Korean Job Discussion Forums

fozziejr2 · Joined: 05 May 2008 Location: soon to be korea (august 08)

Has anybody been there? I am on a super time crunch to get my visa. I have all my documents but I know I need to do some interview as well. I called them to ask if I could schedule an interview but the lady didn't make any sense to me as she wanted some 'confirmation number'. I just wanted to know if it is possible to go there, and get everything done in a day. My guess is no.

dtown · Joined: 06 Jun 2008

One of the secretaries there has very poor English skills. If I were you I would call back until you get to talk to somebody a little more knowledgeable. I'm guessing I talked to the same lady as you, because she told me twice that I would not have to bring any documents to my EPIK interview (I did anyways and it was a good thing because I needed them). After the interview I called about something else and she basically told me to call back when other people could take my call.

Also, do NOT go out into the stairwell for any reason. You will get locked in there, I would know.

fozziejr2 · Joined: 05 May 2008 Location: soon to be korea (august 08)

Hahaha that is quality advice. But do I have to schedule the interview ahead of time? What did you do for that? Did you just show up?

dtown · Joined: 06 Jun 2008

You have to schedule an appointment ahead of time.

fozziejr2 · Joined: 05 May 2008 Location: soon to be korea (august 08)

Nice, go wings, i am from ann arbor, MSU grad, but she keeps asking for some confirmation number to get an interview? WTF is she talking about?

jkelly80 · Joined: 13 Jun 2007 Location: you boys like mexico?

I went through Chicago as well in February.
If you're working a public school job, the interview is not required. Also they didn't even check my diploma.

Go Blackhawks!

MUOhio82 · Joined: 25 Apr 2008

The confirmation number is for your Visa. When you sent over your paperwork to Korea, they should have given you a confirmation number. I think it's like 3 letters and some numbers. I had forgotten mine when I went for my interview and she somehow managed to look it up online.

I got everything done pretty hasty there, the interview lasts about 3 minutes if that. I had my interview on a Friday and had my passport stamped and back to me on a Wednesday.

Good luck!

DrOctagon · Joined: 11 Jun 2008 Location: Chicago

Do you have to dress up for the interview? It's 90 degrees outside with 90% humidity. There's no way I'm wearing a suit. I'm with EPIK and my recruiter says I have to call to schedule the interview. I think you can get out of it only if you live far away. This is one of those times where I wish I didn't live in the Windy City.

DrOctagon · Joined: 11 Jun 2008 Location: Chicago

Just called the consulate and it turns out that I don't have to go for the interview.

A2Steve · Joined: 10 Nov 2007

sojusucks · Joined: 31 May 2008

I may not be able to help with Chicago specific questions, but I have some general advice.

For my interview, I packed a suit in a garment bag and changed in the bathroom. Most other interviewees wore nice pants and a collared shirt. My decision to wear a suit definitely helped though.

The interviewer asked general interview questions: why do you want to teach in Korea?, etc. The interviewer also uses hesitation in responses about previous employment, etc. to detect lies, so have your act together. Think about things a bit before interviewing.

y new school gave me a list of interview questions (provided to them by GEPIK), which were almost verbatim ito what I experienced in the actual interview session.

If you have confidence, show that you don't despise Korean culture, and have thought about why you what to teach in Korea, then you should be fine.

sojourner1 · Posted: Sat Aug 02, 2008 1:28 am Post subject:

I used the Chicago consulate twice and they delivered in a very timely manner on both occasions. One time was for a hagwon and the other for EPIK. No visa issuance number nor interview is required for PS jobs, only a copy of the letter of appointment. I never had to make the trip there.

Mint · Joined: 08 May 2008

I used the Consulate in Chicago. One day I dropped off my documents: notice of appointment, etc. A few days later I picked up my visa. No interview, no worries, no hassles [other than driving through construction land].

trish91198 · Joined: 21 Dec 2008 Location: Jukjeon

I need to interview at the New York consulate. I wasn't nervous about it at all until I read that people are being denied visas for small things. What questions do they ask you?? I know someone had posted a couple, but that can't be it.

FixedGearJerk · Joined: 09 Oct 2008

I did my interview in Chigago, I took the Megabus all the way from Minneapolis because they said I was close enough to come in person rather then do a phone or web interview. Big waste of time, but I had no choice. I was asked 2 questions. 1. Why do you want to go to Korea? 2. What other countries have to been to? The interview lasted maybe 3 minutes, but the worst part was that the interviewer answered his cell phone and proceded to talk to someone in Korean for a few minutes right in the middle of the interview.

I really don't think it is anything to sweat over. As long as your honest and you can explain why you want to go to their country without coming off as a lunitic, I don't see why you would have any problem.