Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Doogie]

My time in Korea is coming to a close and I'm thinking about my next job. I'm taking some time off back home, though. Does the school year in these countries start at the same time as Korea (beginning of March)? Anyone that has worked in either country (Taiwan or Japan), when should I start applying? December? January? Thanks, in advance, for any suggestions.

D

[bosintang]

[sojourner1]

Oh man, thanks for telling me about JET. I got to reading it and though it was a real winner with how competitive it sells itself and how qualified of a candidate I would make. It pays about 30,000 US dollar per year, but you are responsible for housing which includes key money, rent, and all bills. While the JET program requires one year to get into for a one year contract, it's a total rip off that won't make a young professional a winner in the finance department. This is downright crazy for how much it will cost you with how competitive it is stated to be. You would think it remunerates well and takes care of all expenses upfront, but it doesn't. Now I know why NOVA and others rejected me. It was the fact I lacked start up money and obviously being kinda poor with interest and need to make and save money. I guess it's sorta like those Europe programs where you pay to work, but different in many ways. In short, it's not a poor financially broke college graduate way to go. Interesting read. Thanks for posting.

[bosintang]

[Mosley]

After being in operation for 20 years, you'd think misinformation about JET would be hard to come by. After seeing sojourner1's post, that's apparently not the case.

First, JET pays closer to 40,000K/yr. Rent is subsidized and I've never heard of a JET paying key money. Your pension contributions are returned to you as are the school's. Local taxes are paid for you and health insurance subsidized. Airfare is paid(in Japan, this is an increasingly rare perk). The JET Programme(unlike EPIK) has a superb administrative and support system. Most JETs teach fewer than 20 hrs./week and get 21 days holiday/yr. All nat. holidays are off, no Saturdays and during summer there are often "unofficial" days off. Sound like a deal for losers?

More: there's an excellent FREE life insurance program while you're a JET. If you croak, your beneficiary would get two years salary paid out!

Yes, the application process is lengthy and a royal pain in the ass but guess what? Unlike the ROK, the powers that be actually check you out! Of all the tens of thousands that have served on the program, I've never heard of one who was kicked out of the scheme due to using fake degrees, lying about a criminal record, etc. Oh, and BTW, you can serve up to 3 yrs., not just one.

Most JETs I knew indicated that as well as travelling they were improving their financial situations by saving and/or paying down debt. Gotta be something to this: for years JET has been turning down far more applicants than it accepts(compare w/EPIK,etc.!). I have to wonder if sojourner really read up on JET or if there aren't some sour grapes involved here?

Just to add to what bosintang mentioned: until about a dozen yrs. ago there were a fair number of non-JET public school jobs in Japan. These have all but dried up because of the gangster outfits known as dispatch companies have taken over. So as far as FTs in Jap. public schools go, you have "haves"(JETs) and "have-nots"(dispatch teachers). If FTs aren't careful, it will happen in Korea, too.

[nautilus]

[Mosley]

More misinformation. I got into JET in my late 30s. I was offered an eikaiwa contract at 41.

[bosintang]