Korean Job Discussion Forums

[TBirdMG]

Let's just say I had an interview with a "still hiring" university outside of Seoul, and the interviewer was audacious enough to actually say:

"We already have enough fat foreign teachers, so I do not want to insult you. But...are you fat? Your photo gives me a feeling that you are in good physical condition...but...I want to know...are you fat?"

"Ummm...no. I am in average physical condition for my height and weight group. I run a little, swim a little, you know..."

"OK, then...when can you start?"

Sparkling.

[D.D.]

If you ever quit put in a 30 day notice saying there was too many ugly teachers there for your liking.

[sarbonn]

Or better yet, when you quit, say that the Korean teachers who were there were not in good enough shape for you to want to remaiin in their company.

[creeper1]

That kind of thing happens everywhere. Don't ever think pure ability or intelligence is what gets people jobs in the west either.

http://money.cnn.com/2005/04/08/news/funny/beautiful_money/

That combined with who you know and not what you know is the basis for all hiring in the West (for all the good positions anyway). It's called networking. Fancy word for hiring your friends is all it is.

The difference is in the west we wouldn't be so stupid as to hire someone in a job dealing with the public over the phone.

If you represent a company, you have to look the part. You have to be well dressed, a good attitude and yes good looking is a plus.

It's the same reason most bar maids are good looking. They are there to attract male customers. However you can extend that to any job dealing with the public.

It's not so "sparkling" in your home country either or I'm sure or you wouldn't have left home!

[Scotticus]

[tigercat]

[Yu_Bum_suk]

I can understand a hagwon that needs poster boys doing this, but a university???

[bundangbabo]

[TheUrbanMyth]

[bogey666]

I have to admit I laughed my ass off...

we already have enough fat teachers.. :shock

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAH

hey, don't schools in the US strive for "diversity" in the student body?
maybe it should work that way in the teaching ranks too.

[EzeWong]

hahah this thread is hilarious.

I'm a bit with creeper on this one though.

It is the same in the west, the only difference is our culture has fought against this sort of discrimination and we have laws to prevent it. It STILL happens in the west but at least it is "controlled".

Korean culture is more blatant when it comes to honesty. "I don't want fat people". Although it's fairly discriminatory and wrong to us, in their eyes they see it as a valid concern. There is a concern to HOW they look. It is a difference of cultural value. The West denies being concerned with image, the East emphasizes it.

Imagine if you had a university and all of them were fat. The school may be concnerned because students are going to wonder why the university can only hire fat foreigners. Do they have issues with hiring normal foreigners? WHy are they all fat? Are they the bottom of the barrel? (Not that fat people are but you could see how peopel would assume this)

Image is a huge issue in Korea. Talk to your average Korean girl, Do you know why so many girls have plastic surgery? It's because if you aren't good looking, no one will hire you. Doesn't matter if you are a scientist, engineer, or even if you cleaned closests for a living. No one wants to hire the chick beaten with a fugly stick.

I abhor that aspect of humanity. It's not completely culture related, it's instinct. Humans are designed to show favoritism towards better lookign people.

I'm not excusing the University's behavior. This sort of criteria for hiring is kinda far fetched and misplaced. Too much emphasis is placed on how good the school looks, how good someone looks, or if you have double eyelids... (a common plaguging concern among asians) Disregard for qualifications has led to a mass defunct in the educational system here. A hot handsome guy with no qualifications would have a better chance than someone who's got years of toefl or english experience under their belt.

It's wrong, but it's how the world works.

[bogey666]

it would be fairly reprehensible if this were the FIRST teacher being hired..

but after having let's say 9 fat and fugly's waddling around the campus...

I think the 10th hire can be defended this way under the guise of "diversity"

at least that would be MY legal defense

[oldtactics]

[ESL Milk "Everyday]

Sometimes, Korea is like that movie 'Shallow Hal'. It has little to offer, yet expects the moon.

[bogey666]

I'd be willing to bet youl every Korean teacher/administrator would at leat partially defend this "discrimination" by using the "motivational" argument.

meaning..

our students will be more motivated to learn/speak english if they find the teacher "attractive".

that's why the young non fat blonde female is always in highest demand. Everywhere.