Korean Job Discussion Forums

ed1980 · Joined: 04 Feb 2003 Location: Goyang

anybody know any good recruiters based in the UK ?

what kind of cut do these people usually take - is it an idea to contact schools directly? - is this possible?

cheers in advance !!!

Emma Clare · Joined: 24 May 2003 Location: Anseong, sung, song.

HuntESL are the best I've come across so far. www.huntesl.com. Am sure I told you that already!

Adam Hunt has done the whole ESL thing himself and so have all of his 'team'. He's honest and upfront, and doesn't try and skirt around the less savioury aspects of living in SK like some do. He always phoned me in person if I had a query too.

Why not just fly out there and then get a job. Suss the place out for yourself firsthand! You'll get a better pay deal if you avoid recruiters too.

I'm doing things on my own now. You can fly to SK for �350 (bargain!!!) with KLM, from London City airport (not too far from Brentwood!) via Amsterdam. I'm leaving in 4 weeks time. It's about �100 or so more expensive to fly out in September though.

I think UK recruiters take about �1000.

ed1980 · Joined: 04 Feb 2003 Location: Goyang

yeah - you have suggested them before.... you on comission?

waterbaby · Joined: 01 Feb 2003 Location: Baking Gord a Cheescake pie

ed1980 · Joined: 04 Feb 2003 Location: Goyang

whats your advice then waterbaby??

i thought a grand was a bit steep

if i go cold turkey - i assume i wil just need a visiting visa???!?!??

waterbaby · Joined: 01 Feb 2003 Location: Baking Gord a Cheescake pie

Well, with an English (I'm presuming?) passport, I think you qualify for a 90 day landing tourist visa. That's more than ample enough to shop around for a job. You'd have to leave the country again to get your E2 visa - what's commonly known as a "visa run". People more often than not head to Japan for this. Pretty painless procedure, actually.

If you have the cash upfront to pay for your airfare, support yourself here in Korea for about 2 months (give yourself a month to six weeks to land a job and start your job, another month until you have your first pay... I'd recommend that you go for that option. Accepting a job when you haven't met the employer in person or seen your workplace, apartment etc is quite a frightening prosepect.

Here's a link to a thread about the cost of living in Korea

living expenses... realistically!!
Start Up Costs
and...
How much money did you bring with you?

Emma Clare · Joined: 24 May 2003 Location: Anseong, sung, song.

They certainly take a fair whack. First the Korean recruiter takes a cut, and then their 'counterpart' in the UK takes a cut. Sheesh!

Like I said, there's no way I'm using a recruiter. I'm a runnin....
Yup, it's 90 days you can get if you have an English passport.

Definitely the right address. Just checked it! Am not on commission, was just impressed by these guys, even if I am going it alone now.

bepositive · Joined: 11 Jun 2003

eamo · Joined: 08 Mar 2003 Location: Shepherd's Bush, 1964.

I know this question keeps coming up but I can't remember the answer!!

Can people coming to Korea on a 90 day holiday visa arrive with a one-way ticket?

Squaffy · Joined: 25 Feb 2003 Location: All over the place

Hunt ESL are the only ones with respect. Leigh Beckford (Bristol) is sound. They are the one and only UK based recruiters who know the score.

Tell them what you want and they will find it for you.

bepositive · Joined: 11 Jun 2003

Eamo

If you are arriving on a tourist visa you MUST have a return ticket. I know this because a friend of a friend arrived without one and wasn't allowed in the country. I think she might have let it slip that she was coming to look for work which probably didn't help!

eamo · Joined: 08 Mar 2003 Location: Shepherd's Bush, 1964.

Bepositive. Thanks

cbinseoul · Joined: 12 Mar 2003 Location: Seoul -

[quote]Yup, it's 90 days you can get if you have an English passport.

mb2086 · Joined: 10 Feb 2004 Location: Seoul

Don't know why Huntesl are regarded so highly. I have a BSc and a TESOL validated certifiicate and they didn't even bother replying to my application. Why? Because I was over 35! Now there's ageism if ever I saw it. Not only that but they freely admit it! There's nothing like a bit of good old fashioned British support to get you going in the world of TESL!!!!!

Fifyfofum · Joined: 20 Feb 2004 Location: Anyang

I used Hunt ESL and am glad that I did.

I work between 13 and 24.5 hrs per week, get 20 days holiday plus public holidays (37days) and am paid 2m - despite - not having any teaching experience or qualifications.

The only money I paid to them was about 100 pounds for the visa processing (courier etc.). This is much cheaper than paying your own airfare over AND having to live off your savings until you find a job.

That said, as with any recruiter, you have to be firm on what you want. I turned down two jobs in places before taking this one.