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Matt_22
Joined: 22 Nov 2006
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 Posted: Thu Jan 04, 2007 5:28 am Post subject: Crushed. |
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After earning my TEFL cert in Thailand, I spent a month looking for a solid gig in Korea. I found one in Suwon. But alas, at the last moment the teacher decided to sign on again for another year.
So I said screw it, I have some cash to float on while I look for a better gig. Which I thought I found a few weeks ago. It was perfect, and I was al lined up to replace a guy who worked in Anyang for three years and loved it. Two bedroom flat, 2.3 million won, great hours, the works.
So I call him tonight to finalize my flight plans, and he tells me he's having second thoughts and might sign on for another year. What a nightmare. I've been looking for jobs for two months now and my visa (the third and final allowed) expires next Tuesday. I'm royally screwed.
I guess it could always be worse... |
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Bibbitybop
Joined: 22 Feb 2006
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Thu Jan 04, 2007 6:14 am Post subject: |
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| Can you afford the flight over? Just come here if you can, it's also safer as you can see the school and your apartment. I'm surprised it is taking you that long to find a job right now, even from abroad. |
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Matt_22
Joined: 22 Nov 2006
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| Posted: Thu Jan 04, 2007 6:23 am Post subject: |
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I'm kind of on a tight budget right now. I was really banking on a school paying for my flight over. If I do that myself, I'm probably not gonna be reimbursed, huh?
Also, I've heard it's difficult to just show up in Korea and look for jobs in person, especially with no knowledge of Korean. Is that not true? If you have any advice let me know, cause I could damn sure use it. |
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tiger fancini
Joined: 21 Mar 2006
Location: Testicles for Eyes
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| Posted: Thu Jan 04, 2007 6:25 am Post subject: |
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Don't worry about these minor setbacks. If possible, take bibbitybops advice and get here and hunt. Shouldn't take longer than a week to get something sorted, particularly if you wanna be in Seoul or close to the capital. If not, keep checking the websites. There's a ton of work out there!
Good luck. |
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PimpofKorea
Joined: 09 Dec 2006
Location: Dealing in high quality imported English
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| Posted: Thu Jan 04, 2007 6:55 am Post subject: |
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Hey Matt....a few quick questions..
1. Are you white?
2. Can you speak English a little bit?
3. When can you start?
If you've got #'s 1 and 2....you should'nt have any problems... |
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Lizara
Joined: 14 Apr 2004
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Thu Jan 04, 2007 7:03 am Post subject: |
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| Put your resume up on Dave's and worknplay.co.kr and whatever other sites you can find. You'll be swimming in job offers within two days. 95% of them will be crap, but there's a good chance you'll find something worthwhile. |
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Roch
Joined: 24 Apr 2003
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Thu Jan 04, 2007 7:18 am Post subject: Re: Crushed. |
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| Matt_22 wrote: |
After earning my TEFL cert in Thailand, I spent a month looking for a solid gig in Korea. I found one in Suwon. But alas, at the last moment the teacher decided to sign on again for another year.
So I said screw it, I have some cash to float on while I look for a better gig. Which I thought I found a few weeks ago. It was perfect, and I was al lined up to replace a guy who worked in Anyang for three years and loved it. Two bedroom flat, 2.3 million won, great hours, the works.
So I call him tonight to finalize my flight plans, and he tells me he's having second thoughts and might sign on for another year. What a nightmare. I've been looking for jobs for two months now and my visa (the third and final allowed) expires next Tuesday. I'm royally screwed.
I guess it could always be worse... |
You could always move into my T.O.E.F.L. postion: 3 million, good officetel, and decent kids.
Unfortunately, the hours are 2-9:30pm from Mon-Fri until February when a new teacher is supposed to arrive at the school (no idea, eh, if I'm getting paid extra for this month).
I would like to leave the school because the two gyopos at the place are snobs who, although they can not communicate well in our language, think that they are such forkin' stars, eh.
I already told one who's in his forties to go fork right off and then I explained to him that a thing like him - a narrow-minded simp with merely basic English skills - has no right to call himself an English-eee/T.O.E.F.L. instructor.
Just beat the guy up if he messes with you. In fact, I hope that you beat him up even if you do not decide to take the position. As Dickie's dad said to Tom Ripley: " I'd pay you ten thousand dollars."
