Korean Job Discussion Forums

[hydwatergirl]

I applied to Reach to Teach and was supposed to have an interview with them last week, but no one called. I emailed them a few times about it and didn't get any replies. Has anyone else had this problem?

I'm applying to EPIK and I don't know if I should continue trying to get a hold of Reach to Teach or apply through a different agency. They already have my application and I don't want to risk them sending it in if I go with another agency. Does anyone have any advice? This is my first time applying for an ESL job in Korea.

[ippy]

Dont know about your recruiter, but it should have taken you less than 5 minutes to realise that youre the product.

Keep your options open and dont restrict yourself to one recruiter with one type of job, and in one location. So long as youre pretty open, youll have no trouble getting a placement. And if you have the docs all good to go, prepare for people beating down your door to sign you up.

[jiberish]

Recruiters don't give a damn about you. If you don't get a job, some one else is hired, or anything else really. They won't contact you. Even the alot of the schools are like that. Just always keep looking and have lots of options.

[hydwatergirl]

Thanks for your help! I'll apply to more agencies.

[blonde researcher]

If they already have your application, they will certainly have checked it to see your suitability for gaining an EPIK position after an interview.
The reason they may be delaying you is because they see you as less potential for being placed. (They may even hope you disappear!)

With many applicants turned downthis year from EPIK and SMOE I expect a fair bit of 'pre-selection' is being done by recruiters who won't want their time wasted with 'less then likely applicants'
Much better to prioritize the level 1 and 2 applicants with TESOL or teacher's diplomas to get recruitment fees instead of taking time to work and help those who wont earn a fee for them, but still take time and energy!
In this respect the demand of the market will rule.

In Korea applicants are NOT paying the recruiter anything, so unless the recruiters see you as 'worth placing' many may not take the time to actively help you, or even reply to you for any job (hagwon or EPIK).

Check your own status and qualifications as per the level you would be on (on EPIK website) and if your self assessment is that you are a great applicant and the recruiter is ignoring you - then move on fast to another good recruiter and send Reach to Teach a withdrawal letter ASAP. Or ask for an honest appraisal of your chances of winning an EPIK job and if so where might you be placed. Remember the bulk of applicants try for Busan, Incheon or big cities, so flexibility is important in EPIK

[hydwatergirl]

Thank you for your advice blonde researcher! That really put things in perspective. I'm going to take a TEFL course to increase my chances of getting a job and I wrote that on my application. I'm going to apply to other agencies and see what happens.