Korean Job Discussion Forums

Shofny · Joined: 09 Sep 2009

Hi All,

Hope you are all well.

I have my EPIK interview on Thursday and wondered if those of you with some experience with EPIK have any words of advice to give to me. What kinds of questions will they be asking me? What sorts of things do they like to hear? What were your reasons for working with EPIK? I'm really nervous and not sure how to prepare - any ideas?

Your help is appreciated.

Thanks

Shofny =)

son of coco · Joined: 14 Mar 2008

proustme · Joined: 13 Jun 2009 Location: Nowon-gu

Just be honest about coming to teach students English. Throw in the word 'harmonious'.

son of coco · Joined: 14 Mar 2008

Yeah, 'diligent' is another good one too. It's probably top on the list of English words Korean people love.

Shofny · Joined: 09 Sep 2009

Hi guys

Thank you so much for the advice! What other things do they like to hear? What would put them off and do they ask any personal questions?

Shofny

Billos · Joined: 14 Oct 2008 Location: Korea

Speak Slowly and Emphasis all the syllables for every word, let them ask the questions and maybe ask one or two innocent, not too imposing questions to make you look interested. You'll be fine!!

hockeyguy109 · Joined: 22 Dec 2008 Location: Daegu

You could say "I like to hit children and I hate kimchi" and they'd probably still hire you. joke. Don't worry about it! Just be honest:

"There are no jobs in America so I'm here to find the Korean Dream."

chris_J2 · Joined: 17 Apr 2006 Location: From Brisbane, Au.

Epik interviewers like to see applicants demonstrate that they have good interpersonal, people skills. I had a photo that I took of a happy group of young Russians, enjoying a cold Klinskoe beer, on the banks of the Amur River in Komsomolsk Na Amure a few weeks before my interview. I shared a beer with them. That impressed them. They don't want to hire a hermit, that never communicates with anyone. So demonstrate that you can mix well with a diverse range of people, from students, all the way up to the Principal, & know about hierarchy & appropriate ways to address each group within that hierarchy.

The Epik Interviewer also mentioned later, that she has a policy, that if she cannot understand 80% of the verbal communication at an interview, they are not hired. So a strong, unintelligible Scots or Irish accent, is out. If you are from the UK, speak slowly & clearly, & enunciate each word.

hockeyguy109 · Joined: 22 Dec 2008 Location: Daegu

Reise-ohne-Ende · Joined: 07 Sep 2009

The person I talked to was Korean but had very very good English. You could tell he'd spent time in (probably) the US.

He did ask some questions I'd consider pretty personal! We talked about our families and their health, my personal history, my feelings on different issues, etc. I probably would have been very surprised if an American asked me that stuff. But I'm very open anyway so it was actually kind of nice to be able to connect with someone that quickly.

chris_J2 · Joined: 17 Apr 2006 Location: From Brisbane, Au.

morrisonhotel · Joined: 18 Jul 2009 Location: Gyeonggi-do

I can confirm the accent thing. I had a recent interview with EPIK for a position outside Busan and the interviewer told me that she wasn't able to understand my accent that well. Still offered me the job mind you. From what the interviewer was saying to me, they seem to work off a sheet of answers. For just one example of this, she asked me what I would do if a student was unruly. I gave my answer and she said that that was what she had written down in her answer section (she said this a few times during the interview). FYI, the interviewer I had was Korean and her English wasn't so great.

candiep20 · Joined: 06 Oct 2009 Location: South Korea

from what I can remember about my EPIK interview, it was shorter than I expected. The interviewer basically confirmed everything she'd read on my resume and application letter and then asked me (very briefly) about my experiences working with different levels of students. It was all very casual and the interviewer was very friendly. It took less than 10 minutes and then she offered me the job.

I'd say just be friendly and open to any of the interviewer's questions. Don't worry about it too much. Oh, and my interviewer was Korean but she spoke English pretty well.

RBJfaraway · Joined: 27 Aug 2009

Hey along this same topic. I am interviewing with EPIK in a few hours, and I didn't specify whether or not I wanted audio or webcam. I am down for either, but I would like to know ahead of time. Have you recent applicants been interviewed on camera or just phone? I will be using skype. Thanks and good luck to everyone else who will be interviewing soon!