Korean Job Discussion Forums

[magicmajenta]

I have been going through the threads here and have been reading about problems with public schools and hogwons with regards to bad employers, co-teachers, working conditions and just getting plain screwed over. I have heard a few times that University positions are the best. The pay may not be as high but you avoid the problems mentioned above. Is this true? I would like to hear people's opinions on University jobs.

[HapKi]

You will not get many university teachers' opinions on this matter, as with the 5 months paid vacation per year, they are presently away from their computers and sunning themselves on a beach in Thailand.

'cept for me.

[Tiger Beer]

[Intrepid]

There are fewer hassles at most universities. Still, looking at job ads, salaries and working conditions are deteriorating at many unis. Look at the Kyung-hee Suwon: 30 million per year, no visa, no housing, fifteen hours per week, and six week summer camp. Amazing.

[hubba bubba]

Yeah, Korean universities are wising up. I'd say in a few years the five month paid vacation will be unheard of.

[Billy Pilgrim]

Yes.

[Intrepid]

Which is ridiculous. I don't think of it as a five-month vacation, but as pay that is pro-rated over the year. I teach 350 hours per semester, and make a decent overall hourly rate for it, but not excessive if you consider that the uni requires an MA. I hope this uni doesn't wise up, except in the little matter of their three-year rule.

[TECO]

[Harpeau]

Yes, I'm happy with the long vacations. I also am traveling at this time.

[Bramble]

[kissthesky]

I have to start by saying that I have been at a uni for over a year now. I begin a new uni job in a couple of weeks. I am qualified to teach and blah blah blah.

With that out of the way, good uni jobs are the best. Bad uni jobs are worse than awesome hagwon gigs. Does that make sense? Some uni contracts are crap. Worse than my first job at a hogwon. Public schools can go both ways. The good ones are awesome, and the bad ones suck ar$e.

As for the uni system, its better to get in, even with a crap-tastic uni, tough it out for a year, and then move on to a better school with a cushier contract. My first contract was good, not great, but ok. My new contract is the cats pajamas. I am sitting on a year of 8 hour work weeks, 5 months paid vacation, no camps, key money and a great salary. I am lucky to have it. Its like I hit gold.

Its like I said, there is the bad and good with anything.

Good luck.

[jellobean]

I'd have to agree with others that there are bad and good uni positions.... The good ones go to those with MA, especially from a uni with a name, and experience... I don't see the good ones (ie for those qualified folks) going away any time soon since qualified people won't work for less than they could make elsewhere or at home..... "Good" uni jobs for those without an MA are slowly disappearing and those with nothing more than a no-name MA may need to put in a year or two at a "Not-so-good" position before striking a good job....

[Len8]

Experience helps. Some universities ring your former place of employment. Only problem is the routine which can get mind numbing at times with cretin Korean students. Cute ones make up for it though.

[Pak Yu Man]