Korean Job Discussion Forums

greyf4i · Joined: 28 Apr 2008

Assuming one is qualified, what is the best way to find a Univ. job? I know that many of them are not posted. I would like to apply to several, however I do live within the U.S. and am not sure how to go about searching for Univ. jobs.

Secondly, I have the same question for rural jobs (Univ. or not). I am interesed in teaching in a rural area of Korea rather than a large city. How can I narrow my search for these types of jobs. These do not have to be Univ. jobs, but any in general. I would love to be stuck in some small village in the middle of Korea. Is this hard to find?

Lastly, I have a M.S. Ed. degree and wonder how I can use my education and teaching experience in the U.S. to my advantage. In any way that is: neg. salary, landing a Univ. job, etc.

Thanks for your reply!

tob55 · Joined: 29 Apr 2007

I am not sure what expectations you have, but I will try to give you some information based on what I know.

PRagic · Joined: 24 Feb 2006

First off, it is possible to get university jobs from abroad, but your chances can take a bit of a hit by not being able to be here for an interview or demo lecture.

So here's my first suggestion: Make a video of yourself, nicely dressed and groomed (when in Rome!) teaching. Also do an interview format section where you introduce yourself and give a bit of your teaching philosophy. Put it on CD and send it out with your resume. Just a suggestion, but it can go a long way to helping them get comfortable with you from a distance.

Applying? Here are some options:

1. Get a map of Korea. If you want rural, aim for anywhere outside of Seoul, Pusan, or Daegu. Compare this to a list of universities in Korea (here's one). Send out your CD, resume and cover letter.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_colleges_and_universities_in_South_Korea

2. Apply to the positions on Dave's. Many of them suck, but at least it's a foot in the door. You'd only have to suffer for a year until you could make a break to a better school.

3. Apply to Korea University and Seoul National. The employment conditions at these places have gone down so much (more classes and/or cuts in pay) that the really experienced MA holders already in Korea don't even bother applying to them. However, the name looks good on your resume if you want to tranfer to a rural university down the road. And, hey, SNU is about as rural as you can get and still be in Seoul! Heard the the managment at SNU's language institute has gone to hell in a handbad as of late, though. That place gets an 'AVOID' tag for now. Go for the department job.

4. Check out some specific university websites for employment opportunities. Often, universities want MEds to teach content education/English education courses, and this type of job isn't posted on Dave's.

In general, I'd say go straight for a university job. Shoot for fully paid vacations or minimal vacation duties. You'll want at least 2.5/month for a 12-15 hour schedule. Better places pay more, but it'll be your first job, and you want to work rural (those schools tend to pay less).

Good luck.

greyf4i · Joined: 28 Apr 2008

Thank you both for your replies! I really appreciate the time you took to answer my questions. Would either of you mind if I PM you with more questions?

Thanks again.

tob55 · Joined: 29 Apr 2007

I just checked posts and you will need to meet the minimum limits before being able to send a PM out, but feel open to contact me any time with questions and I'll be glad to respond with any help I can give.

PRagic · Joined: 24 Feb 2006

Good input, but I would change a couple of points:

Don't bother with a recruiter for university positions. Very few universities, and none of the better ones, bother with a recruiter.

Don't bother with hakwon jobs. Period. Waste of time and energy for you.

Don't be rushed into a decision, even if you do use a recruiter to get a public school job.

bassexpander · Joined: 13 Sep 2007 Location: Someplace you'd rather be.

Unless you're super resume man, you'll waste your time searching for uni jobs here unless you're actually HERE to interview. Sorry, but it's the truth (at my uni, anyway).

Try for a public school job, where they will hire you from afar. Then after a year, move on to a uni. It'd be a good experience anyway, and not exactly hard. High school is best, IMHO.

Unposter · Joined: 04 Jun 2006

There is some great advice here. The only thing that I want to add is that it is Korean law that all positions be publicly advertised, even EFL positions. It is just that they do not have to be advertised in English. If you want a complete list of universities advertising, you need to goto Korean sites.

Another thing to consider is that you can find a list of Korean universities on the web, the wikipedia has just about every Korean university in it. Then, just mass mail the universities you are interested in around the end of semesters (November -December; May-June). If they are advertising, then you have a shot; if not anything is possible in Korea.

I would seriously consider coming to Korea to interview, if you have the funds.

Bibbitybop · Joined: 22 Feb 2006 Location: Seoul

greyf4i · Joined: 28 Apr 2008

bassexpander · Joined: 13 Sep 2007 Location: Someplace you'd rather be.

My uni is currently finishing up the hiring process, and this time around, they're only interested in people with a long track record of staying in jobs. They don't want people who will up and leave after a year, like a previous co-worker did. She had good reason (got a good job offer back home at a public school, and family members weren't well), but the people in charge of hiring take so much time to do it, they hate to have someone just leave on them after a year.

greyf4i · Joined: 28 Apr 2008

Let me ask this then...

If I was thinking of a Univ. job in the future, would it be helpful and look better to teach high school or even adults, rather than children?

chriswylson · Joined: 20 Feb 2007

Don't forget tp apply to Sogang Univ., where scared bassexpander is working.

bassexpander · Joined: 13 Sep 2007 Location: Someplace you'd rather be.

PRagic · Joined: 24 Feb 2006

Definitely, teaching kids is a dead end here unless that is your career track. But don't give up on getting a university job from where you are just yet! I know for a fact that some universities hire from abroad.

The reasons vary, but some schools like to hire on people with MAs as a priority, and they may want people who they are more apt to be able to 'push' into doing extra duties. Sounds like a bassackwards strategy, but people who have been here a while know what they should and shouldn't have to do, and can thus be a thorn in the side of heavy handed management. This can work in your favour if you're serious about transitioning to longer term employment with Korean universities.

As I and others have suggested, go to individual universit websites. Find their English site, and look for employment opportunities.