Great work opportunity, but my contract is not up. What to do???

[Mountiandrue]

So I just got a great job offer from an international school that I thought started in March, but it turns out starts in January, before my contract with SMOE ends. Needless to say, SMOE will not release me to get a new visa. While I am generally believe that contracts should be honored, I do not know when another opportunity like this will come my way. Is there any way around this?

[donuts81]

Give them notice. Quit.

Regular classes finish at the end of Dec and your students would only be missing out on winter camp anyway.

I don't think your school will be too cut up if you explain reasons why.

[Redwood]

Give your months notice and quit. Ensure your Visa is cancelled. Within 30 days of cancellation apply for new Visa number with new employer, fly to a Japanese consulate to get visa in passport, fly back to Korea to start new job.

[teachermc]

The responses so far seem surprising to me.

Why would you search for/accept jobs that begin during or that soon after the end of your contract here?  If you are planning to break your contract when you begin looking for jobs, that is one thing.  But to assume that something will magically be done to see that you are able to leave your contract early, receive benefits as if you have completed your contract, and arrive at your next destination to start a job seems really bold.

As donuts81 suggested, if you want the job that bad you will probably be okay breaking your contract and doing without the benefits.  Though, I would wonder what the international school would think of this?  Surely they will be interested to know on what terms you are leaving your current employer?

[Redwood]

The responses so far seem surprising to me.

Why would you search for/accept jobs that begin during or that soon after the end of your contract here?  If you are planning to break your contract when you begin looking for jobs, that is one thing.  But to assume that something will magically be done to see that you are able to leave your contract early, receive benefits as if you have completed your contract, and arrive at your next destination to start a job seems really bold.

As donuts81 suggested, if you want the job that bad you will probably be okay breaking your contract and doing without the benefits.  Though, I would wonder what the international school would think of this?  Surely they will be interested to know on what terms you are leaving your current employer?

First poster didn't mention about benefits. That's the post I was replying to. If a better opportunity comes along I say go for it.

[teachermc]

The responses so far seem surprising to me.

Why would you search for/accept jobs that begin during or that soon after the end of your contract here?  If you are planning to break your contract when you begin looking for jobs, that is one thing.  But to assume that something will magically be done to see that you are able to leave your contract early, receive benefits as if you have completed your contract, and arrive at your next destination to start a job seems really bold.

As donuts81 suggested, if you want the job that bad you will probably be okay breaking your contract and doing without the benefits.  Though, I would wonder what the international school would think of this?  Surely they will be interested to know on what terms you are leaving your current employer?

First poster didn't mention about benefits. That's the post I was replying to. If a better opportunity comes along I say go for it.

By benefits, I am referring to the end of contract commitments on the employer's side (extra months pay, allowance for a return flight back to your home country).  I used 'benefits' because these are the employer's way of rewarding those employees who keep to their contract commitments / punishing those who do not fulfill their contracts.

The OP is asking for a way 'around' having to break their contract, thereby losing these 'benefits' and potentially being punished in some other way.

[Smaug]

u give em notice and u had also already said u would not renew n say before u will only be absent from a 10-14 day camp. i not see the wound they take yes the camp is loast to them but they may be able to hire a Indonsian or Philllipine wife on an F-5 (is it a F-5) that has a K-guy husband.  if u look at it from a money side that means they will not pay u the 2 million bonus money and save em that lump sum. yes give them writin notice - in fact i would have a korean write a  brief only facts statement and hand 2 copies to the priniciple n ask for 1 signed & red with a rubber red stamp 2

I werk with reel weird dudes 2 but u need 2 c ur contract it says yeah give month writin note that way u can get ur retirement cash U can not get that retiremnet cash if u do not have ur employer help on the paperwerk so contray 2 12AM runners u do not get shizzel on the cash in dat stuff

[furtakk]

you have plenty of time to give notice and get your docs ready for a new position. they won't give you a release, but you can easily cancel and get a new visa in hong kong/japan. nothing wrong about leaving early as long as you follow the guidelines for doing so outlined in your contract.

[globetrotter.2011]

This thread is so typical of many threads. Putting 2 + 2 together and getting 45.

Read the OP's original post, the OP wants to know how to get released from the SMOE to get a new visa for the new contract.

NO one has the right here to call into question the rights or wrongs of moving on, its none of anyone's business.

Regards.