Korean Job Discussion Forums

kirya · Joined: 14 Apr 2008

Hi, I have been trying to find a job teaching English in Seoul for about 4 months now. But problems seem to keep arising. My last two interviews have failed, one because I didn't sound passionate enough and the other because I was too young (22). I have used several different recruiters but very few actually find me a position. What am I doing wrong?

Pooty · Joined: 15 Jun 2008 Location: Ela stin agalia mou

What do you look like? Are you overweight?

icicle · Joined: 09 Feb 2007 Location: Gyeonggi do Korea

I would have a look at how well your resume is selling you ... Often it is looking at the resume and your photo which will convince the school that you are someone they want ... ie make sure that you include everything you can that shows that you will be a good teacher / other things you could contribute to the school / that you have some sort of experience that is relevant ... I think that at your age ... and actually at any age really you do need to sell yourself to both the recruiter and the school ... To the recruiter because it is them who decides which school to offer you to and to the school because that is what encourages them to employ you. ... ie if you are applying for a kindy/elementary job you will need to say more than I like children ...

As for selling yourself well in the interview and sounding "passionate" I would also consider role playing with a friend the sorts of questions they might ask you and working on increasing how passionate you sound

Tobias · Joined: 02 Jun 2008

Pooty is on the right track. You shouldn't be having any trouble at all landing a job in Seoul. Come on..these are places that hire people from halfway around the world without an interview. 'Passion' isn't a concern. It's appearance in this case, unless you're perhaps setting your sights too high. Where are you applying? Universities? Colleges?

What is your BMI? Are you white? Those are important questions here, and their answers will trump one's teaching ability, unfortunately.

PRagic · Joined: 24 Feb 2006

Yeah, have to agree. After they get your resume and pic, the interview is just a formality to make sure you don't sound like the Elephant Man.

Enunciate, exude interest in Korea and all things Korean, and play down your propensity to drink too much.

nolegirl · Joined: 17 Apr 2008

Redo the resume pic, it probably is not good. And if you are overweight do a head shot only.

Draz · Joined: 27 Jun 2007 Location: Land of Morning Clam

Tobias · Joined: 02 Jun 2008

And talk about a do-do bird strategy. Four months is an awfully long time to figure out something else must be tried. Especially in Seoul in the midst of the present roiling. If one has a pulse, is white, is from one of the big 5, and can talk, he or she should be able to land a job somewhere in the hive within a few weeks.

I'm not getting the 'four months' part.

Bigs · Joined: 15 Oct 2006

Tobias · Joined: 02 Jun 2008

I liked Korea my first year. Well, I still like it overall, but I don't like teaching here anymore. Too many complainers take too many white people for granted, adminstrators engage in too little planning, and the government thinks it can force down my throat a plane ticket back home just to get a simple piece of paper. Nope.

And now the Filipinos are moving in...but this is only because they'll bow down and put up with being abused and accept a low salary, plus they give the Koreans someone to actually abuse. What a way to save face...pushing your boot into the temple of someone who has no choice but to take it.

Give me a job as a tech writer for a shipbuilder such as Hyundai. I'm about to shit can the TESOL thing in SK.

Sody · Joined: 14 May 2006

Sody · Joined: 14 May 2006

ED209 · Joined: 17 Oct 2006

If it's hagwons, you need a good passport picture. Avoid a body shot, if you're fat they might not hire you, if you're hot expect trouble. Public schools still have vacancies even in Seoul. Your recruiter may say otherwise, try another recruiter.

Tobias · Joined: 02 Jun 2008

[quote="Sody]
.....Why begrudge the Filipinos? I pity them, they are gonna have to put up with some really nasty treatment.

As far as working for another Korean company, I would think twice. My ex-roomie worked for Samsung and she told me it was the worst job she ever had. Long hours and low pay. That's the typical scenario working for an Asian company because there are so many employees to chose from. You can always be easily replaced.[/quote]

Ain't these points the truth.

I, too, pity the 26,000 that are supposedly being imported. And we think we get reamed. But I don't pity them too much, as they are Asians. Asian people have a bad habit of accepting abuse as part of the job.This is the second-biggest reason the Fillies are being allowed in. They'll put up with bullshit for a year that we wouldn't put up with for five minutes. Sure, I pity them, but not much.

Time to head back home and get into a master's program. Maybe that'll land me a better job at Hyundai or KIA.

Ninjaniki · Joined: 05 Jul 2008

If you are not white don't worry. I am not white and I was getting lots of jobs interviews and offers every night. I had a hard time turning down offers. Don't let what anyone says discourage you. Just keep applying and you are sure to get hired, as long as you are not a criminal, etc.