Korean Job Discussion Forums

joltaxt · Joined: 24 Oct 2009 Location: Seoul

What's with the recent upswing in jobs specifying they're looking for someone with an education degree? Or is this just me?

bassexpander · Joined: 13 Sep 2007 Location: Someplace you'd rather be.

Yeah, they're being more picky to cut down on the flood of applicants. If they don't get what they want (or when top people bail for a better job) they'll start asking for lower qualifications in a month or three.

For example, Hongdae only wants MA's to apply now. According to a friend, they had so many MA's apply last time, they only got through half of the pile before they found enough people they wanted to interview.

An acquaintance from another university who actually did teacher-training for Hongdae was passed over for no other reason than that he was further down in the pile of resumes. They didn't even look at his resume and chucked it in the garbage, because they had enough applicants. He learned this after calling them to inquire as to why he didn't get an interview.

The funny thing about this is that they may end up hiring some BA's a few weeks before classes start after their top MA candidates bail for something else. Most schools encounter this, although Hongdae is offering some of the best pay/benefits, so they may not.

steveinincheon · Joined: 14 Jul 2009 Location: in The Shadows of Gyeyangsan

Employers across Korea are getting so many apps lately, that they can afford to be choosier about who they pick. For the first time SMOE is now only looking at people with experience or a TEFL first, while schools in prime locations are asking for even more. If you are willing to work outside of Seoul or Busan there are still plenty of positions available for a recent graduate with just a BA. Even in China, where a couple years back many jobs didn't require a degree let alone a TEFL cert, most employers are asking for both these days.
There are still good jobs available for a newbie with a BA, but you will have to be less picky about where you live and more patient in waiting for good offers than a couple years ago.

halfmanhalfbiscuit · Joined: 13 Oct 2007 Location: Seoul

Private jobs can be the same though you need to be young and female. The logic being, if they're wanting to study they want someone easy on the eye they can flirt with, otherwise they won't bother. (eg jobs like female wanted, Youido, 7am, 50 per hour etc)

A 100 hour generic TEFL is not much of a prerequisite for any job really.

Especially when you can just make your own up.