Korean Job Discussion Forums

[semi-fly]

It seems the search function is acting up again and giving the usual useless garbage, so apologizes for the millionth thread on this topic.

I have an interview scheduled for early next week with EPIK and I'm already freaking out. I've seen a number of threads in the past that regular posters offered some advice about what to expect during the interview but the search feature isn't exactly working as it should. So if you guys/gals don't mind answer this question once again: What should I expect during the interview?

I'm not looking for answers like: If you have a pulse... or As long as you have a degree... With due respect I would like serious answers.

To be honest I don't think I can answer if they ask: Why Korea? Other than to say that it would be a new experience and it would give me the opportunity to live in and explore a culture different than my own.

Someone in a recent post made a comment like "if you've ever worked before you should know what to expect," but every interview is a bit different from the last and so should this one. During the interview do they ask you: Where do you see yourself in 5 years, in 10 years? That's such a silly question, as I see it most people just hope to be employed, earning a living and enjoying whatever life throws at them.

Should I be worried that I don't have a teaching philosophy? If that's something important can someone give me a few pointers so I can try to figure out what if anything I should strive for other than to have the students learn what I am trying to teach them?

[Demophobe]

You should probably just do some research (a week's worth may not really help) but otherwise, just go and do the interview. Be yourself, for better or for worse. That way there will be no surprises after they hire you.

I mean, if you come across in the interview as something you aren't, this is laying a somewhat unreal foundation. Might as well get everything out in the open, right?

It's an interview for a job teaching young people in Korea. Expect questions about Korean student's specific needs, how you can address them, your ideas about teaching..prepare for the standard interview stuff.

I went through it all when EPIK/GEPIK started years ago. Nothing surprising happened; no strange questions, no out of the blue weirdness. The interview was handled well by three men who asked very relevant, on-topic questions. With that in mind (you know what job you are applying for), expect questions along that line.

[tonyvu]

[semi-fly]

Thought I would try answering the few questions tonyvu posted. What if any kind of criticism can you give me on my responses?

What would you do if you were given a class at the last minute?
- As silly as it sounds in a public school are co-teachers always in the classroom or are we often left alone? If so couldn't you ask the co-teacher about the previous lesson and improvise a lesson based off what the co-teacher says? If that is not the case wouldn't you simply improvise the lesson?

[Honestly that seems like a really bad idea to be given a class with no prep time, but what can you do?]

How do you deal with stress?
- Get some fresh air, listen to some music if I can, or read.

[It's probably not a good idea to say I'd hit the bottle, play with the locals, or punch a wall or the person closest to me.]

Why Korea?
- Its history and culture fascinate me. Coming from a country where people refuse to listen to what history has taught them and where culture is non-existent the idea that Korea and Koreans take pride in their culture and history was a major factor in my decision in choosing Korea as a place I wish to live and work.

Why do you want to be a teacher?
- I want to help children discover the unknown. It's rewarding when you see a child who says they can't or don't understand something finally realize that they can.

What teaching exp you have?
- None.

Tell me about yourself
- Not sure how to go about answering this question other than to say I'm X years old I hold a degree in history.

[I know it's a personal question, but what are they expecting us to say?]

What do you expect will be the most difficult part about coming to Korea?
- That's actually a strange question. Other than the hoops a newcomer has to jump through just to get a contract, etc. I can't find anything difficult about coming to Korea, though some might have a problem getting on the plane itself. The idea of coming to a strange place where you don't know a living soul or speak the language can be daunting.

[I'm not sure there is anything difficult about coming to Korea other than the fear of the unknown.]

What do you do in your free time?
- Photography, sightseeing, etc., take a language course.

[I guess this response is really too general.]

Age preference?
- Kindergarten and/or Elementary. Why? At that age you tend to have more fun during the learning process without knowing you're actually learning. Will it be difficult, sure it will but that's what makes it rewarding you get to see the "light bulb" go on for the first time.

[Or should I say kindergarten and elementary students are less likely to shoot or stab me?]

Why do you think you'll be a good teacher?
- I feel that I am well rounded individual who can impart knowledge to a wide audience through various teaching methods.

[This response needs work]

Strengths and weaknesses?
- strength: I'm constantly trying to improve myself so that I can be of better use in the workplace and in life.
- weakness: I don't know everything. As a teacher you're expected to know a great many things and there will be time times, hopefully not often, that you will honestly not know how to answer the student.

[How do these responses sound?]

Why public school?
- How honest are we expected to be? With regards to "Why public schools?" Would it be wise to simply say after having done a bit research on the other types of schools, hagwons in particular, I found that overall public schools offer a better working environment in which the teacher is given the best possible support by his/her peers in an effort to maximize that teachers potential thus ensuring for the best possible outcome for his/her students.

[Adjumas Cheekbones]

[Goku]

When people ask why Korea,

At that time, It kind of hit me as I didn't want to say "the free room and tutulmous student loans bearing their weight on my ass".

haha, so of course I used my alternative reason, I said I had a lot of Korean friends and was always interested in the culture.

This is WHY people ask "why Korea". They want to see how culturally accepting and adaptable we are to situatons.

Also in interviews we shold try to keep everything upbeat and noble.

