Korean Job Discussion Forums

[bizrandom]

I have done my searches on asknow, and have not seen a post since last year. My main concern with them is will I get an older class, as I hear they specialize in younger kids? They have seemed more friendly and conversive than anyone else I have spoken. I am of course talking to as many recruiters as possible, and in general recruiters have a bad name. However, the fact that asknow organizes get togethers with their placements seems to show me they are not only in it for the money, but take a vested interest in their clients because they can place them again. This leads me to believe they will help out if things go south.

I have heard Footprints mentioned, along with englishteachingkorea.com as being well established companies.

After having read these forums for the last month, I know things change quickly and would like some updated feedback.

(I am a licenced teacher in the US, have a masters and 3 years of classroom teaching {middle, and HS})

Thank you in advance

[xCustomx]

http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?t=103020&highlight=footprints

[Snowkr]

OP

Footprints is reputable and I would imagine some of the others to be as well. Recruiters though tend to be for people with little to no qualifications and you certainly don't fall into that category.

Have you considered posting your resume online or applying directly to schools here in Korea?

[yeremy]

I read your post. I recommend either Korvia or WorknPlay. Ann Park at Korvia is the recruiting manager and she is very honest and hardworking. She used to work at WorknPlay and when I had difficulties, she was always there to talk and help me sort things out. WorknPlay is okay, but ever since Ann Park left they have not been as quick to respond to your queries. I think I have read some good things about Footprints, but I have never used them.
Most EFL recruiters in Korea are in it for the money. You have to remember that when you are talking with them. They will likely push you to take a job so they can get their commission from the client. And, I would not recommend taking a job blindly without checking it out first. Some recruiters will lie to you and stick you in a job that you would throw up at if you checked it out beforehand. Since coming to Korea is both expensive and time consuming to look for jobs on the ground, I would ask a Korean friend about where a job is located and about the contract, etc. Public schools are less likely to lie and to cheat you, but they are very bureaucratic just like back home.
Hagwons are what you need to really check very carefully plus some universities which will put ads out and then stick you into their uni hagwon, called a unigwon by the EFL community here. In a hagwon you could work from 24 hours a week up to 35 hours a week in an English institute complete with a factory time clock which counts your monthly hours by the minute.
The bottom line is that you need to be smart enough to keep yourself out of trouble, and to work your way through the storms when you're working in Korea as a teacher. The EFL industry here is big, highly politicized and very commercialized. Good luck.

[GreenlightmeansGO]

Off-topic, but I still think it is useful: You sound like you're looking for a school job...but with your masters and experience I think you should be looking at a uni job...less hours, more holiday...

I think I used ellipsis too much in this post...

[Adahma]

I've applied with Footprints and ASK Now ... so far no complaints

[Beezo44]

ASKNOW was the first recruiter i applied with and i liked their website and they seemed professional. However, they referred me to SLP and one of the guys there swore to me that this school is reputable and that I wouldn't be working on the weekends but according to these forums they lied to me. SLP has been bashed left and right on these forums. I have grown wary of recruiters and haven't had the best of experiences with them so far.

[Beezo44]

Since I don't want to cause any disarray, let me say that ASKNOW is a very good website and they seem professional but they did refer me to SLP, which ACCORDING to these forums, has a terrible reputation. Also, i was initially under the impression that I wouldn't be working weekends but again ACCORDING to these forums, I would be working weekends. Also, there were vague generalities with the school that I would be working weekends. But in fairness, they give you a wealth of information and do respond to your e-mails in a timely fashion. I haven't dealt with them enough to give a concrete review and don't want to bash any recruiters but I'd like for my experience with them to work. Also, Englishapple has been good for me. They answer your e-mails rapidly and try to get many offers on the table for you so that you have more options to choose from. There are other recruiters I have dealt with but not worth mentioning. Hope this helps some of you people looking to latch on with a recruiter.

[elliemk]

If you want to work on the East Coast (Ulsan, Changwon, Busan and surrounding areas), I can highly recommend Jake Kim. His email address is kimjungwhan at hotmail.com. His phone number is: 010-8536-9317. His new Web site is: http://www.teachkorea.info

This guy speaks nearly perfect English and has his own contract. He is wonderful and will work very hard for you. Please let him know that Ellie sent you.

Good luck!

[ambienteye]

I went through ASKnow, and got placed in a public school through GEPIK. I think my school made all the difference, but I like ASKnow well enough. They answered all my questions, keep in touch and also have occasional get-togethers, which is more than most recruiters do.

The main thing is to research your schools as much as possible, because the recruiter doesn't realistically have much control over your school. Also, go for a public school if you can. Hagwons are riskier. Even when they swear the schools are good, because it's a private industry, the management could change at the drop of a hat.

[elliemk]

Just updated the Web site address for Jake Kim.