Korean Job Discussion Forums

[call_the_shots]

Your interviewer might try to act like a tough guy, but don't let that intimidate you. They know teachers are in shorter supply in Korea, and playing the tough guy role is their way of making themselves seem like they have more power (when in fact they have less).

[call_the_shots]

[mogbert]

EPIK handles everything and everywhere except Gyeongi-do and Seoul.

[maingman]

1 http://kr.youtube.com/watch?v=9Dogbx_BJWk

2 http://jobsearch.about.com/cs/interviews/a/phoneinterview.htm

[JBomb]

I just had mine. They threw me off a little at the beginning asking about strengths and weaknesses when I was ready to launch into discussing my experience. Turned it around though and it went quite well after that. I tried my best to remain positive and open, so I will see. The big one seemed to be why you want the job. I am pretty sure I got that across. Good luck with yours though.

[Monkey82]

Here's what I was asked:

1. How would I feel being the only person in the school who spoke English? What would I do if I had problems that needed to be addressed?

2. Asked me to describe myself and why I was interested in teaching.

3. Asked what I would do to encourage shy students to speak.

[JBomb]

hope you did fine on that. Totally different questions than I got. I guess they are not standardized in that regard. I just got word this evening that I got accepted. Just have to round up all the paperwork now.

[Monkey82]

Congrats JBomb!

Yeah, I was surprised that they were asking real questions, but I muddled through.

Actually I had an email from my recruiter three hours later saying the interviewer would LOVE to work with me. I've been placed at an elementary school in Busan, to start as soon as the visa gets processed. I'm hoping to be there within two weeks.

I guess it all depend on who's interviewing you and how desperate they are. I was quite happy though, I thought it would be a lot more difficult.

[JBomb]

Way to go with Busan! So fast though! I guess cuz I am n00b or something. I am off to the training in February and then to Jeju. Luckily that gives me enough time to get some of my stuff in order and to do the two contracts I have signed with Princess Cruises, where I work as a Seasonal Youth Staff member. Hard to give up on a week in Mexico at the end of November and then two weeks for Christmas and New Years in the Easter Caribbean. Nevertheless, good luck!

[summer33ny]

Jbomb,

We'd love to talk with you more. We are a couple going through Epik also. We have our interviews early this week. We are planning on going to Jeonamm but also considering Jeju.

[adzee1]

I had my EPIK interview yesterday and the questions were pretty standard.. Why do you want to come to Korea etc... How would you deal with badly behaved children...

The only notable thing about the interview was that my interviewer sounded like a 15 year old who could not speak English very well at all, he also had the personality of a postage stamp and any attempt to build rapport was met by a deadly silence...... Lets wait and see if i passed or not !!

[andrewchon]

Remember that experience when you start working. TEPS is designed to make translation machines not humanistic communicators. English as First Language speakers take far too much for granted in use of intonation, body language, sub-text etc in economizing their communications. Talk straight and simple with English as Second Language people.

[adzee1]

Valid point however I have been working here in Mexico as an ESL teacher for 3 years and to be honest building rapport in person or over the phone is kind of easy. I am not naive enough to think that Korea and Mexico have the same culture but some kind of human compassion during my EPIK interview would have been welcomed but hey you cant have everything I guess !! I also just found out that I passed now I have the difficult task of arranging the paperwork from here in Mexico which is proving to be very hard as my recruiter tells me one thing and everything I read online says differently !!! arrghhh!!