Korean Job Discussion Forums

[yingwenlaoshi]

[asmith]

You can still find jobs. It's just not as easy as it used to be.

It's an employers market. Too much unemployment at home. Too many worthless degrees. Too many people in debt up to their eyeballs to pay for worthless degrees.

[pie eater]

[asylum seeker]

[asmith]

[Starbucks]

I'm Canadian, 26, white and male. I guess you were right about 2/3 things but really, are the only people posting on these boards negatively

A: Non North American
B: Male
C: Old (by old I mean 35 and over, and I know thats not old by any means so please dont be offended.)

[broken76]

Overall there are definitely a lack of jobs in the market. There are thousands of new applicants while the number of jobs are shrinking. Schools are having a harder time with enrollment because of the economy and many schools are hitting the limit to how much longer they can stay open without making serious cuts. And the easiest thing to cut for a business is usually manpower.
Overall more teachers are staying put at their current jobs and reextending mainly because they don't have a choice in the matter because of the lack of jobs at home and the difficulty in finding something new and better.
So schools really are having the option of choosing teachers now. Before they mainly had to make do with what teachers were available. So they have become pickier and pickier shoppers. Just like teachers were able to shop around for the school they wanted schools are now able to shop for the teachers that they want. Unfortunately schools do prefer young, caucasian, female teachers. They always have but now they can usually get one if they wait long enough.
As for recruiters the current market is really screwing up their systems as teachers who normally would be placed quickly aren't. Recruiters have nothing to gain from not placing anyone. They get paid for placement and don't get paid for anything else.

[asylum seeker]

[Some of the Mothers Said]

What's with all the panic?
I came to Korea just after the IMF crisis where there were plenty of jobs, (a lot of the had foreigners jumped ship) but not much money. My first job was 1.5million split shift, country town. My job now 3.5 million, 2 months paid vacation in Seoul. (Although I do prefer the country town)
You have to work at it. If you don't get lucky, know someone, or brown nose your way into a "nice" position, it's going to take some time. From what I hear there have been bundles of new Hog wons opening this year, and last. Mother is pushing the study barrow, because there are not so many jobs here either.
For the Newbs, just lower your standards a little? Get a job in a country town, get some experience under your belt. You may enjoy it, and Seoul isn't that far away from anywhere really. For those who have experience, my recruiter friends say the market hasn't changed that much at all.
Good luck and Don't Panic!

[fusionbarnone]

[quote="asmith"]

[Starbucks]

[Starbucks]

hey, got your PM, but I deleted the post after reading it by accident can you send me it again so I can reply, dont have 25posts yet

thanks man

[pie eater]

[E_athlete]

[quote="pie eater"]

[Demophobe]

This is a natural part of the EFL boom curve in Korea. Japan used to be the hotspot; jobs were everywhere and relatively easy to get. Then things over there tightened up, and now it is more difficult than Korea. Korea went through the initial growth surge, and now things are calming down. Fewer jobs, more selective hiring practices (perhaps), the qualification bar is rising and they won't take just anyone anymore.

I am happy about it. Its about time Korea shaped up and started to refine their ways regarding EFL. It is only a matter of time before the changes will reach deeper and the relative few that are left will be in good stead.

This place is becoming less and less the unemployment center for the West; at least, there are early indications that this is underway. Things always find an equilibrium and this is what is happening now; like a belch after a big feed. For those who have been here for a while and face the long-term, its a good time to indulge in professional development, find a good job and hunker down. Over the next ten years, the E2 may well be the minority visa; much of the competition these days is in the F visa ring and a great many of these folks have seen the writing on the wall, done a boatload of work (self-development (MA, CELTA/DELTA/TEFL, etc) and are hard to beat. I see the number of this type of individual on the rise and thus, the E2 will become exceptional. Maybe this is a product of Korea moving into the multi-cultural stage of development...