Korean Job Discussion Forums

t1m1ty · Joined: 24 May 2009 Location: Bundang

Is there anyway to "fight" with SMOE? As many of you know, I was sent from EPIK to SMOE. SMOE gave me a contract that I signed and sent back. After about 2 weeks of hearing nothing, they told me they no longer want me without any reason. Some have said that this is allowed on their side, but can they really do this? I was set to leave and just waiting for the NOA. Is there any way for me to contact them in order to fight this? My recruiter no longer works for the company he was with so I don't think I can ask him anything now. If anyone can help, that would be greatly appreciated.

fraukoch · Joined: 25 Jul 2009

Yes - I'm sure you can do a lot from outside Corea by sending angry emails to various people. With the thousands of endless applicants this year I'm certain that everyone will fight valiantly for justice on behalf of yet another one who fell through the cracks.

blonde researcher · Posted: Mon Aug 03, 2009 12:04 am Post subject:

Maybe it was actually the fault of the recruiter you were working with - not SMOE?
When you were off loaded from EPIK your recruiter probably quickly tried to get you moved to SMOE in quick time and failed.
Of course you are likely to be told it is the fault of the "big boys" at the top of SMOE.
Did anyone from SMOE even make contact with you, or was it all talked up by your recruiter? (who no longer works where he was )

Make direct contact with someone at SMOE and check if they even knew of your application - or accepted it.

cruisemonkey

Mr. BlackCat · Joined: 30 Nov 2005 Location: Insert witty remark HERE

I was in a sort of similar situation as you when I first applied to SMOE. I had the phone interview and they said I hired, they just needed to do it through my recruiter who would then tell me what to send them. After 3 days of not hearing anything my recruiter emailed me and said there were no more SMOE positions (I was a bit late due to an incompetent first recruiter). I was disappointed but moved on. However, after a couple of days I called my recruiter and talked to her personally about it and how I felt slighted. I had worked in Korea before and sort of knew how things worked (last-minuteness, saving face, lying at every opportunity for no apparent reason) so I wanted to know exactly what happened. Low and behold, a position opened up for me the next day.

My advice to you at this point is just let it slide. Do you really want to work for an employer who doesn't want you anyway? It's probably not even your fault. I don't know if you've ever worked in Korea before, but someone likely miscalculated some numbers or a teacher already here changed their mind and decided to stay another year. Your name was probably the first one they saw on the list.

Koreans tend to have no problem using people and throwing them away when they're not needed anymore. Of course that's a general statement, and probably more true when it comes to ESL in Korea and foreigners in general.* You'll make a 'best friend' who happens to have an English test in a month, then never hear from them again, for example. Don't take it personally and don't dwell on it. Move on to the next opportunity.

*Before people jump on me here, let me emphasize that this is my point of view from personal experiences. Of course not every Korean is guilty of this, and of course it happens back home too. The difference is it seems to be socially accpetable and expected here. There seems to be very few friendships and many more 'networks'.

iggyb · Joined: 29 Oct 2003

I wonder if we can send someone like fraukoch to the real Corea?

I'll buy him a ticket...

It takes a special kind of --- uh --- person ---- to get enjoyment lurking around an expat site waiting to rub salt in wounds.

Yes, fraukoch. Take a trip up to your Corea for me...

----

To the original poster, you do pretty much have to move on. Try different recruiters to see if it is just your recruiter jerking you around, but also start looking for other jobs.

Until you are in Korea, you have no options for conflict resolution. You don't have a tremendous amount when you are in Korea under contract, but none outside.

There are other ESL positions. Go with them in the immediate future or wait for public school jobs to open up some months later as people inevitably leave or new positions open up.

---

To fraukoch, I've always wanted to meet people like you face to face...

alphakennyone · Joined: 01 Aug 2005 Location: city heights

[quote="iggyb"]

To fraukoch, I've always wanted to meet people like you face to face...[/quote

Man, this whole SMOE thing is throwing people off-kilter. The dog days of summer.

iggyb · Joined: 29 Oct 2003

Not really. It's partly the "Corea" thing.

It is only a hunch, but if his use of that term fits where I have heard it the most, I'd really like....well, that's all...

t1m1ty · Joined: 24 May 2009 Location: Bundang

winterfall · Joined: 21 May 2009

Chambertin · Joined: 07 Jun 2009 Location: Gunsan

Entitlement, cry entitlement, cry.

Get to Korea

Damn these people, entitlement cry,
To heck with this contract, entitlement, cry.

Be glad you got to skip the after Korea part and save yourself the return ticket.

iggyb · Joined: 29 Oct 2003

Who would have dared think a signed contract entitled some loser anything, I guess....if I am reading you right....

alphakennyone · Joined: 01 Aug 2005 Location: city heights

TheUrbanMyth · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Location: Retired

iggyb · Joined: 29 Oct 2003

My contract was signed by both parties...

...but...anyway....the commenter seemed to be enjoying the fact the other person is frantic by putting him down as being just another arrogant Westerner demanding an "entitlement".

...as if expecting some form of commitment from a contract was laughable.

Yes, in Korea both potential employees and the schools are known to back out of contracts before the Visa is issued...

...that doesn't mean it is a swell thing...