Korean Job Discussion Forums

ella · Joined: 17 Apr 2006

Do employers negotiate or not? The only times I've asked for something changed in the contract, like a 1.9MIL salary increased to 2.1MIL, I never hear from them again. I've talked with other teachers who ask for changes and get them. Is there a formula or a specific way of asking that you're supposed to use?

Captain Courageous · Joined: 16 Jul 2006 Location: Bundang and loving it

Join the club. Although I have had two come back with "sorry, we cannot change the contract in any way."

ella · Joined: 17 Apr 2006

This is what comes from 21yos fresh out of college agreeing to any contact that's thrown at them. So how do you get a good gig? You just wait and hope to be lucky?

Captain Courageous · Joined: 16 Jul 2006 Location: Bundang and loving it

I'm still in Florida, so I'm not the right person to ask. From reading these boards as much as I do (which is very, very often), it's either mostly luck, or a year of paying your dues in hagwon hell, and then easy (well, easier) street.

Captain Courageous · Joined: 16 Jul 2006 Location: Bundang and loving it

Also, I'm 24 and right out of college, so I'm just as bright-eyed and bushy-tailed as you; only difference is I wasted four years and grad school.

Crowzone · Joined: 31 Jul 2006

When my GF and I were looking, we went through EASILY 25 offers before we found one suitable after a few changes.. So its probably just being patient and finding a good one..

In the end, we got what we wanted and are working at a relatively decent job for our first experience in English teaching.

ella · Joined: 17 Apr 2006

How did you approach making the changes you wanted?

albazalba · Joined: 27 Dec 2006 Location: Hongdae

When you are a newbie, with no teaching experience, negotiating is next to impossible because you really don't have anything to offer that anyone else doesn't. So there is no reason they would offer you more when someone else will do it for less.

After you get at least one year experience (and I do mean at least), negotiating becomes more reasonable and gets easier the more experience and qualifications you have.

That being said, of course you don't have to take the first offer that's thrown at you. Waiting and doing your research will ensure you get a teaching gig that is satisfactory. But also don't get expectations too high. Just because people on this board post that they get 3 mil with 5 months paid vacation doesn't mean there are jobs out there like that for everyone. As a newbie, you're gonna get the same offer, give or take 100,000 and a couple vacation days from almost everywhere. What should be more of a concern is if the school will treat you right, and if it is in an area that you will be happy with.

I'm sure you guys have already heard this before, but let me just reassure you that what you hear on this board does not always reflect the reality of the teaching market here. (although the majority of it does.)

ella · Joined: 17 Apr 2006

I have three years of experience. I'm just curious as to how others are handling neogtiating.

Matt_22 · Joined: 22 Nov 2006

ELLA - I'm sorry to hear that you're still having problems finding a good school. Do you mind me asking where you're looking? Are you using any recruiters? I don't understand why a school wouldn't negotiate up to 2.1 with a teacher that has three years of experience. If they didn't bother responding, it sounds as if they're just another terrible hagwon looking for a more inexperienced sucker that they might have an easier time taking advantage of. Just my opinion. Anyway, I hope you have a greet weekend and find better luck next week!

Crowzone · Joined: 31 Jul 2006

Basically we would just say what we expected, and why.. If they didn't want to change things then we moved on. There are more jobs then teachers (it seems) and eventually we found what I consider to be an excellent 1st time in Korea position.

There are somethings that definitely won't change -- hours of work, vacation allotment, etc etc, but we found flexibility on things like pay, and wording about taxes, health plan, and the apartment that made us feel comfortable in signing the contract.

More serious changes probably would have required us to have more experience teaching IN Korea. I get the impression that the only experience that REALLY matters is Korean experience, but I may be mistaken. (Outside of serious University work and whatnot)

The biggest key was patience -- and finding a school thats a bit on the desperate side also helps....

jlb · Joined: 18 Sep 2003

Three years experience is three years experience....but it's not in Korea. I think that's when you can start to negotiate a bit more. If you've never taught overseas before you're a bit of an unknown entity. You might not be able to adjust and go home before your contract is up. I think that's often what runs through employer's heads.

Fresh Prince · Joined: 05 Dec 2006 Location: The glorious nation of Korea

Sorry to hear you aren't having any luck.

Most people learn negotiating skills in a professional academic setting like law schools, mba programs, political science graduate programs or any field where it will be used frequently. It can also be learned on the job or by gaining experience in life.

Without experience or training, it is very possible that attempts to negotiate with a potential employer will come across as rude.

Best of luck to you.

mrsquirrel · Joined: 13 Dec 2006

You can also use it your negotiating skills to get rid of schools who are of no interest.

I just had one call up who were offering block morning shifts with kindy. Sounded fairly interesting. By the time they have called it's an afternoon evening split shift.

3 million please and email a draft contract tonight.

I'm 100% sure they won't be back.

dam_on · Joined: 12 Dec 2006

I agree with what some others have said about needing experience under the belt to negotiate. Unless you have some other "qualification" you could use as leverage...eg. extended period of time living overseas, lots of tutor work done in the past, ability in another language. I guess you could trump up these and try and make them sound a lot better.

My experience has been schools are pretty firm on their offers for newcomers, and they are usually at the lower end of the pay scale. Come over, pay your dues for a year, and if you've done a stand out job, that school may want to re-sign you with a 2-300,000/month pay raise or be willing to accept if you ask for it...it has happened to friends of mine here.