Korean Job Discussion Forums

[GreenlightmeansGO]

Just got the idea in my head to try for a university job for next year.

I know that the 'ideal' requirements are masters graduates, celta/tesol folks and other well-qualified types, but I want to know what the chances of getting lucky are and whether someone with a little ol' BA can work at a Uni.

I will have a year's experience (kindy - so you know I'm dedicated), a BA in English and Media, I will have a TEFL by March next year (online one, as far as I can see) and am thinking about a CELTA in Thailand.

Honest opinions. Blunt answers are fine (just try be polite).

Thanks.

[Snowkr]

From what I've understood, one year's teaching experience and a B.A. meet the criteria for getting a uni job here.

[biggpoppa]

you'll definitely be able to land a job in a uni outside of seoul...so as long as you don't have your hopes set on a uni in seoul, you should find yourself with a few options...

[bassexpander]

It depends on many things, from qualifications to how you look. I'm not saying that you have to be a beautiful person (though it would help) -- it's more about looking and acting professional. Dress in a suit/tie, if you're a guy. Prepare a good passport-sized photo in a suit at one of those Fuji or Kodak stores.

Where you can get lucky is when the applicants who are picked before you end up going to better offers. Then the school looks down the list.

I can't stress how important your photo is. No webcam photos printed on plain paper. No photos of you oogling your girlfriend, or some Korean woman at Hongdae -- even if you scratch out her face. No pictures of you with your stupid furball cat. Pony-up the 11,000 won it costs for a good color passport photo as mentioned above. Wear a suit. If you balk about wearing a suit, then it's my opinion that you should stick to tree planting, fruit picking, and hagwons.

[Milwaukiedave]

It's not out of the question. I agree you are more likely to find something outside of Seoul to start with. It also depends heavily on who else applies for the position and what their qualifications are compared to yours, which is something you have little or no control over. You'd have a better chance with some experience teaching adults though. The TEFL and CELTA certs will help (I'm not sure if you'd need both). If there is anyway to do a little volunteer work on the side to gain some experience with adults that would give you a little bit of a boost in that department.

[Homer]

GreenlightmeansGO,

From what you describe you might, read might, be able to land a university position in one of the smaller college-type insitutions. Or, you could qualify for what they call a unikown (university owned hakwon) position.

For the better universities and positions you will need that M.A. or a very serious connection with someone working there.....

I know the University I work for will not consider applicants without a M.A., this is just their way of weeding out candidates. I also know some Universities (the smaller ones) will accept B.A. holders with some experience.

Other Universities (the larger ones) will only consider a short list of candidates with ESL related M.A. degrees...and even request significant experience as well....

It is a wide field but your goal is not impossible and you do seem to be taking the right steps with the TESOL and CELTA.

Good luck.

[Kwangjuchicken]

Yes to the post before me. MA or higher. But, you will notice that a huge percent of the UNI jobs in Korea are actually in the uni's hogwan, not actually teaching credit courses for Frehmen- Senior. I do teach credit courses at all levels in a Korean University, but I have a PhD and 27 years experience.

[SuperHero]

all your answers can be found here - pay attention to the_beaver

[Homer]

Good link superhero..

For convenience here is beavers' post...

It is dead on target and it mirrors my experiences very closely...I did most of what he did to get my first good university position. The job I have now required much the same plus a connection (ie. do attend conferences and meetings if only to network and meet fellow teachers and administrators).

[the_beaver]

Holy hell. I've been resurrected.

I'll update my opinions and say that the competition is getting tougher and that you'll have to work harder to set yourself apart from the pack nowadays. Unigwons seem to be getting more common and while they're not all bad, they aren't exactly what most people are looking for.

I still say it's possible to get a good gig without an MA on account of I know people who have recently done it, but it's getting harder. There are also a few tenure track positions popping up here and there (or virtual tenure track, there might be some nuance of differences but nothing big) and a lot of departments in different schools are hiring their own teachers instead of relying on freshman program or general studies department teachers.

As always, set yourself apart in a good way and you have a good chance.

[bassexpander]

Unigwon job quality is totally school-dependent. I'm currently in a unigwon postion, and loving it. By the way, 90 percent of my courses are graded and count toward student graduation. I also teach English department courses.

The teachers in the English department teach many of the same courses we do. One of them has a BA.

Some unigwons have you teaching children, which I wouldn't care for, unless I were paid a lot for it.

My uni is in Seoul, but yes, it's quite small.

[OneWayTraffic]

*Looking at the posts above*

Wow that's a lot of work. Most I've ever been through is a quick phone call and an in person interview. If that.

Fair enough though. University jobs are the most in demand here, and therefore you should go through the steps to hire the best.

What's the pay like these days for uni? Does it match what F2s can make or not? I know the hours are pretty hard to beat.

[bassexpander]

I've got what I'd call an average uni job. It's a unigwon, but all of my students are uni students.

Base pay is 2.5 for 15 hours per week, and OT is anywhere between 19,000 and 30,000 per hour (last I checked) depending on what time of day/evening the OT is. I work about 4 hours of OT, depending. Then I pick up another 2 hours of non-credit free talking courses, which are really easy to teach (no grading). Pay is 30,000 to 35,000 per hour for those.

The good times are the breaks. I can teach winter or summer school (or both), which are 3 weeks long. To teach 3 hours per day for 3 weeks equals about 1.5 million won extra. If you take 6 hours (as I will this winter), you can make 3 million extra on top of the 2.5 mill base. Not bad for a month, and I still have over 1 1/2 months of vaca after that. Total of around 4 1/2 months of vaca paid per year. Too much for me, so I prefer to pick up as many extra vacation hours as possible. It pays too well not to do this.

Is it as good as having an F2?

No way.

[cazador83]

dang, i want your job. where do you find unigwons anyway? recruiters? online?

[yingwenlaoshi]

Sh1tty transcripts get binned.