Korean Job Discussion Forums

[hossenfeffer]

I hope that this topic hasn't been covered ad nauseam. I have just completed a one year contract at a hogwan and am strongly considering switching to a public school position in Seoul in March. What advice do you have for getting a job at a GOOD public school? Are there any recruitment agencies you would recommend? Would you definitely NOT recommend using a recruiter. Where is the best place to find job listings for public school positions. Any opinions on EPIK? Help!

I have a Master's degree in English, a TEFL certificate and a year of experience middle school students in Seoul. Please point me in the right direction.

Thanks,
Hoss

[butlerian]

TENET Korea.

[hossenfeffer]

thanks butlerian.

Have you used this recruitment agency before? Do they have a good reputation?

hoss.

[crazy_arcade]

Korvia

Ex-worknplay recruiters who left to start their own business. They'll work hard to find a school that matches you.

[blaseblasphemener]

[Bibbitybop]

SMOE (Seoul Public Schools) either hire directly (do a search for "ETIS" on a search engine) or they hire through specific recruiters like Footprints or WorkNPlay (thought I hear WNP's website has been screwy). I suggest you apply NOW directly through SMOE.

If you are hired, you will be placed where SMOE needs you and getting a good or bad school is the luck of the draw. SMOE sticks to their contracts, so if you do end up in a nutty school, you are backed up by SMOE on contractual issues.

[ajgeddes]

Try to get a job in Gangnam. They are the best Public School jobs in Seoul and have the best support.

[Bibbitybop]

[ajgeddes]

[merkurix]

[Boodleheimer]

grouping together my experience at two different high schools and my boyfriend's experience at two more, our experiences have really depended on the schools themselves -- co-teachers and admin -- more than which school district/city the schools are in. i don't know how you'd scout for that.

[jhaelin]

if you decide to teach public schools in seoul,
i would recommend getting in touch with the office of education yourself.
do an "etis" search as someone else suggested, and then find the contact person on their website.
send them a nice email and your credentials. much better doing it this way then through a recruiter.

[Kevtron]

Though I've got a bit more for my year to be up I'm thinking very similar thoughts to the OP. Though a U gig would be sweet as well. I taught at my U back home while working on my MA (in Communication) and really enjoyed the autonomy as well as the students themselves. The hagwon is ok, but just not as enjoyable.
So other than public school jobs. Where do you go to look for U jobs? It seems that they often almost require a contact or connection within the U at times. Also how much would a TESL certificate help for one of these jobs if I do already have the MA (though as I said not in TESL)?

[hossenfeffer]

Thanks for all the comments.

I've thought a lot about the university positions but it seems that they all want someone with a year of experience teaching in university, which I don't have. Also, all the university positions I've seen advertised on Dave's only offer 4 to 8 weeks of vacation. Another big problem is that they want in-person interviews. I have to be out of the country on December 3. It will be EXTREMELY difficult for me to meet that requirement.

If anyone has any helpful information on getting a university job, I would be very appreciative.

Thanks,
hoss

[Kevtron]

Sticking to questions regarding Uni jobs...

When does the school year start at Universities here? Beginning of September? My contract goes till then, but it might be possible to save vacation time in order to start one next year if I was able to find one. But I'm not even sure if that's possible or not. Really depends on their specific start date.