Korean Job Discussion Forums

mlcqueen · Joined: 08 Jun 2007

Ok everyone, I have a question to ask. I am very angry at this point in time. I have been working with a recruiter at netkorea(who shall remain nameless.) Anyway I signed a contract with the school to work starting August 15th. However I did not get a letter of appointment until this past week. Because it took so long I did not bother to buy my plane ticket or anything yet. I told my recruiter that I would not be able to make it to Korea by that date due to it being such a short time away. Keep in mind that I also have not went to get my visa yet since I just got the notice of appointment to do so. When I told my recruiter the deal, she threatened that I could possibly be blacklisted if I did not do everything I needed to do and arrive on time, which is like 3 days away!!!!! Is this possible? Will I now not be able to find a job and come to Korea?

cruisemonkey · Posted: Sun Aug 12, 2007 7:39 pm Post subject:

Just start doing what you need to do... when you get to Korea, you get to Korea.

They can't fault you if they send you your notice of appointment only three days before they want you to arrive (it takes five working days to process a visa). Rolling Eyes

Saxiif · Joined: 15 May 2003 Location: Seongnam

99% of threats to blackmail are BS.

I wouldn't worry about it, the Korean immigration guys can't even be bothered to confirm with your university that your diploma is real they're far too lazy to listen and keep track of yappings from recruiters.

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

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

The recruiter sounds very unprofessional and the school sounds very disorganized and both seem to be suffering from a severe breakdown in communication. If the school can't communicate crucial info to the recruiter, I can't even imagine the lack of communication you might experience once you start working for them. I think you are better off applying somewhere else. BTW there is no "official" binding Korean blacklist (as far as I know) unless you have been deported for shenanigans and told you may not return for a while by the government. Don't worry.

Do your research and Google not only the names of the schools, but also the recruiters as there are many who are difficult or downright rotten. But still take the negative info with a grain of salt. And definitely don't take any job that starts lobbing threats and intimidation at you before even starting to work there. Why jump for something that already gave you a tiny taste of the hell to come?

MrsSeoul · Joined: 31 May 2007

It sounds like lies to me.

tigerbluekitty · Joined: 19 Apr 2007

Sounds like your recruiter's a manipulative, controlling b*tch.

Don't fall for his/her BS.

wylies99 · Joined: 13 May 2006 Location: I'm one cool cat!

You CAN'T be blacklisted until you are IN Korea and you do something VERY naughty.

icnelly · Joined: 25 Jan 2006 Location: Bucheon

[quote="wylies99"]You CAN'T be blacklisted until you are IN Korea and you do something VERY naughty.[/quote]

What is the blacklist deal? Who does it? How do they do it? Anything to do about it?

mlcqueen · Joined: 08 Jun 2007

oh thanks for the replies everyone, when my recruiter told me that deal my first thought was bitch please!!! excuse my language. I didnt think it was feasible to be blacklisted if not in the country, just wanted to consult with you guys first since you already have the experience. Needless to say I shall be looking for employment elsewhere, but I must say that experience has caused some doubt as to whether or not I even want to come!!!

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

buymybook · Joined: 21 Feb 2005 Location: Telluride

potblackettle · Joined: 23 Aug 2006 Location: South Korea

Have they actually gotten you a visa yet?

If not you can give them a big f'u.

If you don't have a visa to work at the school there's nothing they can do to.

I signed a contract but then found out the school had a really bad reputation. I did not have a visa yet so I told the recruiter I would not be taking the job. She gave me the same crap. I checked various legal sites and found out it was crap. A week later I signed a contract for another school. 3 weeks later I arrived in Korea, got my visa and have been sitting pretty ever since.

As someone else said, don't let this spoil Korea for you. I love my job and my boss. My husband and I have signed a second contract and we're having a baby here. Just make sure you do your RESEARCH... research everything. Check every blacklist! Check Dave's. Ask other posters. Make sure your contract is airtight! I knew I had found a good school because the foreign teacher had been here for 3 years, had reasonable but good things to say about the school and because the director was more than willing to make fair changes in the contract.

jellobean · Joined: 14 Mar 2006

If you just got your visa issuance number now, I am not surprised.... There has been a huge back up this month (and this is something recruiters/hagwons can't control).... I have a number of friends starting later than expected, even at public schools because they had to wait on the number.....

If you feel comfortable with the school (as opposed to the recruiter) and they already have an issuance number for you, I'd bet they don't want to wait the 4-6 weeks it will take to find another teacher and have the documents processed..... You may not want to wait that long either and it may take you a lot of time to get your documents back.... That said, if you have bad vibes about the school itself... Get out now....

If there is another foreign teacher where you are going, I would ask to speak with them and see what the situation is.... The hagwon owner may have no problem with you showing up in a week or two if he understands that you just got the visa number today (1-2 weeks is better than the 4-6 to get another teacher).... If he does, you probably don't want to work for such an illogical unreasonable boss anyway... I'd bet the recruiter is trying to blame you and look good with the hagwon owener..... The recruiter doesn't want to take the blame for you being late... Also, at this point, I would insist that they purchase the ticket for you and make sure you tell them when the earliest time you can get a visa is so they don't purchase the ticket if it is too early....

It is impossible to even get the visa in 3 days in most US/Canadian consulates.... So insisting you get there in 3 days is ridiculous...

lastat06513 · Posted: Wed Aug 15, 2007 3:05 pm Post subject:

no, you CAN'T be blacklisted if you aren't in Korea yet....