Job Discussion Forums

[john35]

I currently work in Korea and just had a one hour long phone interview with a representative from this company that I thought went very well. I was wrong.

I just refused a rejection e-mail from Westgate that is a flat out refusal. They didn't waitlist me nor did they encourage me to apply again. Do you think I may have been refused for asking why the rent is so high on Westgate apartments?

I'm interested in hearing about people who didn't receive an offer from Westgate after a phone interview. I have three years of verifiable experience and am a good teacher. I can believe that I was refused, but do wonder why. Are applicants so plentiful at the moment that Westgate can be selective?

Please respond if you can enlighten.

[norwalkesl]

[Apsara]

[Glenski]

Why would you even ask them that question about rent? I mean, what sort of answer did you expect?
"Oh, we want to screw teachers, so we nail them with rent."
"Well, we are too stupid or lazy to find a low-rent apartment district."
"Gee, you get free rent in SK, so anything here ought to be high."

You have to admit that the question about why the rent is high is pretty unprofessional and aggressive.

Since none of us was in on the interview, perhaps other aspects of your conversation were equally problematic.

As for whether there are plenty of people already here, yup.

[seklarwia]

[mrbbkk]

I think you over reacted

I have had recruiters reject me only to offer me a job a few months later

I think it is never wise to burn your bridges. Just thank them for considering you and move on.

[Imseriouslylost]

I did the Westgate application online and am really wary of them based on that. The application questions were somewhat intense and poorly worded, I honestly have no idea what they were looking for. They also wanted more information about my work experience back home than they wanted about my teaching experience... Since the last time I spent at home I was a university student, my jobs consisted of fast-food, being a security guard and being a call centre monkey.

They also want a lot of references. Asking for that many references in this day and age is kind of ridiculous. Even though I've never been a bad employee and have never been fired, I, like most people, have worked a lot of jobs that don't give references nor would they remember me if I called them.

Anyway, I wouldn't take rejection from them personally. They don't seem to know what they want.

[mrbbkk]

I understand how you feel. I am going to work in Saudi Arabia soon at a university and they really want a lot of documents and verification letters from previous employers, criminal background checks, transcripts and degree verification.etc etc etc

I am not used to being put under the microscope like this either.

Job hunting today seems more daunting than it was 10 years ago.

[eIn0791207912]

I got turned down by Westgate last year. I teach in Korea as well.

However, my experience wasn't the same as yours. The guy I was talking to was very frank and had conversational level of English. We were able to be very relaxed and candid when talking. I explained that I'm applying, but I didn't know for sure if I would be able to start on the designated start date. He was cool about it and insisted we continue with the interview.

I expressed my interest in being in one of the larger cities. He asked if I'd like to teach in a smaller town if it was possible. I said I might, but I'd be willing to wait to be placed in a larger place.

A few weeks after the interview I got the rejection email. It was very polite in that he told me he was sorry he couldn't place me in a larger city, thought they still have a few places open out in the country side. He told me to apply again next year a bit earlier if I was sure I could start and they should be able to get into my first or second choice location.

So, I don't know OP. Maybe the rent question made them feel uncomfortable. I know schools and recruiters here in Korea don't like it when in the first interview the teachers starts bringing up pay and benefits and such. It makes them feel like "we'll if he/she is that combative or concerned about it now, it's only going to get worse when they get over here." I think also, those of us that having teaching experience elsewhere puts us a bit lower on the ladder. They think we expect to be paid for our experience and in times like they are now, extra pay is not what most schools are looking to hand out. Plus "ekiwa" life and "hagwon" life share striking similarities. I'm sure a boss would rather have a "fob" that they could push around, rather someone that has learned how to game the system a bit.

I plan to apply all over the place next year or the year after that. I'll get to Japan eventually and be there for a while once I do, so waiting for the market to look up some and the situation to be less tense than it is now is okay for me.

[Hansen]

Not sure about other places. In China, however, locals pay big money for jobs, the equivalent of as much as 20 YEARS salary, possibly more, in some cases. Not sure about sexual favors in return for jobs. I guess it depends on who is doing the negotiation.

My point, relative to this thread, is that any question perceived by the interviewer as being anything other than obsequious, is likely to raise a red flag, especially in a saturated job market.

I was spurned before ever doing an interview. When I asked why, I received a nice reply which explained that, among other things, there are lots of applicants. It's a buyer's market, friends.

[Deep Thirteen]

Westgate seems to be very choosy (they want people with at least a TEFL afterall) even as they post up their advert constantly on Dave's. I met a fellow at one interview who showed me all the interview requests he had scored (ECC, Shane, AEON among others) on his laptop. He applied to Westgate and they turned him down for an interview.

The kid was young, spoke fine American English, had his TEFL, lived overseas, and didn't look like Clint Howard. The funny thing is, he seemed totally uninterested in the position we were interviewing for that day, and told me he would rather be teaching in South America or some place. Some guys have all the luck.

Anyway, I wouldn't worry about it too much as others have said. It just wasn't meant to be for you. Just take the advice given in this thread. It would have probably been better if you had taken note of the prices for their apartment, done some research after the interview, and then considered it if they offered you a job. .

[cornishmuppet]

[ShioriEigoKyoushi]

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[GambateBingBangBOOM]

[seklarwia]