Korean Job Discussion Forums

Czarjorge

I've finally got my shi... stuff together and I'm looking to come over to SK, specifically Busan, by January 1st. Why January 1st? Because I don't want to pay the U.S. government for the privilege of having citizenship, at least for a year. And as I understand it you have no tax liability if you are out of the country for a full tax year. (They give you five days to come visit, how nice of them.) Whatever, I'm digressing.

So, how long does it take to go through the whole hiring process? I understand that it is partially a matter of finding a good job, but my expectations are kind of lax. (Busan, probably by PNU, no kids under 8, want walking distance to work, want around 2.3 m won, prefer to live alone, prefer evening schedule; for some reason all of that sounds perfectly reasonable to me, though the list seems longer having written it.) I'm just assuming there are openings that will work with that.

I have an English degree, tutoring experience, and I'm volunteering as an ESL tutor right now. I'm a whitey, Jewish/Gypsy decent but I can pass for standard Middle American. I'm a fatty, but clearly fatties are still allowed to teach, even in SK, or so my friends in country would attest.

So, how long does the process take? Assuming in the next month I find a position I want, and I'm more than willing to work with recruiters and in a hagwon for which the staff will vouch.

Also, everyone seems to say "talk to who you're replacing, talk to the staff." Are most people honest about the state of their hagwons? Is that really the best way to judge a school if you're not willing to come over first?

Thanks

Milwaukiedave · Joined: 02 Oct 2004 Location: Goseong

In terms of the tax code, don't worry about it too much. I actually had a similar discussion with the IRS recently because I came home at the beginning of June. They said it is 350 days (I can't remember what the number is for sure as I don't have my taxes in front of me) in a 12 month period. In my case, I can file for May 2006 to May 2007 on my income and then if I make less then $8,500 (Because I'm going back in October and working the rest of the year) that I won't have to pay taxes on the remaining 3 months of income.

As to the question about getting a job, as soon as you find one and they hire you, it generally moves pretty quickly. I came over in the beginning of the year (2004) and didn't sign a contract until around mid December (2003).

The biggest thing you can do is make sure to have all the documents ready. Don't send your diplomas to the school through the mail. Make sure you research the school and post the contract in the job discussion forum and have someone look over it. Dilligence pays off in the long run. If a recruiter tries to pressure you into signing for a job before you've had ample time to do these things, tell them to go to hell.

Czarjorge · Posted: Mon Oct 01, 2007 10:02 am Post subject:

Has this question been done to death? More importantly, RECENTLY done. Some of those stickies have been dead for years. Are they even relavent anymore?

cruisemonkey · Posted: Mon Oct 01, 2007 10:39 am Post subject:

The average time is about a month from accepting a position until arrival in Korea. It could be less, it could be more; depending on the job, the competence of the recruiter and your individual circumstances.

The Oracle · Joined: 18 Sep 2007

I can count the sands, and I can measure the Ocean;
I have ears for the silent, and know what the signs meaneth;
Lo! on my sense there striketh the smell of shell-covered tortoise,
Boiling now on fire, with the flesh of a dog, in a cauldron,
Brass in the vessel below, and brass to cover above it.

try thy hardest, what may come will be thy destiny.

lastat06513 · Posted: Mon Oct 01, 2007 2:51 pm Post subject:

If you just want to find a job, I've always said this;
If you lose your job in the morning, you can find a job by the evening.

But to find a good job, that could take some time.

And in some cases;
You don't find a good job, a good job will find you.

NoDolan · Joined: 29 Jul 2007

I'm at wits end searching for a job. At this point all I ask the recruiter to do is find me a job in Seoul, No Kindy. I'll even work splits, but they say its hard to find a job in Seoul without tons of experience and because I'm not there already.

pastafarian · Joined: 09 Jan 2006 Location: Seoul, near Olympic Park

spirit2110 · Posted: Mon Oct 01, 2007 6:21 pm Post subject:

pastafarian · Joined: 09 Jan 2006 Location: Seoul, near Olympic Park

yea I would never work splits either

GoldMember · Joined: 24 Oct 2006

How long does it take to find a job? Oh about 10 minutes.
How long does it take to find a GOOD job? Wrong country dude!

robot · Joined: 07 Mar 2006

after leaving my first contract, i took two months seaching before i finally found my dream job.

it was difficult to be out the salary for those two months, but i more than made up for it within a short time.