Korean Job Discussion Forums

[mr tom]

50 years old uk citizen with 2 years teaching experience (no esl experience or cert), masters in music - staying in seoul with just over 70 days left on tourist visa

i just attended an interview with sesame english institue in incheon for a public school position and i must admit i'm thoroughly confused - i thought i had read up on all this but realise i'm sadly lacking in information - also i have no luck with the search function on dave's so many thanks in advance for any thoughts on my situation

i have all the documents they ask for except the crc i have back home in ireland which is about to be apostilled by my cousin sending it to http://www.apostille.org.uk/contact-us.asp

they want me to give them all the required documents including original masters cert, so they can send it on to immigration to get the ball rolling - then for me to send on the crc as soon as i get it apostilled

they are telling me i have to go back to the uk for an interview with the embassy, i can't do the visa run because it's my first working visa - is this correct?

i could hardly understand the interviewer so i'm in the dark about their intentions - i'm assuming they want me because they are asking for documents

she said they are a non-profit making ngo with many schools in incheon, and i could be sent to any one of them - i would prefer to work in seoul

i would like to work for a public school but realise time is running out on this option so should i run with this or let it go and look for other positions

i'm worried about letting my documents go if there is any uncertainty about getting a position with this organisation

the package they are offering seems standard - 200/210kw per hour, 12am-7pm mon-fri, arrive at 10 for prep work, 1 room accom. + basic furniture and washing machine, 50% health and pension, 1 months severance and return airfare at the end of the contract, i have to pay utilities

i would greatly appreciate any thoughts on this

many thanks

tom

[Carla]

I don't know why they would need your documents without your CBC. Maybe they want them so you can't go anywhere else?

If it is your first E-2 visa and you are not getting a NOA, like if you work with SMOE, then you have to have an interview in your home country.

Most of the public school positions are already full, actually, over full, because the semester starts in about 2 weeks.

[halfmanhalfbiscuit]

the package they are offering seems standard - 200/210kw per hour, 12am-7pm mon-fri

Pretty rough.

[mr tom]

thanks for the swift replies folks

[andrewchon]

Don't give original documents without a specific job offer. 70 days are long time. Plenty of time to pick and choose the desperate job offers that magically appear after the semester starts. Package doesn't sound like a public position, sounds like a hagwon. There is a poster on this forum about how to get a E-2 visa without interview in home country (for some cases). Check that out. Since you are late already, hurrying won't do you any good.

[Carla]

[Kikomom]

Here's a better search function for the forums than the one provided here:
http://www.google.com/coop/cse?cx=006359271486458796786%3Azldpir6y9yy

[Ilsanman]

Age 50 is at the point where it gets hard to find a job. 2.1 might be the average offer.

[Conrad B Hart]

[blonde researcher]

This is a job through immigration so you do have to fly back to UK do get the visa stamp in your passport get a 'departure interview' then fly back to Korea.
You are NOT in a public school job you are in a hagwon type after school position despite the rhetoric of it being a NGO situation. You need to check this who scenario out a lot more as I think you will be working in an after school type program with some long hours and could be sent anywhere. They are looking to get a 'warm body' very quick and they thought you were on the spot ready.

You cannot get around this return trip to UK unless you get a real EPIK or SMOE contract position that will give you a Notice of appointment from the office of education , and these jobs are all filled now. Your qualifications and age may not get you into SMOE or EPIK now anyway

The immigration will NOT process your papers and issue any visa number without your Apostilled police check. The person who told you this possibility is wrong, but maybe they have a 'friend' in immigration who will take some kick back money to do it - but unlikely.

I htink you had better be planning to head back to depart from UK as it was not wise to come direct to Korea to begin with.

[hari seldon]

[D.D.]

This is not a public school position. THat NGO stuff is crap and should be a big red flag. Sounds like an after school program and the hours are huge for an after school program. My spidey senses tell me to stay well clear of this job.

[mr tom]

[DCJames]

[mr tom]