Korean Job Discussion Forums

[HeyBro]

35 year old average joe, 5 years experience, good references

vs.

25 year old attractive blonde dude, just graduated, no experience


Lets say out of 10 hagkwons, how many would go for the looks, how many go for the experience???

what's your opinion/experience?

[zipper]

I would wager a bet of 60/40 for the blondie at hagwons. This society is extremely materialistic and ofter very shallow when it comes to appearances...IMO

[The Gipkik]

[Moldy Rutabaga]

I taught in Mexico for a year. A manager at a local government office wanted a personal English tutor, and the teachers at the school were asked to submit resumes, with pictures of course. I had an MA and I was beaten out by a 20-year old blonde with a high school diploma!

No surprise there. I suppose the difference is that in Mexico, people laughed about this and admitted it openly; 'that's what men do.'

Ken:>

[Epicurus]

[OculisOrbis]

you lose. 20yo blonde has the job every time in korea. male or female......

[buildbyflying]

This would make an interesting experiment. Any blonde volunteers?

[climber159]

Simple economics. Less experience and fewer credentials means lower pay (and with teachers flooding the market salaries for newbies may dip into the sub 2.0million territory). If I'm the owner of a 학원, I know that a newbie with a fresh BA can be an English monkey just as well as the veteran with an MA and TEFL. And, if the newbie is attractive that means the students and parents will like them.

[iggyb]

If I dye my hair, will that help???

I agree cheaper is a factor in picking the younger person. My guess, though, is that the hakwon boss would care more about him not being familiar with Korea. They don't want people who know things like how severance pay is calculated or that the Labor Board even exists...

[buildbyflying]

climber: no offense but speculation doesn't make good science (or economics).

Take two volunteers, one young and blond, the other not blond and older. To change the variables we could do the study in several runs, switching the CV's with the applicants, to rule out CV consideration.
By no means would this be an elaborate study, but it could give preliminary insight into Korean hiring practices.

[DCJames]

EFL in Korea is a game of smoke and mirrors.

African-Americans/Canadians, Korean-Americans/Canadians, and old folks don't fit the image of what Koreans think are "English Teachers".

That's why Koreans avoid hiring them.

Forgot to mention Koreans avoid fat and ugly people for teaching jobs also.

[climber159]

[daddy daycare]

if I may ask --- 5 years experience in korea??

if that is the case, or if not, people will still choose the blonde...

they can manipulate her/him more, as she/he does not know the system....

they can tell her/him it works like this and that, and how is she/he to know if it is true or not....

my current school is looking for new unexperienced teachers, as my wife and I ( 6 years in korea) will be leaving at the end of our contract. We dont just accept what we are told, AND THEY DONT LIKE IT.....


Just recently my school chose a new unexperienced teacher over an experienced one.. they tried to force the teacher to work longer hours etc. (long story)...
the teacher came to us to ask us if it is correct, and

NOW the unexperienced teacher is already back in her country.....

[Demophobe]

[Dazed and Confused]

At my hogwon we've had 2 teachers and both were over 60. I personally prefer experience over looks.
That being said, I suggest you do PROFESSIONALLY dye your hair and get a little "work" done. It will increase your chances with hogwon and possibly public school jobs out there.