Lemme know, eh.
R |
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Matt_22
Joined: 22 Nov 2006
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| Posted: Thu Jan 04, 2007 7:42 am Post subject: |
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Yeah, Roch, I'd take that gig. It would pay for my flight over and give me a month to get something set up in Ilsan. Wouldn't that be nice..
Anyway, if anyone has any advice regarding finding a job IN Korea without knowing any knowledge of Korean or having any contacts there, please let me know. Thanks for all the advice regardless. |
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rothkowitz
Joined: 27 Apr 2006
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| Posted: Thu Jan 04, 2007 8:00 am Post subject: |
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Pulse,preferably a degree holder and not too ethnic.
That's about all the haggie owners and the parents are interested in.
Come here.You'll sort out something quick-smart. |
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Matt_22
Joined: 22 Nov 2006
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| Posted: Thu Jan 04, 2007 8:30 am Post subject: |
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Okay, let's say I really want to work in Ilsan. I don't see many jobs advertised for positions in Ilsan online, but are there jobs out there that can be had in person? If so, would I just try to get a list of all the schools in Ilsan, then try to find them and turn in my resumes in person? Would doing this be putting all my eggs in one basket? I'm just not sure how to go about finding a job while IN Korea...
And yes, I have posted my resume, signed on with recruiters, and have been offered one trillion crap jobs. That's why its so frustrating when - sorting through all the crap to find diamonds in the rough - the teachers re-sign with the good schools at the last minute, leaving me broke and still searching. So maybe moving to Korea and doing things in person would be the best thing at this point. |
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mithridates
Joined: 03 Mar 2003
Location: President's office, Korean Space Agency
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| Posted: Thu Jan 04, 2007 9:24 am Post subject: |
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| Matt_22 wrote: |
Yeah, Roch, I'd take that gig. It would pay for my flight over and give me a month to get something set up in Ilsan. Wouldn't that be nice..
Anyway, if anyone has any advice regarding finding a job IN Korea without knowing any knowledge of Korean or having any contacts there, please let me know. Thanks for all the advice regardless. |
Sure. Stay at a goshiwon for a month or two and go walk around every day to potential places of employment. A goshiwon will only cost around $10 a day and then you can take your time without worrying about running out of money. Basic food there is always free so a lot of that is taken care of, and if you have a laptop then your internet bill is free too. The goshiwon should be in a place like Sadang, not a place where a lot of people hang around but right in the centre of two major subway lines and with cheaper rent. It shouldn't take more than a week or two.
There's a poster here that did the exact same thing, customx or something like that...I remember giving him a bit of goshiwon advice way back when. |
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Hotpants
Joined: 27 Jan 2006
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| Posted: Thu Jan 04, 2007 9:54 am Post subject: |
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I also had previous trouble with contracts not materializing at the last minute. My lesson learned: apply for as many jobs as poss and always have a backup plan. Also, do you have to try for only Korea? Korea and it's teaching job circus doesn't look set to fade away at any time in the near future. There will certainly be some job somewhere available for you at any time.
You'll also probably have more guarantees the larger the organization you go for, or with schools who are looking to hire more than one teacher at a time.
Good luck. |
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Fresh Prince
Joined: 05 Dec 2006
Location: The glorious nation of Korea
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| Posted: Thu Jan 04, 2007 4:04 pm Post subject: |
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| Matt_22 wrote: |
And yes, I have posted my resume, signed on with recruiters, and have been offered one trillion crap jobs. That's why its so frustrating when - sorting through all the crap to find diamonds in the rough - the teachers re-sign with the good schools at the last minute, leaving me broke and still searching. So maybe moving to Korea and doing things in person would be the best thing at this point. |
Without physically looking at the school and the apartment you will be taking a risk, no matter how good everything sounds. Coming to Korea and spending a couple weeks assesing schools and their employees for compatibility is the best way to go. Just because one person likes a school and thinks its a good job doesn't mean that you will feel the same way.
If you don't think that you have enough money to fly to Korea and stay comfortably while you search for a job (you may not get your first paycheck for a month or more). Then you may have to lower your standards a little. You mention that you are searching for diamonds in the rough but if you don't have any experience in Korea then you would be lucky to get one of the ideal jobs that people here are talking about.
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