Korean Job Discussion Forums

g35doc · Joined: 07 Jul 2009

Well, after 2.5 months looking for a job while here in the U.S., I finally found one in Gangnam. Things were looking really bleak at first. I must have emailed at least 30 recruiters. Job offers progresed from Cheongju, to Daejeon/Daegu, then Gimpo, and finally Gangnam. I thought about giving up just 2 weeks ago. I was the first to interview with the hagwon and they decided not to interview anyone else after talking with me. I guess I was in the right place at the right time. :D
Any practical advice? FYI I'm a gyopo with above average korean language skills (for a gyopo) and was in Korea 2 years ago but my relatives did everything for me. :oops:

byrddogs · Joined: 19 Jun 2009 Location: Shanghai

Congrats on finding a job. If you are working in a hakwon, be prepared to be under a microscope. I used to work in Apkujung. The parents are very hands on.

UCLAgirl · Joined: 06 May 2009

WHAT!!! Oh man i am so jealous!!! I am a gyopo looking for a job in Gangnam :*( (although at this point I am willing to go anywhere in Seoul). If you don't mind me asking, who did you go through? I have also emailed a TON of people and I'm just waiting...PS. is there such a thing as a hagwon job for gyopos that are not 2-10? haha...i really want to work 9-6ish but they dont seem to exist (for gyopos anyway). Congrats!!!!

tenchu77491 · Joined: 16 Mar 2009

I really don't get why people have such a hard time finding jobs in the Seoul area. I just helped a friend land another job in Seoul. Took like 1 day to get offers.

blackjack · Joined: 04 Jan 2006 Location: anyang

Gibberish · Joined: 29 Aug 2009

Yeah it takes persistence to get what you want. If anyone accepts the first offer that gets flung their way, they'll be sorry in the end. I'd love to find a job in Apgujeong or Chungdam.

afsjesse · Joined: 23 Sep 2007 Location: Kickin' it in 'Kato town.

I was in Gangnam just visiting when I was in Korea, what's so special about it? It's just more fancier and expensive... I'd much prefer jongno or some place. But congrats.

hagwonnewbie · Joined: 09 Feb 2007 Location: Asia

I hate Gangnam. Too effin crowded. Lots of eye candy tho...

cruisemonkey · Posted: Sat Sep 12, 2009 9:53 am Post subject:

OP,

Even though you can read the instructions on the machine, now you're going to have to learn to do your own laundry. Laughing

g35doc · Joined: 07 Jul 2009

[quote="UCLAgirl"]WHAT!!! Oh man i am so jealous!!! I am a gyopo looking for a job in Gangnam :*( (although at this point I am willing to go anywhere in Seoul). If you don't mind me asking, who did you go through? I have also emailed a TON of people and I'm just waiting...PS. is there such a thing as a hagwon job for gyopos that are not 2-10? haha...i really want to work 9-6ish but they dont seem to exist (for gyopos anyway). Congrats!!!![/quote]

touch4teaching and planetpeople were especially helpful.

g35doc · Joined: 07 Jul 2009

[quote="cruisemonkey"]OP,

Even though you can read the instructions on the "more fancier" machine, now you're going to have to learn to do your own laundry. :lol:[/quote]

LOL. I always hated doing laundry. I'm going to miss the fact that moms is no longer a 4 minute drive away. :o

cruisemonkey · Posted: Sat Sep 12, 2009 10:35 am Post subject:

g35doc · Joined: 07 Jul 2009

[quote="tenchu77491"]I really don't get why people have such a hard time finding jobs in the Seoul area. I just helped a friend land another job in Seoul. Took like 1 day to get offers.[/quote]

I don't have any teaching experience outside of tutoring a high school student for a year. To top it off I was a biology major in undergrad. According to the recruiter it was the name of my university that got me the job.

A couple other points:
The hagwon was specifically looking for a bilingual gyopo.
My hours are 1:30-9:30. Actual teaching time starts at 3:30.
I wasn't specifically looking for a position in Gangnam. Anywhere in Seoul, Incheon (lots of relatives), or possibly Gyeonggi would have been acceptable.

g35doc · Joined: 07 Jul 2009

[quote="cruisemonkey"][quote="g35doc"]LOL. I always hated doing laundry. I'm going to miss the fact that moms is no longer a 4 minute drive away. :o[/quote]
I would never let my mom do my laundry - she'd leave in the dryer to wrinkle (Ks don't have this problem) :wink: , and/or iron my jeans. :roll:[/quote]

My mom is an expert in cleaning and cooking, but also in losing things (like my clothes).
Maybe I could just show up to my aunt's place in Mapo with my laundry every other weekend. She actually has a dryer. Woooooooo~. Just kidding of course. I guess going from doing half of my laundry to all of it won't be too strenuous. :o

Epicurus · Joined: 18 Jun 2009

there was a gyopo on this board, whining up a storm a couple of weeks ago, blaming it all on Korean 'racism" aka looking for whitey (preferably blond, North American, female and slim) teacher.

While we all know such hiring preferences exist, I got annoyed at the whine and felt compelled to point out that being a gyopo can sometimes have its privileges.. and I don't whine about those being just a whitey.

anyways, I'm glad you found what you were looking for.