Korean Job Discussion Forums

[jdog2050]

So, there's been a YBM editing job floating around WorknPlay for some time now. I went on the interview, and wrote an essay for them, and I feel like they're stealing ideas.

Let me explain.

First, the essay they wanted me to write had to answer the question: what textbook ideas do you have? I proceeded to give them...well, a good idea. And upon sending it in, I thought the idea was way too good to just be tossing out. Like, if they're asking every applicant this question then they're getting a ton of input for free.

Also, the interview itself was really fluffy. They seemed much more interested in digging up dirt about where I last worked and which texts I used than my actual publishing experience.

Oh, and no copy-editing/proofreading test.

Anyone else make it to the interview and feel it was strange?

[Poemer]

It certainly wouldn't surprise me to find out that they are doing something along the lines of what you are thinking. Curriculum development is always the LAST place schools in Korea want to spend many, as they know there are plenty of ways to beg, borrow and steal material to fill class time.

[jadefrog]

Was the editing job with YBM Sisa's publishing division, or with one of the language schools? Just curious.

[wylies99]

[jdog2050]

[Teleria]

I was interviewed for that as well, and they were far more interested in the editing I had done on a novel for an amateur scifi writer than my linguistics background... it was really quite a strange interview.

[jdog2050]

[jdog2050]

gonna just bump this one more time to see reactions from anyone else who went on this interview.

[moosehead]

I interviewed for a different spot last year and this guy wanted to pay me just to write essays and then they would be published in some kind of textbook for ESL.

The thing was, it was all so shady as we met in a cafe, he couldn't tell me the name of the publisher and he freely admitted he was "too busy" to do it himself tho his E clearly wasn't up to par.

the money was acceptable but I said no, it just had too many red flags going off.

there was another job some time ago that was insisting on teachers writing actual test exams just to see if they'd qualify for an interview!! I was like, hey, I don't think so - and it was supposed to be of some length!! yeah, like I'm going to write your freakin' exam for nothing.

I wouldn't put it past some of these hakwons to try and finagle people's time and knowledge for free.

[wylies99]

I think there are actually about 7 or 8 original English education textbooks in Korea and the rest are just bad stolen copies.

[jdog2050]

[moosehead]

sure go for it. some of the new grads may not be that aware of what's going on - no sense in feeding the sharks - right?

[jdog2050]

Ok guys. This is a scam. I just got a PM from someone saying that they went on the interview, got to the point where YBM said that they would give him/her a contract and never did. Not only that, but the ad has been reposted on Worknplay.

When I went in on this interview, they said it was for a position that needed to finish a book by March. A f'ing phonics book, by March, and they're still *interviewing* in September? Please.

They're stealing ideas by getting you to write an essay before the interview. F'ck them.

[Poemer]

That is the biggest crock of sh*t ever. It seems it isn't uncommon either. Good job posting this and bringing it to peoples attention. It should be a sticky, I think.

[bassexpander]

Sounds very shady.