year and every little bit of money would help a great deal.

If you could ask the professor or whoever is responsible for deciding salary their opinion on this matter I'd be very grateful.

Hope to hear from you soon and see you on Thursday!

(me)

[zappadelta]

Wow, no housing and only 1.8? That's not so good.

PS: check your spelling and grammar before you send

[spyro25]

thanks i just noticed some mistakes.

yeah its not that good a deal. 20+ hours too. but its a first step onto bigger and better things in the future after i graduate from my MA TESOL.

[PRagic]

Yikes! That job is aweful. Negotiating UP to 2.0? And for 20 hours? There are better jobs out there if you can hang for another semester!

[jinks]

Good on you for negotiating, but getting married next year is not a good enough reason for the university to pay you more. Maybe if you had something tangible to offer the university in the way of proven skills or qualifications you would have more bargaining power.

[Homer]

Also...take this out:

I'd like to get married next year and every little bit of money would help a great deal.

It has no bearing on the negociations as it is from your personal life and does not involve the employer who has no responsability for your financial situation....

Of note:

You have a B.A. only and since many universities hire M.A.'s you might find negociations tough.

Your hakwon experience might not weigh all that much unless it is referenced. For example, one university in Busan counts hakwon experience at a 50% value. Example: 3 years would mean 1.5 years for them.

If the experience is not referenced....it is worth even less.

If they did not mention housing (through a housing allowance or provided accomodations) you should ask now...it is important.

[bigscott]

The university I work at only values experience at university level. Hagwon and public school experience will not get you onto a better pay level. The one thing that may help you is that your Bachelor Degree is in a related field.