Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Atramentous]

My friend and I have been applying for jobs as a twosome. Two women - One American, one South African - we are both certified teachers. Why is the process so difficult for recruiters to place us near eachother? We are good friends and want to teach near eachother.

We both have ESL experience. How difficult is it to place us? Anyone have any insight into this problem. We did request a big city - Seoul or the surrounding suburbs. Is this the problem? It seems that as we are not a couple - this poses an issue. But why?

[oldfatfarang]

You may just be having troubles with the Korean Way. That is, Koreans do everything at the last minute, and they show little planning skills. The private and public education system here is in a state of perpetual chaos (in western thinking). Western teachers come and go (some suddenly), and K public schools never know until the last minute if they're going to receive funding for a GET.

Also, public school recruiters can't give you both a definite (and similar) location - as they lie (or refuse to tell) prospective teachers about their ultimate destinations. That because many teachers wouldn't come here if they knew they were going to be teaching in rural rice-ville.

Hakwon recruiters are no better. They will string prospective teachers along with preferred locations (even when there are no vacancies), and then suddenly offer a new location that's just come up. This is the infamous Bait and Switch.

Also, your post sounds like you are a couple. If you are, I strongly advise telling anyone (recruiter or K school) that you are a couple. This is a very conservative country.

Try for large cities - and change your recruiter.

Good luck.

[Atramentous]

Thank you for your advice. Here's the thing - we are really NOT a couple. We really are just two friends that are seeking employment together. Teaching positions are scarce in my area due to budgetary issues and she doesn't want to teach in a bush school.

I gather that we should just keep applying to as many recruiting agencies as possible then. Maybe someone will believe us that we are just friends. Lol.

Anything else? Any recruiting agencies that anyone might advise that are not totaly shysters?

[oldfatfarang]

Try some of the bigger recruiters (I use Footprints and have no problems). Bigger recruiters have a bit of pull with POE's - and possibly more vacancies to fill.

But be warned, with any recruiter, you have to take what your told with a bag of salt.

Keep trying, and good luck.

[lifeinkorea]

Also, please be aware of the following. If you find a good school for both of you, then great. However, if you find a bad school for both of you, then you will both get screwed. It might be better for you two to get 2 different schools, and then one person goes to the better school when it's possible.

This will help to make sure you are both not out on the streets if something goes bad. I worked alongside a couple, and the boyfriend decided to leave. So, the school decided to treat the girlfriend poorly I guess as revenge. Hopefully, you two won't experience this.

[Otherside]

[Steelrails]

[SSA]

We applied through Footprints Recruiting. I am here with a friend of 5 years. We are also both female and not in any form of relationship. I also know two women who are cousins who also came here together.

All with EPIK.

Hope this helps.

[meghanr83]

I am having some trouble from recruiters right now as well.
My boyfriend and I are trying to secure employment in South Korea for September. He has his Master's in English and wants a university job. I have my bachelor's and I am open to public schools and hogwans. We want to live in the same city, but not a big one. We have a list of cities that we have researched and want to be in. They say this is being too picky. Any advice?

[Otherside]

[Justsurfin12]

Somewhere in my reading/researching about going to Korea it stated that many schools are leery of hiring friends coming together as a "package deal", 'cause if one gets homesick and leaves the other frequently leaves as well-- doubling the risk to the school...

[Atramentous]