When they asked me why I wanted to teach middle school and elemtnatry many times I was tempted to say "because I hate high school and I don't want any high school girls getting crushes on me and stalking me like that movie 'crush'". (because I'm so handsome and godly *goku starts touching his face and pouring honey on his body*, oh god I'm so good looking!!! lol I'm teasing bungadboo if he's reading this)

I also was sure not to say that I like little kids. Frankly I do, I like how they are innocent and sweet and uncorrupted with evil thoughts... (I was wrong about that after teaching middle school) but you don't want to say that to the recruiter, you gotta be extra pedo sensitive nowadays to how you sound.

So of course we should phrase it like "I don't really have a preference, just someone told me that middle school and elementary are better to teach to and have a lasting and emotional connection to Korea."

[wallythewhale]

I thought that my interview didn't go so well but I got offered a contract. The interview lasted less than 5 minutes and it wasn't anything that I expected. I thought that there was going to be a few people interviewing me but there was only one person. I thought that it was suppose to last 30 minutes but it lasted 5. I thought that the questions were going to be hard but it was more like a repeat of my initial interview with the recruiting agency.

You'll be fine. Your answers sound good and authentic. As long as your not doing it for the money

[Fox]

[dporter]

I added my thoughts in bold based on how I would answer those questions. I think its important to be honest and sincere. Also, try to speak very clearly and not too fast. Relax and smile while talking.

[Demophobe]

semi-fly;

Relax man. Your answers sound as pre-packaged as they are. I can smell a lot of them from here.

It's good that you care so much; you will probably make a decent teacher, but instead of prepping answers (you seem like a Korean student; they think they can script a conversation in advance), just do some relevant reading.

A cool attitude with thoughtful, but not canned answers will serve you well.

[DorkothyParker]

I might have no right to respond to this thread as I haven't actually accepted any job offers and have not worked in Korea. That said, I have gotten some very positive responses when I infused some of my natural humor into the interview. So at the end of my "why Korea" response, I made sure to add that I am fond of kimchi. They seemed to really like that.
If you do not like kimchi, obviously don't say that. Just being personable seems to go a long way in interviews.
As another poster noted, always keep topic positive, not opposite negative. You may be saying the exact same thing, but tone changes how it is actually perceived.

As far as scripting goes, for my first interviews (with recruiters mainly) I kept in a notebook a few answers to the questions I anticipated being asked. I was nervous and I wanted to be sure I touched on at least a couple things that really do matter to me. They weren't full answers, just bullet points. It's helpful if you're like me and you become stupid when nervous.

Good luck, killer!

[tonyvu]

[Morgen]

Fox and dporter have some good advice. In a previous life (that is, two years ago) I had to do a lot of interviewing at my job and it drove me nuts when people didn't have answers prepared for the most obvious questions like "Tell me about yourself," "What are your weaknesses?" and in this case, "Why do you want to teach in Korea?" Interviewing is not about telling the literal truth about yourself, it's about presenting yourself in a genuine way with answers that are true, if not necessarily the whole truth. I would never say, for example, that my greatest weakness is a tendency to procrastinate until the last possible second, and I definitely wouldn't suggest that as a teacher I'm not an expert in my subject area without some serious positive spin, like "but I'm constantly learning and improving," or what dporter said. So don't worry if you have to make up a little something about why you want to come to Korea (although for god's sake think about why it will be difficult to come here, or you are in for a HUGE surprise) or anything else, as long as you're not saying you have an MA in early childhood education with a focus on psychological development when you don't. Lying politely is a good thing to get practice in before you come to Korea as you will surely need it here.

I always ask people to tell me about themselves to see if they're prepared, because it's impossible to answer articulately on the spot and you can tell immediately. You just need a brief, concise, well-worded answer about your background and why you're taking this step. Oh, and an interview is definitely not the time to be critical of anything, including your country, former bosses, politicians. Anything.

[semi-fly]

You're right Fox and dporter have some good advice as did those who gave additional feedback. I appreciate your candor Adjumas Cheekbones, after looking at my answers I come off rather pretentious. I just hope that when I have my interview in the next day or so I don't make the same mistake.

I've looked over the responses and I still have a few questions I'd liked to have answered if it's not too much trouble.

1. When they ask about age preference is it best to be firm or loose?
- I mean I can say I'm comfortable with all ages, but should I stress that I prefer to be placed in a kindergarten or elementary setting? While I have no experience teaching children other than my nieces and nephews, I feel that the younger children tend to have more fun in the overall learning process while some of the older children (young adults) tend to have a fixed learning method that may not necessarily work for ever student I would have in class if I taught older children which means there's a chance I wouldn't be as effective in teaching that age group.

2. If they were to ask: "Why I choose EPIK over the other branches?" (They are branches, right (SMOE, GEPIK, etc.)?)
- Would it be okay to simply say that EPIK covers the area in which I want to be placed.

3. With regards to tattoos and piercings, do they care if an applicant has a tattoo if the tattoo in question is not visible (i.e. covered by a shirt or pant leg, etc.)?

4. Should I be prepared to state where I want to be placed, at least in which province? If they read my application they would know the answer, but would I need to restate my preference without specifically stating the city?

5. What kinds of other questions should I be prepared to ask the interviewer? If I don't totally mess up the interview they should cover some of the basics like placement, pay scale, possibly housing. Is there anything that you came up with either during the interview or post-interview that you wish you had asked but didn't?

[dporter]