Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Scarlet13]

I am currently working with several recruiters and I am getting conflicting information from them so I was wondering if someone could give me some impartial advice.
One recruiter is telling me that legally a recruiter needs TWO separate licenses to operate in Korea, a business license AND a recruiter�s license, the other is telling me that this is not a legal requirement, and only has a business license.
Does anyone know which is correct ? For obvious reasons I would prefer to work with someone operating legally.

Any help would be great.

[kprrok]

Recruiters are scum. They will do nothing to help you once they are paid by the school. Remember that, they work for the school, not you. You are just a thousand bucks to them. Who cars if they are legal? They will introduce you to some schools, and if you like the school, don't even talk to the recruiter anymore, that's just adding a person to the chain who doesn't need to be there. He will slow things down and you won't get direct answers.

KPRROK

[BigBuds]

To legally recruit in Korea you do need to licences. A business licence form the taxation department and a rcruiters licence from the local city hall where their office is set up.

It sounds like this guy is try to work as a recruiter from home as you need a physical office to get a recruiters licence. It also makes it a lot easier for him to disappear if things go bad.

Anyone can a business licence but it's more difficult to get a recruiters licence. That's why many recruiters here do get recruiters licences as it makes them more accountable and easier to track down.

[hubba bubba]

Mostly, that's true. I wouldn't say that all recruiters are scum, but they are pretty much only interested in "fill and bill". I've had extensive experience in the "placement" industry, and not just as a recruiter or candidate for employment.

At the end of the day, their legal status doesn't mean shit. Stop focusing on that. Focus on how you can get the most out of your time here instead. There are a bunch of tossers who have legal status. You can also get hooked up with a good group of people who just don't happen to have proper legal credentials. In Korea, the law is pretty arbitrary.

Having said that, I will always go to the mat for kimnjoes.com Maybe it's kimnjoe.com, not sure. These guys are straight (and legal). Most of the people I know have gone through them, with almost no complants. They are the prime recruiters in Busan. If you are intersted in a decent job in that area, don't play around. They are straight professionals. PM me for details.

Good luck.

Hubba

[Scarlet13]

It seems logical to me that if a recruiter will lie to me about his legal status he would be more likely to lie to me about other things as well. If this is the case, I would just like to know who I'm dealing with. I have no intention of blindly trusting any recruiter. However, I see nothing wrong with utilizing their services in addition to looking independently and see who turns up the best job.

[nob2626]

[pest2]

Its ironic.. I was thinking you did some recruiting in the past for a certain school, yourself, didnt ya?

[bobbybigfoot]

OP,

I think what is most important here is: who is telling the truth. Once you discover your recruiter lying, I'd jump ship. If he will lie about this, he'll most certainly lie about something else.

I dropped a recruiter from ESL Planet because he sent me a lame sucker contract. If this recruiter would allow me to sign this document then I *know* that he does not have my best interests at heart. I have no problem with recruiters looking to serve the interests of the employer, but he must temper that with the interests of the employee. And it can be done. Shoot straight from the hip. Give the pros and cons. Most foreigners just want to know what the challenges are, so they can deal with them accordingly. But a recruiter saying things like: "oh , that was just an oversight on my part" ...well that really means, "you caught me trying to screw you over, but I can adjust that a little. I'll use a little lube the next time. Oh did it really say that you owe the ENTIRE plane ticket if you get fired in the final month. Oops. Oversight."

Jump ship at first sign of deception. Icebergs run *very* deep.

[Scarlet13]

Well regardless of where I find a job, I will do my best to check it out on my own.

As far as I can tell I will need to do the following:

1) Search Dave's for threads related to the school and or post thread to gather background
2) Check Blacklists (with caution)
3) Contact teachers currently working at the school
4) Post my contract
5) Ask for pictures of the school

What else should I be doing?

Oh, and I have 'jumped ship'

Thanks Again

[bobbybigfoot]

[PRagic]

Using Recruiters - Steps to take:

Get your resume together
Get a picture taken (clean cut, professional appearance)
Get a passport
Get copies of your degrees and official transcripts
Have originals ready as well
Scan everything if possible

Contact every recruiter in the book. Know:

1) What age you want to teach
2) Where you want to teach (city and neighborhood if possible)
3) Have school search limits handy (e.g., number of foreign employees, years in business...)
4) Have housing criteria in mind (roommates? travel time to school?)
5) Have reasonable salary and vacation expectations in mind

Don't budge. Make them work for you. There is a school in Korea for you. If they can't find it, they don't get your business. Remember that their job #1 is to place you and get paid. Few recruiters will put your long-term satisfaction ahead of their short term income.

Don't be rushed. It's better to put off your journey for a month or more than to get here and suffer. You will need to be a bit flexible, but not too much. For example, vacation is a sticky point at hakwons; if you do get it, it's usually at 'the discretion of the school,' as to when you can take it!