Job Discussion Forums

[KarenMarie]

This looks interesting. I'm wondering if anyone else has an opinion.

http://www.asiangateway.net/apply.htm

http://www.asiangateway.net/index.htm

[Mike L.]

There seem to be a few posts in the "Job Information Journal" about recruiters.

Look under the Korea, Taiwan sections etc...

From what I've read in the past not too many posters were too keen on recruiters.

[PAULH]

Before you put yourself in the hands of a recruiter (who gets a commission for every warm body that he supplies to an employer in those countries) I would read up on a few sites first about teaching in Korea and Taiwan
This is my favorite:

http://www.seamonkey.ed.asu.edu/~jonb/

[PAULH]

Sorry that should read

http://seamonkey.ed.asu.edu/~jonb/

[PAULH]

Jon's Note:


Please do not e-mail me requesting to know if school XYZ located in XXXX Korea is a reputable
place to work. My answer will be that I have absolutely no idea (I am in Japan and have not
entered Korea for over seven years), but I would advise anyone applying for a job there to
telephone the school and ask to speak to those foreigner(s) currently working there (an equal
level employee) and explain that you want to know the "inside" story. Obviously, you may get
less than accurate information should you speak only to the recruiter or to your future Korean
employer about these issues.

If you had a bad -- or good -- experience in Korea, please e-mail me your story. The copyright
of the story you tell is yours. Others need to know, and can learn from you. I can only
guarantee exposure to potentially thousands of readers.

When I taught in Korea back in 1996, I really went blind, so to speak. Although my personal
experiences were positive, I considered myself lucky. Most internationals I met had somewhere
between difficult to horrific situations. After I left Korea, I felt it an obligation to warn
others what could happen in SK should things go wrong, as they often do.

So, I feel both glad and bad. On the one hand, I am glad that the message appears to be getting
out to those considering going to Korea that all may not be 菟eachy keen・there, so that those
people will not go there 'blind' as I did. On the other hand, however, I do feel bad that there
are so few positive stories posted on this website. The intention of this site is not for
"Korea-bashing", but rather it is for real people to tell their story.

Be extremely cautious of recruiters, especially ones who do not allow you to contact the foreign
people in advance. Many recruiters have a reputation of making promises they can't or won't
keep. Even the written contract which you sign oftentimes means little, so the foreigner has
little to no leverage should things go wrong there. Living in Korea could be the best time of
your life or it could be the worst.

If you are now in Korea and know of a school that should be black listed please contact me! If
you have time please visit your local Consulate or Embassy and get their blacklist and E-mail or
S-mail it to me -- so we can post it to help others too.