Korean Job Discussion Forums

[13BT]

hello All,

I have done quite alot of reading (yet hardly scratched the surface) on this forum over the last few days and found that the most relevant information for me is a bit dated (2003). I would be very grateful if I could get some questions answered from experienced folk about todays job climate before I commit to TEFL in Korea.

1. Can I simply fly into SKorea (without a job lined up) and find work in a uni or public school? I would like to teach there for at least 1y starting around mid Feb 2008. Will a 1 way ticket do for the time being? Or will Korean customs give me a hard time without a return ticket?

2. If I manage to find work, will I always be able to make a claim for my airfare there? I read that uni's won't reimburse you, but other institutions will.

3. What are the pros and cons of the EPIK program? Should I be applying for this? Are their contracts negotiable?

4. I read that USD1000 is adequate (for some) to have with you to survive in 'a big city' for 1 month without work. I intend to have USD1500 to see me through. Is this enough? Obviously I will be frugal.

5. What is a fair salary for someone in my position (KRW/month)? I have a B.Bus and CELTA but no professional experience. If I am offered something lower, should I walk away? Are vacancies easy to come by?

6. My accent and education is Australian. My appearance is asian. I read that schools like to have caucasian english teachers. How badly will I be discriminated against when it comes to hiring?

7. Can I expect free housing with every position?

8. Do I arrive on a tourist visa then expect work visa issues to be sorted by the employer each time?

9. Whate are the conditions every employee can expect? Minimum holidays? Sick days? Health Insurance?

10. Is there anyone willing to hang out and show a newbie around the place for his first time in Korea?!

Thats all for now. Thanks in advance for your replies.

Mark.

[Atavistic]

[Snowkr]

Absolutely agree with Atavistic..

you need to do A LOT more research and DO NOT come over here on a tourist visa and no round trip ticket.

[MarionG]

Your ducks are not only not lined up, they are scattering to the ends of the earth. The advice above is very solid. Do NOT come over here without a job, because you'll have to fly back.

Get ALL your documents lines up ...

Then search jobs...
Ask for the names and phone numbers and email addresses of people who work for a school, ask for photos of the school and the housing, make sure the on-site director of the school speaks good English. You can determine this in a phone call.

[Bibbitybop]

OP, I'm going to disagree with some of the advice given previously, but I respect those posters and they have shown themselves to be wise in the past. However, with the new E-2 regulations, some of my answers may not be applicable.

I'm following each of your questions with my answer.

1. Can I simply fly into SKorea (without a job lined up) and find work in a uni or public school? I would like to teach there for at least 1y starting around mid Feb 2008. Will a 1 way ticket do for the time being? Or will Korean customs give me a hard time without a return ticket?

Yes, you can, unless the new E-2 laws have made this impossible. I would hope someone will cite WHY I am wrong (if I am wrong).

I know people who have flown to Korea on their own ticket and lined up a public school job here. Reputable universities are very sought after and do hiring earlier. But public schools have people back out at the last minute from their home countries and often do hire at the last minute.

If you want a public school job, I suggest you apply RIGHT NOW for the Feb 2008 starting dates. You don't have an advantage being here if you are going for a public school job, they will still place you where they want you.

2. If I manage to find work, will I always be able to make a claim for my airfare there? I read that uni's won't reimburse you, but other institutions will.

Yes, but you will have to either pay for your flight over OR your visa run. So if you get your money back from flying here first, expect to fully pay for your visa run ticket.

4. I read that USD1000 is adequate (for some) to have with you to survive in 'a big city' for 1 month without work. I intend to have USD1500 to see me through. Is this enough? Obviously I will be frugal.

Yes, stay in a 25,000 a night yeogwan (love motel) and you will be fine. Or stay in a goshiwon, even cheaper.

5. What is a fair salary for someone in my position (KRW/month)? I have a B.Bus and CELTA but no professional experience. If I am offered something lower, should I walk away? Are vacancies easy to come by?

Public school salaries are set. Google "ETIS," "SMOE" to see their website and a link to their salaries. EPIK is similar, probably have a website.

6. My accent and education is Australian. My appearance is asian. I read that schools like to have caucasian english teachers. How badly will I be discriminated against when it comes to hiring?

SMOE: No discrimination from SMOE (though some teachers in the school will always want a white American with a vag.

7. Can I expect free housing with every position?

Or a decent housing allowance, possibly deposit money. SMOE gives housing or gives you 500,000 won a month (no deposit, though).

8. Do I arrive on a tourist visa then expect work visa issues to be sorted by the employer each time?

They will help you, but you'd better have all your documents in order.

