Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Francis-Pax]

I have decided to make a post for all those people out there that are aspiring to teach English at a university in Korea.

I am a member of the selection committee at the university where I teach.

Here is an example of things that trashed any hope of some applicants this semester:

1. Terrible resume. This semester I came across some of the most unprofessional looking resumes I have ever seen. Sorry guys, but you should not use Myspace-like photographs. For God's sake wear a tie! Ladies, wear something professional instead of that tank-top! Check your spelling and grammar. Be careful with your format and include a picture along with other important biographical information (age, marital status, etc). Casual photos go to the waste basket. Your resume should look perfect! I looked through 200 resumes three weeks ago and only about 15 of them looked like high quality professional documents. Yup! Only 15. Imagine how you could stand out from the crowd if you would actually take the time to do it correctly!

2. No interview skills. You should be able to answer basic questions relating to your teaching philosophy, language teaching methodology, future goals, and you should keep everything positive. In my experience, very few people can actually discuss things relating to language teaching at the interview. It is not a time to trash your former employer. WEAR FORMAL DRESS!!!!! It is a university, not a party!

3. No signs of any professional development. Sorry folks! Teaching kindergarten or elementary school for three years without having done anything to improve yourself in the realm of English language teaching is unimpressive. Don't expect sympathy from people who have worked their ass off getting a MA TESOL when you have done nothing to really make yourself a more competent teacher.

4. Too young and little teaching experience. It does not matter if you graduated Summa Cum Laude. You need to have some solid experience in Korea. And under 24-25 years old makes you younger than the vast majority of your students. Maturity is important. We do not want to hire a person we think is going to be banging the students.

There are many more things I could write about, but I am just keeping it simple. Bottom line: Very few applicants actually deserve an interview. 99% of them fail the resume test alone! If you want the job, you need to buck up and make a good presentation from start to finish and show substance. BE PROFESSIONAL!

[yingwenlaoshi]

You tell 'em!

[bejarano-korea]

Because I don't fucking want one!

That and there are an abundance of university gigs in China where they will give you a nice pad! That's probably my next port of call and I have heard they will take anyone!

NB: The fucking swear filter has gone! Wahey!

[captain kirk]

Pompous windbag.

[yingwenlaoshi]

Who wants to put all that effort in to get an ESL job in Korea? Gag me with a spoon.

[livinseoul]

[Evanzinho]

[ernie]

offering a professional-level salary would go a LONG way towards getting more 'professional' applicants!

[some waygug-in]

Hmm, part of the problem may be the lower pay levels/benefits that a lot of universities are offering. I have no idea if this applies at your university, but honestly...some of the ads I've read makes me wonder why anyone in their right mind would bother applying.
One of the local universities here is hiring, the salary is considerably lower than what I get at public school, on top of that they offer no housing, but will give an "unspecified amount" towards key money, but no monthly housing allowance, if these were not enough to turn people away, they also don't have much in the way of resources and want their instructors to provide what they need.

Then there is the high-minded attitude of some university adminstrators:

One instance comes to mind.... a friend of mine applied for a job at one of the lesser universities in Busan (which shall remain nameless). He was called in for an interview along with about 30 other people. He had to take time off work and travel for about an hour to attend said interview.

At the start of the interview process, the person in charge stood up and asked, "Who here has an 'F' visa"? When nobody responded, they seemed to grudgingly proceed with the interview process. My friend was called up to his interview and was immediately told.. "I don't think you are qualified for this job". .....yadda yadda..

He was more than a little annoyed at this because THEY had called him in for this interview. Don't they even read the resumes before they call people? It seems not.



So if you're wondering why you can't get people to act like professionals, maybe it's because they are tired of being jerked around by a bunch of amateurs.

[KYC]

[bassexpander]

Francis is a nice guy, but as someone who works at a uni, and has worked in a public school-type situation, I can say that both have their advantages.

Given the pay that unis are expecting people to accept these days, if you have a nice public school job you like, then keep it.

The long uni vacations are nice, but some public/private school jobs still give you lots of "hidden" vacation, and more importantly at different times of the year than peak ticket price time. Uni vacations are during the most expensive flying times 99% of the time.

He is right about resume photos, though. In all seriousness, if you can't provide a nice photo with a suit, you've wasted your time applying.

[Trinitarian]

I taught at three universities and I wasn't at all impressed with any of them. I encountered one or more of the following from each:

1. Lies about salary
2. A garbage apartment
3. A SERIOUS lack of planning and communication

Now I admit it's been more than several years since I taught at these schools. I don't know if it has changed much.

The schools? Kunsan University, Cheju University and Handong University

[branchsnapper]

I have many years experience in Korea and elsewhere of various kinds, 2 MAs, some shirts and ties, TESOL, F visa etc. I work for GEPIK. It pays better than the average uni job, and the apartment is better, and the primary teaching - when they let you do it instead of messing you about - is more worthwhile than the bottom rung of uni students + uni run institutes (which is what you usually get).

I suppose if the OP is talking about the top 5% of uni jobs, he might have a point, but I wouldn't include the big salary/no accommodation Seoul gigs in that.

[agoodmouse]

Why the preference for F-visa holders? Less visa paperwork, right?

[crescent]

F Visa holders are statistically more responsible people.. being married and all. Also see: Low car insurance rates.


Having said that, the OP is surely not speaking requirements for MOST university jobs in Korea.

I was here 2 years, BA, below average resume, and I got a job at a 'uni'. What a wasteful year.