Korean Job Discussion Forums

[nycgrl99]

Hi everyone!

I recently got hired by SMOE - sent original contracts + apostilled background check, etc over to my recruiter's office in Korea. Since I'll probably be going over there with an F4 visa, my recruiter told me that I wouldn't need the official contract and notice of employment, and that I would just receive those documents at the orientation. He's been fantastic throughout the whole process, but I still feel a little unprepared.

I haven't gotten much information other than that; I was just told to get my visa and arrive in Korea on August 24th. I haven't spoken to anyone at SMOE about my flight, and I feel a little uneasy about this whole thing. I am very much a stickler for planning, and I feel like I am going into this head first with my eyes closed!

Is anybody else feeling this way?

Also, does anybody know if SMOE sends out some kind of official e-mail or letter to its employees before the orientation?

[KYC]

well I dont know anything about the F visas..but not receiving a contract would worry me. I would call SMOE myself and check with them if they really did hired you.

[Ramen]

If they're paying for your round trip ticket in advance, no problem. If not, don't move a muscle until you get your contact.

[TBirdMG]

Regardless of the type of visa you have/will have, SMOE and/or your recruiter should send you an official notice of appointment AND contract by email. These are both standard documents that the both recruiter and SMOE can modify to reflect your name, address, etc...in a matter of minutes.

1) Tell them that you are unable to commit to SMOE until you have a contract stating specific specific terms with salary, start and end date, number of hours teaching, and additional benefits. It's all right there in the contract. NO surprises.

2) SMOE provides pre-paid flights for their teachers, and will require you to fill out an airline reservation form. The form is usually sent by the recruiter, who acts as an intermediary to coordinate home country to Seoul travel.

If neither of these has happened, contact the recruiter, and if that doesn't resolve the issue, contact SMOE directly.

[Chicoloco]

[bassexpander]

[matthews_world]

Hopefully the OP has Korean language skill and can overcome that, Bass.

[toiletgod2000]

I work at a public school in Gangwondo. I had a similar experience when applying. My only contact was a recruiter named Kenny, and a woman named Choi. I saw the contract that I was going to sign, but didn't sign it until I got here. I had to buy my ticket with nothing in writing. The only reassurance I got was that my "visa confirmation number" got me a visa. When I got here, I still wasn't sure if it was a scam or not.

Kenny told me someone would be waiting for me at the airport...but when I went through customs, there wasn't. I was sure that this whole thing was some kind of joke by someone with way too much time on their hands that thought it would be funny to get people to fly to Korea.

Anyway after becoming really well acquainted with ICN, I found the driver. The moral of the story is that the government here is unorganized and will expect you to pay huge sums of money with only a verbal guarantee that they'll pay you back.

[KYC]

[toiletgod2000]

I don't know if my balls are that big. I just figured if things didn't work out I would find another job. Plus, getting a visa issued gave me a lot of reassurance.

[Faunaki]

[nycgrl99]

Maybe my time in Korea will shake me out of my slightly OCD tendencies


Thank you for your help, I did sign a contract and fax it over, and my recruiter assured me that I am confirmed for the position. He said that SMOE would pay for my flight, so I feel better about this whole thing...!

[crsandus]

I'm sort of in the same boat but worse. My recruiter asked me twice if I sent my documents over to their Korean office when I sent it in last week and should have arrived 3 days ago! Oh well. I'm on an F4 so even if I don't get the SMOE job I can just sit around and cherry pick my school/location while I do privates.

[nycgrl99]

I'm going on an F4 too, which definitely makes me feel better about this whole thing!