Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Trauzer]

Hello all,

I have been accepted to the "second stage" of the interview process with the Ulsan MOE.

I received an e-mail stating that they have extended the offer to teach to more people than they have positions for, and that it is "first come, first serve" with positions.

Is this thing standard practice? And does it foreshadow any problems to come?

I've lurked in this forum for a year or so now, and have read quite a bit on what to expect, so I wouldn't be horribly surprised if this was standard operating procedure. Just trying to see how the Ulsan waters are, if anyone knows. I'm doing this adventure through Footprints, if that helps any.

Cheers.

[WillTurnerinVanCity]

Hi Trauzer - I've copied this from a couple of posts I made a few weeks ago, and it breaks the process down. EPIK, SMOE and the other MOEs, including Ulsan, operate in more or less the same way.

The public schools (EPIK, SMOE, etc.) have a finite number of positions, and they have received a large number of applications for them, from what I hear. They have interviewed most of them and will over-offer for the available positions. The reason for this is that every year people drop out. So if they have 500 positions, and make 500 offers, there is a virtual guarantee that a large number of those people will not get their documents together or otherwise drop out, and that MOE will only fill a percentage of their goal, as was mentioned above.

In response, the public school will make offers to over 500 people, on the assumption that when people drop out, they will still have enough teachers to fill all of the positions.

It is up to candidates who have passed the interviews and been offered positions that they get their documents in as soon as possible, that way they will increase the chance of securing a position.

The public schools have not been as quick as they have in the past about confirming applicants, mostly due to the increase in applications. MOEs, EPIK, recruiters and everyone else in the industry is busier because of the global economy.

With the increase of applications, it makes it harder for processing of them. If you have 15 different recruiters all sending over multiple applicants to you every day, as a representative at the MOE or EPIK who has to interview and process them, it makes life pretty tough. That is why there is a bit of a bottle neck in terms of getting interviews set up, which is why there are delays. Obviously it is also tough being an applicant and having to wait on things for a few weeks, but there isn't much that can be done.

EPIK and the MOEs have been letting recruiters know right away if applicants need to select a different location or if there has been an issue with their documents.

As a result, all that can really be said is that no news is good news because there has not been a problem with your location choice or documents, but this is still no guarantee.

The only guarantee is when you have your documents in and the notice of appointment has been issued and sent to your recruiter. Your recruiter will let you know they have received your letter of appointment. Some have already been issued, and more will be sent out in the upcoming weeks.

We appreciate that this might create some stress in anticipation, but there is not much that can be done at this point. Please call us or contact your Placement Coordinator by email so that we can let you know what is going on.

-Will (at Footprints)