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danby_ll
Joined: 06 Dec 2006
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 Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2008 2:08 pm Post subject: Looking to go to Korea later this year - some questions |
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I spent a semester studying in Korea last year and am looking to go back to teach after graduating this spring. I hope someone can help me out with a few questions I have.
1. Arriving in July would be ideal for me. I know most schools usually hire for March and September. How likely would it be that I could find an opening in July or August?
2. Do most schools book your flight for you, or could I book my own? My Korean boyfriend will be flying back there in July so we'd like to fly together. That would also mean I wouldn't need someone from the school to pick me up at the airport. Would this work? If I wanted to arrive a few weeks before the start of my contract, would everything be okay with the reimbursement of my flight ticket?
3. With the new E2 regulations, when should I start applying for jobs if I want to start in July? I'll be graduating in May and finishing my TESL certificate course in late April. Would I wait until I have everything in my hands before applying?
Thanks to whoever can help me out. |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2008 3:06 pm Post subject: Re: Looking to go to Korea later this year - some questions |
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| danby_ll wrote: |
I spent a semester studying in Korea last year and am looking to go back to teach after graduating this spring. I hope someone can help me out with a few questions I have.
1. Arriving in July would be ideal for me. I know most schools usually hire for March and September. How likely would it be that I could find an opening in July or August?
2. Do most schools book your flight for you, or could I book my own? My Korean boyfriend will be flying back there in July so we'd like to fly together. That would also mean I wouldn't need someone from the school to pick me up at the airport. Would this work? If I wanted to arrive a few weeks before the start of my contract, would everything be okay with the reimbursement of my flight ticket?
3. With the new E2 regulations, when should I start applying for jobs if I want to start in July? I'll be graduating in May and finishing my TESL certificate course in late April. Would I wait until I have everything in my hands before applying?
Thanks to whoever can help me out. |
YOu might as well wait until you have everything in hand. NOTHING can be processed until you have everything. Most schools won't even consider you until you have the diploma, transcripts, and CRC in hand. They will take the 1st warm body that can get an E2.
AFTER you have everything in hand the processing time is typically LESS THAN 2 weeks.
June and July are great times to process for a early/mid August start in public schools. Hakwons hire year round without regard to the Korean school year. |
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Atavistic
Joined: 22 May 2006
Location: How totally stupid that Korean doesn't show in this area.
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| Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2008 3:11 pm Post subject: |
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| Also, public schools DO hire in the middle of the year. In fact, I think people who want to live in a specific area (large area) should wait until the off times to try and find a job. You have much more control over where you get placed then. |
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applesandshanana
Joined: 09 May 2007
Location: Michigan
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| Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2008 5:23 pm Post subject: |
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^ Do you have any suggestions for finding positions at off times without using a recruiter? Or is a recruiter a must?
I'm looking to be in the country starting in July. |
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Atavistic
Joined: 22 May 2006
Location: How totally stupid that Korean doesn't show in this area.
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| Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2008 5:56 pm Post subject: |
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| applesandshanana wrote: |
^ Do you have any suggestions for finding positions at off times without using a recruiter? Or is a recruiter a must?
I'm looking to be in the country starting in July. |
I don't, especially if you're outside of the country. I used a recruiter (um, ATC? I don't remember) and said I wanted one of three areas. She placed me where I wanted to be. |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2008 7:11 pm Post subject: |
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| applesandshanana wrote: |
^ Do you have any suggestions for finding positions at off times without using a recruiter? Or is a recruiter a must?
I'm looking to be in the country starting in July. |
If you want to do it off-season then you either need contacts here or a recruiter.
Using a recruiter is no worry, just be firm in what you want and what you DON'T want. Refuse anything that is NOT what you are looking for and ignore the crap offers that they automatically send to everyone.
Really, when it comes to a recruiter, who cares?
A recruiter is nothing more than an introduction to an employer.
Hello Mr. English Speaker this is Mr School Director.
Mr School Director, this is Mr. English Speaker.
Mr. English Speaker, here is the contract. Please read and sign.
School, here is the signed contract. Pay me.
Good bye.
-You are not paying them anything (or you shouldn't be).
-THEY DO NOT WORK FOR YOU! - They work for the school.
-They owe you nothing once you get here.
-They are not your friend.
-They are not your baby sitter.
-They cannot help you if things go to *beep* after you get here.
Beyond that it is YOUR responsibility to check the school out.
Do NOT trust ANY recruiter. They are like used car salesmen. They will lie and sell their soul to get the signature on the contract.
Do your own DUE DILLIGENCE in regards to the school or get burned.
Use the recruiters for what they are. Use more than one and keep going until you get what you want. There is no rush and there is certainly no shortage of jobs.
When it comes to the school - again - repeat - Do your own DUE DILLIGENCE.
1st - READ the contract over very carefully. If that doesn't scare you away then...
The best you can do is minimize the risk by talking to MORE THAN ONE of the foreign staff and ask POINTED AND SPECIFIC QUESTIONS (*when the boss is NOT listening over their shoulder). Don't accept non-specific answers and broad generalizations.
If you are considering a hakwon then - No foreign staff references to talk (directly and via e-mail) to = walk away now.
Accept NO EXCUSES for any reason. |
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danby_ll
Joined: 06 Dec 2006
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| Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2008 7:49 pm Post subject: |
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ttompatz, thanks for your advice. I'll keep it in mind if I do decide to use a recruiter.
Can anyone recommend any trustworthy recruiters or companies? |
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suneV
Joined: 10 Jan 2008
Location: At the Flop
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| Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2008 8:11 pm Post subject: Re: Looking to go to Korea later this year - some questions |
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| danby_ll wrote: |
I spent a semester studying in Korea last year and am looking to go back to teach after graduating this spring. I hope someone can help me out with a few questions I have.
1. Arriving in July would be ideal for me. I know most schools usually hire for March and September. How likely would it be that I could find an opening in July or August?
Hakwan - no problemo. All PS jobs start sept. Though you could do what I did - secure a ps job for sept and come over in August and earn 3 mil doing a summer camp. THing with that is you can only have one visa at a time. SO you get the C4 for the camp, then you have to fly to Japan to get the E2. You can make a cool holiday out of the week in Japan though... Tokyo or Osaka are COOL in summer!
2. Do most schools book your flight for you, or could I book my own? My Korean boyfriend will be flying back there in July so we'd like to fly together. That would also mean I wouldn't need someone from the school to pick me up at the airport. Would this work? If I wanted to arrive a few weeks before the start of my contract, would everything be okay with the reimbursement of my flight ticket?
You sort the flight out, they pay you back when you get here. Keep reciepts. Give them plenty of warning or request in advance and yes, they do sometimes pick you up at the airport.
3. With the new E2 regulations, when should I start applying for jobs if I want to start in July? I'll be graduating in May and finishing my TESL certificate course in late April. Would I wait until I have everything in my hands before applying?
ASAP. Plus you'll need TWO SEALED copies of your transcripts. You'll be lucky if you have them BEFORE JULY though sadly if you graduate in may. I think it usually takes few months for uni;s to get them out to you. Ask about this at your uni admin office ASAP.
Thanks to whoever can help me out. |
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