Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Injun]

Not exactly fleeing, but definitely fed-up. I refuse to kid myself that my work in China is meaningful, and stay. The really poor wages are what got me though. Last yr I made $300 a month more. To do meaningless work for $600/mo is absurd.


So.............what's your advice about cover letters, location, recruiters to use, places to avoid, anything. Rather learn from you guys than from bad experiences. Thanks

[bassexpander]

Let me guess... you're a recruiter freaking-out because so many teachers are fleeing high prices in Korea for China. You're posting negative things about Korea here to stop the flood?

Why don't you try posting on a China board?

[Injun]

I'm a teacher, just a normal person leaving China ("The Great Firewall").

You explained the E2 system to me perfectly. I'm just getting more information so I won't screw up. The bad things I said ("negative information") were about China, not about Korea. This info is purely to help me get a job in Korea. Sorry for being unclear. I am a bit frantic.

You see, Midnight Runner, I'm 60, China pays dirt right now, and I want to move on to Kr. Korea has a reputation for many magnificent things but also for hot hiring the over-50 applicant. I want to learn how to write a cover letter, and apply to places that will hire me.

I didn't post on the China board because I'm sitting in the prc learning how to get a job in Korea.

So, back to business. I sent out these letters to Kr yesterday that might kill my chances.

I didn't say bad things about Korea!

That said: thanks for all your help in the past.

[Carla]

[Rory_Calhoun27]

I dont about that completely.... there was one man who must have been around that age or older at the GEPIK shindig I went to.... I know because he invited himself into the room I had with two other teachers and shared all sorts of facts he found incredibly interesting.... how my roomates felt, you'll have to ask them...

But it is possible. Look in the outlying parts, I'd think. Anything outside of Seoul strikes me as more laid back and more open to teachers of any stripe.

[D.D.]

Just look up how many won 12000 Rmb is and those jobs are quite easy to get in China. There is also other countries that are cheaper to live in than Korea with the same wages. That is all I will say and if you do some research you will find some other countries that are better than here. I outta here in two months.

[lifeinkorea]

This guy is 60 and doesn't know how to send out a resume? It's a bit like learning to walk after you have reached the top of a mountain. Who's carried him this far in his life I wonder.

[Epicurus]

[bixlerscott]

Yes, it would be meaningless to go to a communist country that is not an ally of America for only $600 a month with many headaches. China's cool for college student or grad to do a summer or 6 months as a study abroad thing, but not for a career opportunity unless doing executive field agent work like negotiating outsourcing for a Western company with the Chinese factories which requires knowing Chinese at a very fluent level as well as knowing a Western CEO man who will put you up to these challenging field assignments. Majoring in international business is not enough to get a foot into this door. Korea is a little bit more career oriented in the teaching department though not really set up for anything past 3 years at most, but many are staying indefinitely for the work. Raises and job satisfaction tend to be nill after 2 to 3 years though many are just along for the free ride to kill time.

OP, I know two 55/56 year old men teaching elementary under EPIK, but I heard 55 was the cut off age. Just try a recruiter off this site in the Korea jobs section. Applying for an ESL job in Korea is much simpler than applying for a job back home. Just follow instructions. Only put relevant experience, if any, on your resume as they don't care about what you were before unless it was teaching ESL. KISS. Keep it simple and stupid. Do provide a photo, basic resume, and state to the recruiter what it is you're looking for. Then proceed on with what recruiter says to do next.

[I-am-me]

I would not recommend Korea. Stay in China.

[Injun]

And why do you two have to attack? What's lacking in your lives?

Hasn't life humbled you a little, once in awhile, so you ask advice? Like, I'm making mistakes, and I think it might be in this direction...

I TEACH writing, but I'm quite willing to be taught.

Et vous? "Far deeper..." I feel, to just complacently make the same old mistakes, over and over and over...

[Epicurus]

[Demophobe]

[Epicurus]

nothing wrong with wanting hints on tailoring it to one's audience, but in his original post he wrote..."I need to learn how to write a cover letter".

that's what I reacted to.

Perhaps he didn't mean for it to come out that way.

I've got nothing against the guy and I don't know him but he seems a bit "lost" (for lack of a better word) for a 60 year old.

maybe he's simply going thru rought times and it's a little bit of desperation.

whatever. If I can help I'll be glad to.

There have been myriads of posts here on older teachers, Korean perceptions of them, and what they should watch out for and exhibit to assuage those fears/perceptions.

I've written several posts on the topic, I simply don't feel like doing it again.

[bassist33]

I see a lot of bad attitudes on this site, a lot of people telling this guy to stay in China where free speech is suppressed and savings potential are low despite the low cost of living. I see so many people talking about Korea as the third pit of hell. Then, I log off and I begin speaking to my friends that have taught in Korea or that have visited Korea, and I realize a totally different understanding of what it is to be a westerner in Korea.

I understand that there are cultural differences that will get on your nerves or will make you long for home. I know that not every day will be the best day. What I see are a lot of people that come here with consistent issues, consistent complaints, and consistent bad attitudes. It makes me believe that you would have a problem no matter where you lived, even in America. It makes me take every word you type with a grain of salt.

Injun, let these guys wallow in their dismal perspective of life. I say do what makes you happy. I was given a grant in college to work in the writing center. In that time, I worked with several students on cover letters, yet I still did a search on here regarding how to write a proper letter for a Korean employer. While I assumed it would be similar, I wanted to be sure there were no differences. Your question is completely valid and in no way deserves the negative responses and criticisms you've received.

That being said, many schools do not require cover letters. It could only help in your situation, but it is not necessary. As Rory_Calhoun stated, look to the country side for employment. These areas are generally less desirable due to their remoteness, but also pay better.

Check out this site for cover letter tips: http://www.wikihow.com/Write-a-Cover-Letter

Best of luck to you! Maybe I'll see you in K-land soon!!