Korean Job Discussion Forums

ghost · Joined: 06 Dec 2006 Location: Many congenial places

Ghost has been selected for a teacher training job in Korea, and the application process started back in November 2006.....and ghost started sending documents to the recruiter.....

Now, January 2007, some other documents, which were not originally required, are being asked for....and the whole application process is becoming very lengthy and inconvenient, because ghost is currently teaching full time and has little or no time to take care of some of the stuff.

Here is a summary of the documents required (for a job as a teacher trainer, near Seoul):

1. Application form

2. Signed contract

3. Original bachelor's degree

4. Official sealed transcript with University stamp on the back

5. Copy of passport

6. 4 passport sized photos

7. Criminal record check

8. Medical check up by your physician

9. 2 reference letters

10. teaching career proving letter

11. TESO/TEFL certificate or Teacher's certificate

Have any others here had to produce as much paperwork to secure a job?

Also, one is very reluctant to send an original diploma to Korea, because originals, if lost, can be hard/impossible to replace, depending on the school one attended.

ghost, Montreal substitute teacher, French school board (high stress job)

ChuckECheese · Joined: 20 Jul 2006

You forgot your

12. CV or resume and

13. A cover letter (an essay) with 200 words or more.

trinity24651 · Joined: 05 Nov 2006

ilovebdt · Joined: 03 Jun 2005 Location: Nr Seoul

spliff · Joined: 19 Jan 2004 Location: Khon Kaen, Thailand

I did a search on the net for my 200 word essay and just submitted it! I think it was written by a Scandinavian.... Laughing

jewelz · Joined: 25 Sep 2006

Refuse to succumb to their ridiculous demands. Furthermore, never send your original degree or other diplomas certificates etc. What they do not want you to know and what people fail to do or believe is that a certificate copy from your university registrars office will do, or the notorization thing as someone already mentioned. I sent my original and had it confiscated for several months, basically held randsom. And when I finally did get it back some fool left traces of pen mark on the paper. It is small, but it is still now slightly damaged. I now do what a friend told me, send in a certificate copy from my university directly to the employer. Do not tell them that you are doing that just say, 'original' ok. However, since they are making the app. processs so lengthy that would be a red flag in my opinion.

Big Mac · Joined: 17 Sep 2005

Most of the documents you have on your list are pretty standard for getting a teaching job in Korea. As someone else mentioned, send a copy of your degree notarized by the Korean consulate to Korea. At the Ottawa consulate (I'm not sure about the other ones) they require you to have it notarized by a lawyer (notary public) before they will notarize it for you.

The majority of the documents they are asking for are required by Korean immigration in order to process your work visa.

There are a couple of documents on your list that I didn't need to send. A criminal record check wasn't required and a medical checkup wasn't required either...although I have heard that public school jobs require one or maybe even both of those items.

The "teaching career proving letter" is a little odd too.

Fresh Prince · Joined: 05 Dec 2006 Location: The glorious nation of Korea

J.B. Clamence · Joined: 15 Jan 2003

For JB's current job, JB submitted everything except for 7, 8, and 10. The medical checkup (for his national health plan) was done after he started the job. Also, JB submitted only copies of his degrees and certificate.

canuckistan · Posted: Fri Jan 12, 2007 6:57 am Post subject:

I never submitted an original degree--only notarized copies. Always worked for me.

merkurix · Joined: 21 Dec 2006 Location: Not far from the deep end.

For diplomas and transcripts, send photocopies and if they don't like that then tell them tough *beep*. I once applied for a job that requested that I send them my original diplomas and have sealed transcripts sent directly from my university. This was JUST for the application process. I sent them copies of everything, just copies, and they still called for an interview anyway. So it can still work. Just make it clear that you can furnish (not surrender) the originals if an interview is guaranteed. As for the criminal record, I knew someone who had that madatory requirement where they had to have an official piece of paper declaring that they have no criminal record. Crimininal records in the U.S. only exist for those who commit crimes (he told them this, but they were adamant on still getting a "record") He went to the US embassy and they typed up something quick and fast for him with the embassy's letterhead and they accepted it. I suppose if this is the way it's gonna be, the job better be worth it.