Korean Job Discussion Forums

[drogon]

Greetings to the community

This will be a lengthy post so I already apologize.

I am an adopted Korean (therefore entitled to apply for an F4 visa).
2 university degrees (meteorology and journalism), I have been adopted by a European family and I spent most of my childhood in English speaking countries (international schools).
I worked for years in the aviation sector and in total more than 6 years of my professional life have been spent in English speaking companies.
(right now I am working for an American multinational company)
In addition I also have some teaching experience including teaching technical English to adults.

As I wish to relocate to my native country I started to look for a position.
Now my question.

After having sent my CV/resume I received quite a few offers for.......
English teaching jobs.
I answered positively and all the interviews went well then the offers were taken back when the director/CEO etc.... gave their answers.

I am wondering why????
To sum it up. My resume includes a photo (so it should be pretty obvious for the schools that I look Korean).
The interviews (Got interviewed only by foreign teachers) went well as the teachers were enthusiastic (and not faking as I have some experience working for HR) and by the way my English has a neutral accent.

I know I have some disadvantages like being Korean, not being a native English speaker but I really think that if some schools went through the cost of calling me (some called me 2 - 3 times) then my application was of interest for them or am I wrong?

I really do not understand maybe someone could explain?

Thanks

[Ya-ta Boy]

There is a definite preference for a white face in many (most) schools/institutes here. Parents put pressure on bosses. There seems to be some prestige in being able to say my kid has a native speaker for a teacher.

Don't worry. You are not unemployable. Contact some of the gyopos here and ask them for advice. They have more knowledge about who will hire ethnic Koreans. If you also speak Korean, there are many companies that are desperate to find you.

From what you wrote, you are multilingual. There are schools that teach languages other than English. That's something to consider. Also from what you wrote, it is evident your English is perfect, so you could look into jobs in translating and/or publishing, as well as trade. Think about a government job.

My guess is that you have just had a run of bad luck. There is a great job out there waiting for you.

[KYC]

Korean Americans do get hired...so I wouldn't worry about. I'm Asian American and I had some trouble at first but I still found a great job.

[Real Reality]

Foreigners Fight Bias
No Foreigners Allowed: Nationality Discrimination Legal in Korea
By Christopher Carpenter and Jane Han, Korea Times (December 12, 2006)
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/news_view.asp?newsIdx=3033479
Image URL
http://photo.hankooki.com/newsphoto/2006/12/12/ensor200612122018471nofor3.jpg

Racial Superiority Is the Problem
by Han Kyung-koo, Chosun Ilbo (August 29, 2007)
http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200708/200708290007.html

Foreign Residents Face Discrimination
In Riding Subways, Opening Web Sites and Getting License
By Kim Tae-jong, Korea Times (May 31, 2007)
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2007/05/113_3819.html

Foreigners Experience Difficulties in Living in Korea
by Jae-Dong Yu and Soo-Jung Shin, Donga.com (July 4, 2004)
http://english.donga.com/srv/service.php3?biid=2004070522448

For Housing Rentals, Foreigners Easy Victims
By Byun Duk-kun, Korea Times (August 28, 2003)
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/news_view.asp?newsIdx=2162664

Have you been paid late in Korea?
http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/korea/viewtopic.php?t=18732

[OiGirl]

Is your adopted family from an English-speaking country?

In what country did you earn your university degrees?

[guccigoo]

I'm a NY born and bred Korean and honestly, the only reason why I got the job in Korea is because my uncle has a lot of influence and talked to some Hakwon owners.

When I was applying to hakwon's through a recruiter, I told the recruiter specifically to place me anywhere in Seoul. He tried and told me no one would take me because I was asian. The only hakwon's that would take me were in the boondocks are deep in the woods. Sucked big time.

I don't know what else to tell you except keep trying. I actually have a couple of korean friends who were able to get work without enlisting the help of their relatives. It just took them a while. =T

[drogon]

I am an adopted Korean therefore I do not have any Korean relatives.

My university degrees:
- Journalism obtained in French.
- Meteorology: All courses were in English (as in the aviation sector English is the only language used in meteorology)

I do not speak Korean, the only advantages I have are that I spent most of my childhood in English speaking countries or international schools and that I have been working for now more than 6 years in English speaking companies. (I am at the moment working for an American international company, leader in its market, as manager responsible for checking that the language requirements for the products catering to the English speaking markets are met)

Thanks for your answers, will keep looking.

What puzzles me is why these schools went through all the process
(and the costs of calling Europe) and were interested till the Korean director had to make a decision......don't they read the resume + introduction letter and look at the photos first????

[Alyallen]

[drogon]

The funny thing is I never thought I would teach again.

My point is: It is quite clear (after taking a look at my photo and reading my resume + introduction letter) that I look Korean etc...
thus if people are not interested by my profile then they simply do not contact me........At least this is what my experience in HR taught me.

True, I worked in Asia for 2 years (never in Korea) and the way the Korean language schools work suprises me more each time.

[Fresh Prince]

[butlerian]

[drogon]

In 3 cases I got offered the positions (after interviews etc...) then they were taken back.......Even received one contract then sent it back signed
then received a mail telling me that I will not be hired.
(thanks for telling me that after I paid Fedex)

I have a good position in Europe and I am just eager to go back to my native country.

I find this first contact with Korea is not what I expected.
(From my logical point of view when a company tells you that they want to hire you and even send you a contract to sign then I assume that everything will go smoothly, seems that in Korea this is not the case)

Yes, I would be far more interested in finding a university job but the problem is I do not have a Phd and of course I am not a citizen from an "English speaking country".

I got another "final" interview yesterday, this time with the owner/director of the hakwon herself.
She told me that she wanted to hire me, I know that oral promises worth nothing, so I am waiting for an update on monday.

Thanks to all the posters

[jvalmer]

Try the public schools. Also, work out in the provinces. The country is so small that it only takes some 4 or 5 hours max to get into Seoul.

[drogon]

From what I know (could be wrong though) there are no chances that public schools would consider my application.

I am on an F4 visa (so it means that I do not have to meet the requirements needed for an E2 visa like being a citizen from UK, US etc...)
but I do not think a public school would recruit someone who does not have the tag "native English speaker".

[ttompatz]