Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Ro2]

Heya,

So for a few months i've been emailing recruitment agencies trying to organise work for september and, long story short, it hasn't worked out yet. I got one job offer but it was in a really small town and - on advice of people I know working in Korea now - i turned it down. Other than that, i've got nothing. Mostly agencies either just aren't replying to my emails or reply with the template response and then it leads nowhere. Dunno what my problem is for sure - i'm from Ireland and have a master's degree. Obvious disadvantages are - i've no teaching experience or certificate, and am not north american. But I know people with exactly the same descriptions who have found good work, so I dunno what's holding me back in particular.

Anyway, I'm travelling in China at the moment. I also don't know if this is a problem too - maybe agencies find it more desirable to liaise with people who are applying from their home countries? (i have all my documents ready, like criminal check etc). I'm off to japan over the next couple of days for 3-4 weeks.

I'm thinking that after that I could just catch a ferry to Korea and apply for work in person at the end of August - can anyone say if they think this is a good idea? Is it any easier to find work in person? Is the end of August a good time to turn up or should I maybe skip Japan and turn up earlier? One advantage I think it might give me is that, in person, people will see that I don't have an incomprehensible Irish accent but am actually very clear spoken (my interviewer for the job I turned down actually mentioned how clear my english was).

Any advice will be really appreciated, I'm a bit confused as to why i'm finding it hard to make any progress

[blonde researcher]

Do you intend to arrive in Korea and then try to get a job in a hagwon? Are you then going to fly back to Ireland to get the visa in your passport, have a departure interview, and then fly back to Korea?
Surely this would be expensive to do and you would be better to not arrive into Korea until you have a job confirmed?
Also if you get a job in Korea the school does not have to pay for your air ticket in as you have been hired there. So you have no guarantee of getting a refund of your ticket.
Have you previously had a visa in Korea as you cant do the Japan visa run any more to get a visa stamp if this is your first position in Korea.

[Ro2]

I am happy to work in either a hagwon or a public school. This whole issue of working in a hagwon has been hard to get reliable information on. Some recruiters have told me i'd HAVE to sit an interview in Ireland, while other people (including an irish friend who's on his first job in korea) have told me they do visa runs to japan.

If i turn up in korea, and someone wants to hire me, but I have to go all the way back to Ireland to sit an interview and then come back....that is just insane if i have to do that.

I don't mind not getting any return airfare if I can just get a job by turning up. Also, I know it would be expensive to fly all the way back to ireland to get a visa etc and then fly back - but this is irrelevant for me anyway because I'm already east Asia. Flying back from china or japan would be just as expensive

[chris_J2]

Other posters are correct. You'll need an interview in your home country for a hagwon position. I had worked in Korea previously, so was able to do the visa run to Japan in 2007. And had prepaid for my airfare over from Australia, without reimbursement.

You will not get an E2 work visa, without a visa issuance number from Korean Immigration. I would go in personally to the nearest Korean Consulate in China & plead hardship, & explain your position clearly & politely. They just may make an exception. Make sure you have apostilled copies of your degree & Criminal Background check (less than 6 months old), sealed transcripts, passport photos, 2 letters of recommendation from past employers with original signatures, & keep 4-5 photocopies of all documents for yourself. Your school, recruiter, POE etc in Korea will want copies, if you're successful.

Bear in mind that with the global recession, it's been a lot tougher to get a job in Korea this year, as the market is being flooded. You will need a contract from a hagwon or public school as well to satisfy Korean Immigration. I entered Korea on a 90 day tourist visa, to look for work, but still had go to Japan, for my E2 visa once I'd secured a job.

[Ro2]

God, I hate visas and bureaucracy. Well, do you know if turning up in person would help me get a public school position? Or would this be a stupid move since public school positions have all been filled up by late August?

[chris_J2]

There are some public school positions still available, but once again, you'll need the E2 work visa to get a foot in the door. Word on the grapevine is that a lot of teachers are dissatisfied with their new contract conditions, & will not be renewing/re-signing in August 2009. (Epik, Gepik et al changed the contract conditions last year). So that might help you to secure employment.

No E2 visa = no job.

[andrewchon]

Ro2:
Just out of interest, what was the town you turn down?

[Ro2]

[andrewchon]

They were right. About equidistant from Busan, Daegu, and Ulsan. Five elementary and two middle/high schools well spread apart. Farming area surrounded by mountains. Call the school and see if the job is still available.

[chris_J2]

Found this apparent loophole on another thread, by a Foreign Teacher (Canadian?) in Bangkok, who was successful in getting a