9. Whate are the conditions every employee can expect? Minimum holidays? Sick days? Health Insurance?

SMOE: 21 business days vacation, 15 paid sick days (and 15 unpaid), health insurance is mandatory.

10. Is there anyone willing to hang out and show a newbie around the place for his first time in Korea?!

Your school better do a decent job of this, it's part of their job. And SMOE teachers have some networks available between the teachers.

[Atavistic]

[bassexpander]

[Bibbitybop]

I heard that in-country interviews were only required for "suspicious" applicants, but with immigration spouting off different things to different people and from different offices, who knows anymore.


OP, do us a favor. Call the embassy nearest you and ask if you are required to do an interview. Ask other questions you are unsure about and repost them here.

[Atavistic]

[articulate_ink]

This is an interesting time to choose Korea to get started in ESL. Until recently Korea had a good (well, slick, anyway) system in place for newbies to get into the country and get some experience teaching. True, there were pitfalls: hagwon horror stories abound. You're sure to have read some already. However, the current situation is a bit of a mess. As other posters have noted, if you're serious about Korea, you need to do a lot of research into the new E-2 regs. You also need to know what you're getting yourself into, in terms of the banking restrictions on foreigners and new accounts. And you need to be prepared for the lack of choice in supermarkets, pharmacies, and so on. This last bit may be of no importance, or it may matter a lot.

[13BT]

wow, thanks for the replies and insights!

My limited readings have suggested that it is indeed difficult to make a start in Korea and the new E2 (from the unofficial reports I've read) arent helping any. So many hoops to jump through.

I have read many tales of dissapointment, disagreements, and midnight runners. Perhaps Korea isn't the place for a newbie without connections?

I was accepted for a place in Vietnam yesterday and I'm seriously considering it. I havent come across as many tales of woe about Vietnam as I have about Korea, and maybe the lesser pay is worth it.

I have read more negatives about EPIK than I have positives. Would anyone care to report if EPIK has changed for the better? The stories I read in FAQ were very old.

Thanks again for all your replies.

[Cerriowen]

I'm enjoying myself here in korea, but it's taken about 2 years to finally get "hip" to their culture differences, and become a lot less upset about incompetence. I've got ties here, so I'm staying... but if I were a noobie, I'd totally pick a different country. Even more so in light of the crappy E2 regs coming in to effect.

[Bibbitybop]

OP, public school jobs are usually the type of jobs that have less runners because they follow the contracts. There are bad stories, but you must understand that people who post on here are here to vent or problem solve. Those who are happy in PS jobs aren't on here much gloating about their good situation.

I suggest you apply now, from your country, for EPIK, GEPIK and SMOE. See what happens. It opens a door for you and doesn't lock you into anything.

[yeremy]

I like your sense of adventure. You've got some guts. I think that your plan would have worked in the past but today it has some weaknesses. I don't think you're planning to bring enough money and you will have to talk your way past Immigration with only a one-way ticket and a tourist visa. People who know Korea and Seoul can make it for a month on $1,500 but you may have some trouble because it helps a lot to speak (some) Korean to find cheap places to sleep and eat.
I suggest that you stay home and go through a recruiter. It'll save you a lot of money and headaches. I am pretty sure that EPIK has not hired all the teachers they want to for Feb. 2008. EPIK, GEPIK, and SMOE salaries are non-negotiable. I work in GEPIK and I wish the salaries were negotiable, so you're out of luck there. You can cut more of a deal with an English Institute, a Hagwon. A recruiter can line you up with that, too.

As far as recruiters go, I have had good results with WorknPlay and I like Korvia, too. However, there are a lot of recruiters in Korea. Go to the Korean Job Board for ideas and start e-mailing your resume and basic documents (resume, page 1 and 2 of your passport, scanned copy of your CELTA cert, resume, references, scanned copy of your diploma and transcripts, plus any other required documents you can prepare) to recruiters.

I don't have a CELTA, but I believe that they have a job placement and preparation service for their graduates. Do take advantage of their help if you can in preparing an EFL resume and cover letter to e-mail. It will help you a lot to get a job more quickly if you prepare as many of the documents you will need for a job and then send them via e-mail to a recruiter, or to EPIK, GEPIK or to SMOE.

Be smart. Stay home and apply for jobs through recruiters via the Internet. Save your money. Do your homework and get your documents ready. Send them out and do the phone interview. It may take you a month or two to get a job this way, but you'll save a lot of money and you'll enter Korea the right way rather than on a tourist visa, which will raise Immigrations suspicions. I think if you do this, you'll have a better experience in Korea overall and you'll cover all of your bases.