Korean Job Discussion Forums

[fiveeagles]

This one guy didn't want to do criminal checks and so I told him I didn't want to work with him. Read what he has to say about that. I normally wouldn't do this, but this is extreme.

[Canadian Club]

I don't think that you should have to submit to a criminal record check to get a job (generally speaking), but I do think that it should be mandatory for teaching children. Korea is a goldmine for anyone who gets off on affectionate youngsters. I'm suprised (happily so) that the country isn't overrun with creeps.

[tfunk]

What's the problem?

He didn't get a job and he shouldn't get a job (judging by his aggressive attitude) teaching children.

[flying_chicken]

Korean ESL industry in one messed up business as it is. During my time working my time working I havent been asked by both recruiters or schools for my background check. I would say similar thing if I was in that dude's shoes being asked by a recruiter for a criminal check, that's extreme man.

[fiveeagles]

[Atavistic]

I had to get fingerprinted before I ever worked in a public school in the States. I had to have criminal checks done before I was even admitted into a teaching program. When I wanted to volunteer as a refugee center tutoring children I had to have a criminal check done. Bus drivers, custodians, substitutes...everyone had to have a criminal check done.

Does this mean nothing ever happened? Of course not. Do I think it cut down on problems substantially? Hell yes.

In my opinion, anyone who wants to work in a school or with children should have criminal checks done. I understand the invasion of privacy/Big Brother argument, but fact is, nobody is forcing you to teach. To me, the tradeoff between your lack of privacy (or whatever) and keeping known criminals out of schools/away from children is worth it.

This guy though, can't use "affect" correctly and he drops F-bombs. There are enough foreigners here who swear in front of children (I worked with three of them). We don't need any more.

[BuHaoChi]

.....

[cbclark4]

I thought the criminal check was required for the E-2 visa?

I got mine done, no problem what so ever.

[Boodleheimer]

just some random thoughts after reading this.

1. shouldn't record checks be required for hagwons? hagwons put you in closer and more intimate contact with young children (often unsupervised), whereas PS teachers have K co-teachers.

2. china doesn't require record checks. does this mean that it's full of pedophiles?

3. the guy might have a point that a lot of pedophiles and sex offenders don't get caught. but that doesn't mean that criminal record checks are useless.

4. getting a criminal record check done can be a royal pain (especially in my state for some reason). and i do find it a little insulting that i'd be suspected. but the guy's reaction was a little over-the-top.

5. when did Korea start requiring criminal record checks? for that matter, when did they start requiring sealed transcripts?

[tfunk]

I think there are two seperate issues here. One is:

1. Is it reasonable to ask for a criminal background check?

2. Was the correspondents responce out of line?

I think the answer to both is yes, although I haven't given much thought to the first question I am basing it on how I'd feel if somebody asked me for a background check. I think the first question depends a lot on a persons sence of identity i.e. I own the information about me and it's private; mine to divulge or share as I see fit.

I think that employers in the child-educational industry should have access to this information as the role of teacher to young teacher is subject to abuse. I don't think a university teacher should be subject to the same process, or most other jobs. For me, the deciding factor would have to be the children.

To the OP, the real question for you is:

Can I afford to continue to ask people for background checks given that some will be offended by the request? Right or wrong in your judgement, people will be offended. As a recruiter I think it would be morally incumbent (sp?) upon me to ask for a background check, particularly for hagwons, regardless of whether it is statutory in Korea or not.

I'd ask for a background check and if the responce was reasonable then I'd accept that.

e.g. "I don't want to give you a criminal background check because I feel it's an infringement of my personal and private space..."

but I wouldn't accept this:

"But if you want to be ignorant and believe otherwise, well go f**uck youself! "

[Satori]

A recruiter should ask for a background check if the specific job he is selling requires one, no problem there. But to ask for one when the job does not require it is way out of line.

[tfunk]

[Satori]

Because if its not required for the job then it is the recruiter forcing his own personal beliefs ( that a criminal check is ok ) on someone when it is not needed. As stated it can be very much a hassle, so it should only be asked for when the job requires it.

[Rapacious Mr. Batstove]

[tfunk]

Satori,
What's wrong with having personal beliefs? I don't think it's an issue of forcing anybody.