Korean Job Discussion Forums

[AwesomeA]

Next month, I will be negotiating a new contract with the same school. Are there any tips or strategies I can utilize to ensure myself the maximum benefits of resigning? What percentage of salary increase is average? I need more ideas of what to ask for. Please help!!!

[ChuckECheese]

You should first let us know your current situation as well as your expectation for next year.

[AwesomeA]

I have an F2 Visa and my own housing.
3 years teaching experience.
There have been no complaints about me here, parents have only had positive comments about me.
Next year will be my second year here.
They have offered me a head teacher position at another school, but the other school will not be done by next year.
It is an after school program.

[kprrok]

With no housing, you should expect at least 300,000 to 400,000 for a housing supplement.

As for salary, figure out the minimum you will accept, then add 10% or so as your opening offer. This gives you a chance to come down. But if they give you that 10% extra, it's just a good bonus for ya!

Also, you can ask for extra vacation days, a smaller schedule, allow you to pick or refuse a class or two...whatever you can think of. You won't get it all, but if they give you some of it, cool.

KPRROK

[AwesomeA]

Good advice. I do get adequate housing, but my salary is a little low and they don't pay Pension. They use the Public School method for calculating it. Since that method has increased by 100,000. I want to factor in my raise on top of that rather than my current salary.

[Voyeur]

You need to try to get an idea of what they can give. It is a waste of time arguing for stuff that they simply cannot put on the table.

[Mashimaro]

In any negotiation I think you have to be prepared to walk away.
That is, walk away if they won't meet your criteria or at least meet you
half way.

In Korea where human relationships are considered the most important thing, I think you have to be a little careful. If you are relatively happy with your job and they treat you well, I would definitely tread lightly, because finding good teaching jobs seems very difficult.

Whilst your requests seem very reasonable, I suppose you just have to think of plan B in case they won't budge. If you appear to be a walkover you might lose any power you may have had, but at the same time it might not be worth walking away if you are basically happy with your job.

You said your salary was a little low, and that sucks, but Korea is one country where I for one would definitely sacrifice a few hundred thousand won for a good situation over a bad one.

[Paji eh Wong]

What Mash said. Be prepared to walk.

I'd start shopping around now, so you have a baseline to compare their offers to. You don't have to be serious, but having a plan B will help you negotiate. You might find something even better than you have now.

That said, I think its the law that your employer has to offer you 5% per year raise. I'm not sure if that applies to contracts or not.

Also, it helps to be phenomonally patient. Be prepared to wait until the last minute. It sucks, but that's how Korea is.

[chaz47]

[robot]

go hourly.

ROBT.

[lover.asian]