Job Discussion Forums

[naturegirl321]

Here's my situation, I'm hoping someone could help me out.

Last August, in 2007, my contract finished. I didn't like the job, I had been there for a year, but I was going to keep working, without a contract, until I found another one. Peru was getting to me and I had to do my thesis, so I looked at going back to Asia. I wanted to go to China, but money just isn't as good as it is in other places. So I applied for jobs in Korea. My husband was between jobs, so I was going to go, get my residency and then get him a visa.

I applied for a public school job, got it and the visa and the flight and was ready to leave in early November. Problem was that my husband got a job 10 days before I had to leave. I emailed the people in Korea and they agreed to change my one year contract to three months with the logic being that the school year was ending anyways.

So I went.

DUring three months, I spent 1 week in training, 7 teaching first and second grade, 2 in camp and 2 making materials.

I didn't replace a teacher. Before I came, the 1st and 2nd graders weren't learning English. But when I left someone replaces me. They had recently integrated English into the curriculum starting with me.

The problem is, I don't know how to explain the three months, should I call myself "camp instructor" or "replacement teacher" or "substitute teacher" or something else? I can't just take it off my CV becuase then I would have to explain the gap and besides, we're looking to go back to Korea in February.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[fluffyhamster]

Just put down the job title that they gave you (EPIK English Teacher, or whatever) and expand on that in a short details section that briefly outlines what the main duties were (e.g. you 'helped establish/set up an English curriculum in a Korean public school'). Simple, really!

The thing I don't quite understand is why you quit the job in Korea if you intend to return there, and the job that your husband got (presumably in Peru) ten days before you last left was temporary and/or he was intending to follow you anyway ('I was going to go, get my residency and then get him a visa'). Are jobs "growing on trees" where/when you apply for them?

[naturegirl321]

[denise]

Why not just leave it on your CV as is and explain that it was a short-term contract? If interviewers ask why you had a short contract, you could probably tell them the truth without it reflecting poorly on you. You didn't break the contract.

I don't see a problem with leaving a gap of just a few months in your CV. If you list job dates in years then a few months off won't even get noticed. I suppose it'd help to show that you already have experience in Korea, though.

d

[Marcoregano]

I agree with Denise, a gap of a few months is not important. I have a gap of one year which I spent travelling in South America (and that's what it says on my CV - "Year spent travelling in ...") but so far as I'm aware I've had no problems and have worked for various employers, including universities. In any case, it's not as if you were doing nothing.

[Mike_2007]

Put it down as a consultancy and explain that you were call in to establish and oversee an English programme for the school and once you had it up and running the regular teacher took over. It's basically the truth and would probably go some way to enhancing your CV. Turn it into a plus!

[fluffyhamster]

Naturegirl - quit, left, what-ev-err! (I guess my eyes had glazed over a bit trying to follow your post ). Anyway, it sounds like life (work) in Peru ain't easy. Good luck with the real estate (in these crunchy-credit times), and here's to hoping things work out better for you in Korea!

[naturegirl321]