Korean Job Discussion Forums

[DannyOKC]

I have an MA in English and one semester teaching experience at the university level. I am in Busan. Do I have a better-than-average chance at getting a better-than-average job? (And I am from the U.S., if that matters.)

Any advice on where to go would be nice.

I looked at current job listings, but most were the same. I searched for jobs requiring MAs but found none.

Thanks!

-DannyOKC

[makemischief]

Many of the jobs that require (or encourage) a Masters are the Uni jobs- there are still a few of them fishing for people on Dave's, but with the semester starting in only 3 weeks almost all of the ones where your degree would have helped you get a job have been (sorry) filled.

Best bet on that front (if it is something you're interested in) would be to apply to all the Uni posts anyways and just see what happens- as even those that have expired may not have really filled the position- there are often last minute staff changes/hirings.

Otherwise, on the Uni front at least, the next big hiring season will start mid summer (for the fall).

I suspect a Masters could help with a public school job as well (which are still hiring for sure), but I don't know too much about all that.

Good luck.

[Zark]

Probably the smartest thing to do IMO/IME - if I were you - (add the caveats here) - is to put on a sharp suit and tie, make sure you have a very nice looking resume, get the hair trimmed, the grooming at 100% and hit the road to every university you can find.

Koreans are personal-contact-oriented people and if you present yourself well and have decent qualifications - ya never know.

As the preceding post mentioned - it is a bit late in the season, but positions come up from time to time - people don't show - or show up drunk - or quit when it wasn't what they thought it was. Or, the uni hogwan has a slot open and you can later slip into decent position.

Korean uni professors all know each other and will often know if there is a job somewhere. The plan should be NOT to land a job when you visit, but just to make a good impression - and let that do its work for you over a couple weeks time.

IF you are cordial, well-groomed, well-qualified AND present yourself well - I can almost guarantee you that will have have a job in a few weeks. AND - do all the routine stuff - send a follow-up thank you letter, etc. You may not get the BEST job - but that is what your first year is for anyway: Networking.

You will be quite surprised at the cordial reception you will often get. This is not "cold calling" as you would experience it back home.

Even the first week or two of school is not a bad time to visit as classes are almost always very short or even just canceled for the first week or two.

[HapKi]

I agree with Zark's advice.
There are many universities and colleges in Korea. Just a very, very small percent of them advertise on Dave's.

[yakey]

I used the Zark method and at times it felt like I was spinning my wheels.

But now I've got an awesome job.

It took a while, but it was worth the wait.

[Zark]

MMmmmmm . . . Zark method . . . Good.