Korean Job Discussion Forums

[PRagic]

From the N.Y. Times. 'Teachers Facing Weakest Market in Years'

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/20/nyregion/20teachers.html?src=me&ref=nyregion&nl=nyregion&emc=ura7

Wonder how this will influence the market for qualified teachers in Korea.

[airfilter]

They'll be on here in less than a year after being broken by a long job search.

[asylum seeker]

Judging from this article there's likely to be a lot of extra qualified teachers from the US looking for work here soon; not a good time to be looking for a job.

[Mr. Pink]

[withgusto]

"This concept keeps coming up here on Dave's.

Basically you can guess it will increase the amount coming to Korea, but it won't be like a tidal wave of teacher's filling all available flights. You have to remember, that many people have a hard time living away from their families and their comfort areas. Those types of people will work out the recession in other ways.

Most people have a hard time living away from their comfort zones. This is one reason many won't come and another why so many reneg on contracts before they're up. Good point.

Also, there are those who don't particularly care for coming to Asia. They will find themselves heading to Latin and South America or perhaps Europe or Africa.

Slim pickings in Latin America, but for some it's worth it - closer to home, easy living, better weather. Working in Mexico was wonderful, but I didn't save a dime.

Sure more people will come to Korea, but I can't see certified teachers (especially experienced ones) coming to Korea to teach ESL. It means international school jobs will be more competitive yes, but again I am a firm believer in the fact living abroad isn't for everyone..."

Agree. It takes a special breed; adventurer or not. Were I certified, I certainly would choose to work in 100 other places besides SK.

[mimi_intheworld]

Hm. I'm a certified teacher, with ESL experience and 2 degrees, booking my flight as soon as I can come up with the cash. I've been back in the US for about 8 months now, after a year in the UK, and I can't take it much longer! I'm looking forward to moving to Korea. Hoping my qualifications will swing me a good job over there...but honestly not sure what I should try for.

[Scott in Incheon]

If you are a certified teacher, you should be looking at the NET program in Hong Kong. It is one of the better ESL jobs out there...good salary....good benefits...

[mimi_intheworld]

[Rteacher]

The bad job market for teachers in the U.S. combined with heightened political tension due to menacing threats (and real attacks) by North Korea will likely attract many frustrated job-seekers with suicidal tendencies.

[Smee]

You might have some experienced teachers back home looking toward Korea, but they'll probably give up once they realize that schools, and by extension recruiters, aren't hiring older, experienced, certified teachers because they're unwilling/unable to pay them:

http://briandeutsch.blogspot.com/2010/04/no-room-for-older-experienced-teachers.html

Look around all the recruiter sites, too. They all advertise right at the top "no experience necesary" and "all majors welcome." Clearly schools just want young, white, cheap teachers. You may have people fresh out of college with their education degrees looking at Korea and Asia as a place to ride out the recession, but there's absolutely no reason for experienced teachers to come here. Salaries have been stagnant for a decade, and, as we just saw, schools don't want to pay for teachers near the top of the payscale.

[Sody]

[hagwonnewbie]

My brother was a certified teacher of highschool English. He quit after teaching five years. He moved to different cities, changed schools 3 times and still couldn't find the position he wanted. He says he's done teaching, but I encouraged him to try again.

[fusionbarnone]

[Ramen]

[quote="fusionbarnone"]

[carleverson]