Korean Job Discussion Forums

[marlow]

How much harder is it going to be for schools to get teachers with the won dive bombing?

Especially for Canadians the exchange rate is fast approaching IMF crisis levels. For a long-termer I guess wait it out is the strategy; but I don't see the won doing too well for the next year, so what's the incentive to come over for someone doing one of those one-year life experience teaching gigs? And if money is not an issue for these people, wouldn't another country be better?

[afsjesse]

Initially I came Korea for the money and for the "experience." Now with the won taking the plunge I've had to re-evaluate my personal convictions here and have decided to stay one more year in hopes of it getting better. Overall it's still worth working here, but if this crisis gets much worse than I'll probably change my mind.

[lowpo]

[sojourner1]

I don't think it will effect recruitment much at all since it's a fair paying job actually hiring those with little more qualification than their bachelors degree and the job market in America is getting very very tight these days. It's the worse it's been in over 60 years according to reports on MSNBC. With many many layoffs happening, there simply are not jobs for college students and graduates so they will jump on this opportunity to teach English if they know about it. If college career centers spoon fed this teach English in Korea thing, you'd probably have many more applicants than there are jobs!

If the won tanks out and goes to like 1500 to 2000 per USD, then the pay is going to look quite low, but some will still take the job just to travel on a jet plane and do something different. This job also provides benefits few have in corporate America today such as health care, housing, vacation, and bonuses. They will keep coming and are coming in droves as we speak since EPIK had there best intake on account of more people simply knowing about the opportunity. I think the only thing that would kill recruitment is if applicants really knew how boring, isolating, lonesome, and even depressing this job really is. Every time you go home and tell people what you do, you're bringing more people over here so recruiting will continue to increase.

[Juregen]

IMF just told everyone not to panic because Korea has enough foreign reserves to "undo" the damage.

It is a panic reaction because some negative news has been spread.

I am pretty much confident that the won will rebound.

[the foystein]

If someone is coming to satisfy debts in their home country it might affect their decision.

[pkang0202]

I doubt most people who sign up for Korea have no idea "Won" is the currency until they step off the plane in Incheon.

[marlow]

[expat2001]