Korean Job Discussion Forums

gunners girl · Joined: 30 Oct 2009 Location: London

Hi everyone,

I was hoping to get some advice from you guys. I've decided that I want to work in a public school in Seoul so applying through SMOE seems like the best option (despite the horror stories of what happened in August). So far, I've had my interview with my recruiter and they've said they'd be happy to represent me. I've finished my application but haven't been able to email it to the recruiter yet because I'm waiting for one of my referees to send me a reference. Seems I'm horribly behind in terms of getting all my documents together. I'm aware that interviews have been going on for the past month and that people will have already received job offers. I asked my recruiter if there are still a number of jobs available through SMOE and they said they would send my application off whenever they received it because even if someone gets a job offer, they might not end up sending in all of the correct documents.

SO, my questions are: If you apply late into the recruiting season, are you more likely to be placed in an undesirable location in Seoul? Do you think it's best to just chance it and apply now or play the waiting game and apply as soon as the recruiting season for August begins? If I were to apply now but got rejected because all the positions have gone, could I still apply for the August intake? Or am I worrying for absolutely no reason??

Thank you for reading through all the waffle! Any help/advice would be much appreciated!

reactionary · Joined: 22 Oct 2006 Location: korreia

I don't think you are too late. I got everything all finalized in July for my late August position.

SW · Joined: 08 Sep 2009 Location: Korea

You should be fine. Just try not to rush and make sure everything you submit to them is of good quality.

nomad-ish · Posted: Sun Nov 08, 2009 6:31 pm Post subject:

don't worry about your placement; it appears to be up to chance. i was one of the later recruits and then laid off during the august problem, but was hired again after the semester started. and i still got a great school Very Happy

lovebug · Joined: 29 Apr 2009

yes, i was offered a job late too and got a fantastic school in a good location. there is no rhyme or reason to placement, and as other commenters said, a lot of it happens during your orientation week.

another thing to keep in mind is that some teachers have a harder time adjusting midyear (starting in sept) bc the coteachers have already taught a certain way and the kids are used to certain things. i hadn't even thought about this until a few teachers mentioned this. i don't think i even realized that the school year starts in march in korea when i came.

(there's loads of teachers who come midyear and have no problems, so if you do end up coming over the summer, don't let my comments worry you)

gunners girl · Joined: 30 Oct 2009 Location: London

Thank you so much for all your comments - you've been really helpful! I've been getting myself into a right stress about it all!

One other question: On the SMOE application form, it asks you if you would be willing to commute for one hour to your school. I have initially ticked the box saying I wouldn't mind (basically because I didn't want to seem "difficult" and I have had to commute in London for over an hour before so would be nothing new) but now I'm thinking that that's just setting myself up to be placed really far away from my school and actually, I probably would mind! Do you think SMOE look upon your application negatively if you say you WOULD mind having such a long commute?

nomad-ish · Posted: Mon Nov 09, 2009 3:14 pm Post subject:

mmstyle · Joined: 17 Apr 2006 Location: wherever

My husband and I ticked the box and we are both walking distance to our schools, although admittedly, this is REALLY unusual.

Something to note: J. Pak straight up said in our orientation a year ago that anyone who said the were not willing to commute was no longer considered (I am sure this is based on how many people they need, though, but these days they don't seem to need people as much, of course). As Nomad-ish said, it's all about flexibility.

gunners girl · Joined: 30 Oct 2009 Location: London

Thanks for your advice nomad-ish and mmstyle.

Unfortunately I've just had an email from my recruiter saying that SMOE are no longer willing to receive applications (they think they've received enough to recruit from for Feb). And I just received my second reference through the post today! Talk about sod's law. Never mind, August it is then!