Korean Job Discussion Forums

Forbidden-Donut · Joined: 17 Jul 2007

I'm thinking it'd be better off if I came to Korea and then secured a job.

I guess I should get a tourist visa and then get the round-trip ticket and head over.

After that it gets difficult...
-
I want to be in a big city. I will probably take a week or two to go to Seoul, Busan, Gwangju to get a feel for them. Good idea?

-Where can I find cheap hotels in the cities?
-How can I get a cell phone, since I will be needing one to contact schools?
-Whats the best way to set up interviews with schools? And how can I find the schools that aren't advertising their jobs through Daves or recruiter sites?
-Should I go through recruiters or just contact the schools from the Job Board?
-Will they give me copies of the contract to look over (so i can post them here?)
-Will I be able to negotiate flight reimbursement? (I read that FAQ but there wasn't many answers given)
-What else do I need to consider in going about employment this way?
lots of questions, but hey this isnt a trip to the grocery store.

thanks!

mspencer1983 · Joined: 17 Sep 2007

i think if you're new to this process and that clueless and have THAT many questions about it...you're probably better off to just secure a job from your home country

Bibbitybop · Joined: 22 Feb 2006 Location: Seoul

Mr Freeze · Joined: 28 Sep 2007

jadarite · Posted: Mon Nov 19, 2007 1:24 am Post subject:

Why pay for the ticket in the first place? Korea is the only country I have seen that will pay for both ways. China will reimburse for your ticket home, but I haven't seen offers to pay for a ticket to China (unless I am reading the offers wrong). Japan, well, forget Japan paying any of it.

I would secure a job first before coming. If you are really impatient, try to do the visa run to Japan if it's not too late.

mindmetoo · Joined: 02 Feb 2004

Ummmm, while the new rules have not been published, it sounds like they might get rid of the Japan visa run. It might be retained for teachers with E2 visas still in country but surely a person here on a tourist visa would not qualify. I would highly suggest at this point not to come. Or if you do, recognize your window is closing very quickly. I think they're supposed to introduce the new law in December.

stevie rotten · Joined: 31 Jan 2003

i've done the just-show-up-and-see-what-kind-of-jobs-turn-up search before and it worked out. however, i wouldn't recommend it now. if you'd just be signing with one of the first schools to make an offer in order to beat the possible visa regulation change you're probably not any better off than you would be finding a job from your home country. as it is now you'd be much better off having the visa sorted out before arrival.

jadarite · Posted: Mon Nov 19, 2007 7:05 pm Post subject:

What if you don't have a home address?

Do they expect you to have a house that you don't live in just so you have an address from the country you were born in? I can understand how they can put the restriction on theoretically, but in practice it doesn't make sense.

Something has got to give. It sounds like this might also be something Japan has a part in, not just Korea. They probably don't want to issue visas so another country can compete with them in the markets which need English spoken. Japan doesn't need to attract people as much as Korea, so things like paid airfare and apartment rent are off the table when signing a contract in Japan.

mindmetoo · Joined: 02 Feb 2004