Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Socivol]

I submitting an application to CDI (yeah I know) along with my roommates. They both got jobs and I didn't. The weird thing is that we all go to the same school and I actually have graduated and have 2 degrees while they just finished their first. On paper we are all basically the same and we all applied within a week of one another. They both got hired and I didn't The only thing that's different is that I am black and they are not. I asked my recruiter to find out why I was rejected and he said there was no reason given. It really has pissed me off and kinda made me not even want to come to Korea anymore. And I've heard it seems to be more difficult for black people to get jobs in Korea, is that true?

[richardlang]

Apply to SMOE. They seem rather open to all people.

[kokujin]

[digsydinner]

question...are your two friends korean-americans?

[E_athlete]

From what I've heard many (not all but many) K-schools discriminate based on looks and ethnic background. I've heard of stories of how blacks/kokujins have been accepted for a job but then after submitting a picture the school change their minds. Not fitting their image of an ESL/English teacher can realistically ruin your chances which is sad. I'm not saying that it doesn't happen in North America because it does in many different professions.

I've been discriminated because of both my ethnic background and gender when I applied to be a waiter even in Canada. The manager who was this middle aged white guy told me to my face that he was "looking for girls, white girls". I was shocked at how blatant it was and considered taking legal action but I couldn't afford a lawyer anyway.

[alphakennyone]

Maybe it was because you're black, or maybe you just didn't write as good of an essay (what a pain in the ass it is to apply to CDI). You'll never know because they didn't say it to your face, as others sometimes might in the future.

I had a class of high school grads who were about to go study in San Bernardino who thought it was totally acceptable to use the "n" word during break time in my class. Hopefully they've gotten their asses kicked once or twice by now; San Berdoo isn't the softest city in the world.

[digsydinner]

must be tough always having to ask the "was it cos i'm black" question each time something doesn't go your way...

[kokujin]

[E_athlete]

the very fact you have to submit your picture in your application to be consider should be a red-flag that they are open to discrimination based on looks and ethnicity. I think we all know this. I would even go as far to say that your resume and application is secondary to your photo. If they wanted qualified English teachers they wouldn't hire BA's with no teaching experience.

For me, being half-Asian male is not as good as being a white girl with blond hair but it's not as hurtful to my job prospects in Korea as being a black man. Your probability of being hired just drops the farther away you are from the white girl archetype and this is something that is openly acknowledged by some of the recruiters I talked to. It's even in the FAQ of some recruiter websites to Korea. You just have to have realistic expectations for yourself and know that it happens a lot even today.

[digsydinner]

[lifeinkorea]

[wesharris]

You must understand that in South Korea, there is no discrimination.
Here all Koreans live in Confuscianist Harmony. All others invited do
so with great enjoyment and pleasure at being in this wonderful
nation here. Korea is Sparking. In Korea there is no Discrimination,
only Sparkling. Korea Sparkling.
_+_+
Wes

[VanIslander]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vcZ9ku_wInw

[JJJ]

%$#@ happens. I didn't get a job a few times because I'm Canadian and the school wanted only Americans or British.

Try again and good luck.

[cdninkorea]