Korean Job Discussion Forums

[stickybrit]

After meticulously picking through contract after contract for months I finally found a school that was to my liking (after some negotiating on the contract as well)- perfect location, pay, hours, age range, housing, etc.

So I signed the contract and then forwarded all of my information to my recruiter a couple weeks ago.

I was supposed to receive my Visa number this week to go to the consulate and get my Visa and fly out within the next two weeks.

But...wait a minute! Instead I got an email from the recruiter saying that the school claimed that due to financial problems, they couldn't take on another teacher until maybe around June or July, but she then forwarded another school to me that didn't match my criteria at ALL.

I want to know if anyone else has had this happen to them. I ask because the way I see it is this...my recruiter had me send all my documents to her and then tells me that the school and conditions I had agreed upon isn't going to work; therefore, now she can use the fact that she already has my documents as leverage for me to settle upon a school that doesn't match my criteria.

What do you think?

[Misera]

[espoir]

[stickybrit]

[quote="Misera"]

[berrieh]

I imagine hagwons are on shaky financial territory now; you might have dodged a bullet by them realizing it sooner rather than later. Or the recruiter might be dodgy.

Personally, if it were me (though I only know anything through research, not experience), I'd work on getting new copies of the docs or ask for them back if you're looking at hagwons. Working with just one recruiter doesn't seem to work for private schools because they all have different jobs available to them. Some of the more "honest" (in my estimation, which is derived solely from reading their reputations here and on other boards and by using my "gut-check" reading) recruiters have even said as much to me so far...

I would definitely want to get my docs back or get new ones in case someone else had something I wanted. I've gotten triplicates of everything (I now have three "original" degrees, a thought that makes me laugh) just in case this happens to me.

[Ramen]

[quote="stickybrit"]

[stickybrit]

Well, I don't want to name names just yet. I want to see how the situation is ameliorated first, and if it isn't...well, I'll post it on any board that will take it.

Normally a little deviation wouldn't be an issue. Except I'd already sold my belongings, including my car (well, it was killed by a UPS truck a couple weeks ago, but still...) and I'm hanging at my Mom's house until I leave.

Not the most attractive situation to be stuck in when you're 25 and used to being an independent professional. Know what I'm saying?

[Misera]

[nobbyken]

Maybe the school started to think that having to meet all your criteria, didn't fit with their criteria.

[sobriquet]

Bait and switch

A favorite of the Kimchistanis

[bobbybigfoot]

OP, you're from Florida. Take this as a blessing and go elsewhere. Have you seen the exchange rate today? Near 1600:1!

[lifeinkorea]

[nahanni]

could be worse.

after working 1 week my school told me that they can't afford to keep me.

so, i'm now looking for a new job.

anything good out there?

[curiousaboutkorea]

OP, I was in a very similar situation. Soon after accepting a job (I'm a newbie) I sent over all my documents, including my original diploma and costly criminal background check. The shipping wasn't cheap either, as you know. Anyways, a few days after the recruiter got my stuff, I was told I was out of luck. The teacher I was set to replace had left early and thus they needed someone quickly. That meant they were going to hire someone already living in Korea and that I was out of a job. I also was sent a new job offer, and like you, this job offer was not comparable to the original.

I immediately started looking for new work, going through new recruiters, as well as ones I had used before and had told I no longer needed there services because of the job I had just accepted. After a bit of polite b!+ching out at the recruiter, I got her to agree to send my documents to whichever recruiter found me a job, or if a suitable job couldn't be found, to send my documents back to me in the US with a refund for the original shipping.

Lesson of the story, well, I dunno. But, you're not alone, OP.

[John_ESL_White]

contact your uni and get new transcripts, a new diploma, and get another CRC. And, abandon your recruiter. Post his/her name and let others know to avoid "it".