Korean Job Discussion Forums

[ohme_ohmy]

I'm currently sifting through the recruiters that seem legit that I want to work with and many of them ask for scanned copies of my criminal background check, passport, etc. Is this a standard request? I realize they probably want to make sure I have these things ready to go, but why would they need them at such an early stage in the process? It just seemed a little strange...

Thoughts? Should I send them these things? Is there any harm that can come from it?

[okayden223]

If they're asking for scanned copies instead of originals from the get-go then you might have hit the honest recruiter jackpot. Too many these days are asking for original documents before they even have a job for you. Go ahead and get multiple notarized copies of your diploma. That way if a recruiter pulls a bait-and-switch (which happens more than you think) you can cut ties and not have given up your original diploma.

[ohme_ohmy]

Good to know. Thanks for the advice.
What exactly is a 'bait and switch' ??

[Kikomom]

Yes, it's a good idea to scan all your documents and have them ready to attach to your email correspondence with recruiters to show them a good faith effort that you are indeed a serious recruit and keeping ahead of the game.

Print out hard copies for your personal files while you're at it.

A 'bait and switch' is when they advertise or offer you a job that sounds perfect, then all of a sudden it's not available any more so they try to talk you into something that isn't what you wanted at all. Stick to you guns and hold out for the best offer you can get--pay, location, hours, etc. But be advised, you'll never really know what you're getting into till you get there.

[lifeinkorea]

Bait and switch is anything where you are offered one thing, usually to entice you, then they switch what they offered for something considered less favorable.

I was offered 3 positions supposedly. I showed interest in one, only to be told the next day that that school already got a teacher and another one only wanted a female teacher. This obviously left one. Did they really have 3 offers or just one? It's hard to tell, but what really made it a bait and switch was that the offers started at 3 million won a month and at the end of the week it dropped to only one offer at 2 million won a month.

In this case, I did talk with the school and we added overtime hours as well as reference letters to the deal, and I have been paid more. So, we worked something out which on the onset was a lemon. If you can change things to your advantage, these bait and switch offers aren't bad. It's just a matter of what other teachers are too lazy to deal with.

MORAL OF THE STORY: ALWAYS LOOK AT YOUR SECOND OFFER CLOSER FROM A RECRUITER (or car salesman) AND TRY TO FIND OUT WHY THEY DIDN'T OFFER IT TO YOU FIRST

As for the documents, I wouldn't be sending out copies of anything yet. Simply confirm in a serious tone over the phone that you have what you have. Explain to them what you will get, when you will get it, and always confirm at the end of the conversation when you need to have all the paperwork in.

Anyone that asks you for pieces of the puzzle one by one isn't on your side. They are only looking out for their interests. Put everything on the table when the time is right, until then, your stuff is your stuff. Does a car salesman ask for paperwork before they get you your car out on the lot? The recruiter must do their job by providing you with a school first. They must also provide the school with a teacher first before getting paid their commission. Once they get you a school you want to work at, send EVERYTHING.

Want to make sure the school won't pick another teacher? Talk to the school, not us, not the recruiter. If the school then picks another teacher, it won't be a result of the recruiter screwing you or us giving you wrong advice. It will be because the school screwed you over, and that will have saved you in the end.

[ohme_ohmy]

This is great advice. Thank you for the help.

I just got off the phone with a recruiter who was trying to get me to consider a position outside of Seoul when I was very firm about wanting to be placed in Busan. She then told me she only had two positions in Busan and one was filled, the other started in November. After learning I had all of my documents ready to go, her story changed - she magically had other positions in Busan available that were sooner than November but she "had to make some calls." Right.

Let me ask...how are you able to contact the school directly if you're working through the recruiter? Let's say I was offered a position I was incredibly interested in by a recruiter. If I wanted to contact the school (and they didn't have a website posted or anything) what would be the best way to do that?

[lifeinkorea]

I guess I should answer that, lol. Well, this is what happened to me.

I was first offered a hagwon job in Suwon. The manager there called me to tell me about the job. However, the owner didn't want to speak to me. I could understand them not knowing English, but they could have said hello. Then it got to the final stages, and my recruiter stopped contacting me. I got an email from a travel agency asking for my credit card number to pay for a flight which the school was supposed to pay for. This is to show how important it is to communicate with the school.

For my current school, a public school, the head English teacher met me in person since I was in Korea. However, they would have called me over the phone to talk about the position.

I am about to leave now to Ilsan to meet the principal for my next school and go to immigration. The fact the principal wants to meet first before getting the paperwork sorted sends me a good sign he is serious about it.

Just tell the recruiter to have the school contact you. You may need to wake up at 3am if you are in the states, but at least you will be able to speak with the school. The head English teacher could talk with you.

I wouldn't take an "assignment" through a recruiter because that is the whole point in going through a recruiter. I am able to pick a location I am willing to work in. If you went straight through the public school associations (GEPIK, SMOE, EPIK) you wouldn't have a choice.