Korean Job Discussion Forums

[dmeryl]

Hi,

I really need some advice/suggestions about who to work for. I am not knowledgeable to this and could use some good help. A month or so I put up my resume here and got several responses to it from S. Korean companies. I don't know who is worth my time to respond to and would like to get only a few so it doesn't have to be an overwhelming experience to get work. I know that I want to be close or in Seoul as that is where most foreigners are and want to stay close to colleagues. Also interested in teaching professional/college students more if possible.

What is with Apostillizing paper work? Original Diploma, does your school give extra copies? Some companies pay both ways, others reimburse flight there?

I want to start by Sept/Oct. Right now I am in a summer job in US and done in Aug. Have little time to get all this together so I want to get direction.

Thank you.
Debra
[email protected]

[climber159]

If you're not in Korea now you'll have a pretty difficult time getting the better jobs here. For your first year the best thing to do is get in with one of the public school systems. During your first year you can network and research the better schools, universities, institutes and so on.

Go through one of the better recruiters (footprints, koriva, WorknPlay, etc) and they'll get you through the convoluted visa procedure. Further, if you get in with a public school first there is less of chance you'll be screwed by your employer.

[EvanD85]

I plan on going in March.

When should I expect to hear about job opportunities at a public school if I start talking to a recruiter now?

[climber159]

Public Schools: There are two major hiring seasons. One if for September and the other is for March. Seoul schools (SMOE) are the most popular and you'll want to get in early for them. GEPIK and EPIK seem to never fill up.

Hagwons: hiring year-round.

That said, people quit, change jobs, and new jobs open up all the time here. No matter when you want to come to Korea there ought to be something available.

My suggestion:
Get a hold of a recruiter now and ask them when you should apply for a March start date. I suspect they will tell you sometime around the end of November and December.

[dmeryl]

Hi Climber,

Thanks for responding. So, why is better to do things from Korea than here? I would think that writing on this forum that people with experience and names of recruiters, schools, etc. would help lead me on the right path.
I'd prefer trying to be in a good place/situation my first year as it is a year of my life that I am doing there.

I want to go in Sept. I have had hits from interested parties when I posted my resume last month. I still hope I can get in for that time slot.

Debra

[climber159]

The biggest benefit to looking for a job within the country is the advantage of meeting your prospective employer prior to signing the contract. Other things include seeing the apartment before moving in and knowing the areas that you prefer to live in.

If you're looking for recruiter suggestions you're going to get a bunch from the users on this forum. I used Footprints for my first job in Korea. There were great for me. I've met other people who used them and had terrible experiences.

If you want to work in September then get a hold of a recruiter NOW.