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tampabulls
Joined: 20 Sep 2009
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 Posted: Thu Dec 24, 2009 5:08 pm Post subject: Do things like this happen a lot with EPIK? |
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Dear agencies,
It is with many regrets that we must inform you that the Busan POE cut 125 positions for the March 2010 hiring season. Please accept our sincere apologies for this uncomfortable and unexpected situation. We received an official letter from Busan today that explained that they miscounted the number of available positions. When they gave us their initial request, they didn�t take into consideration the number of renewals, and this news is shocking for us as well. We fully understand how you are feeling about this unpleasant situation. We have thoroughly thought through and talked about this issue, and now we are going to do our best to get through this difficult and trying situation. Although we have put a lot of energy and efforts into considering all possible options, practically we cannot do many things for now. We appreciate your understanding. The following list includes several issues that EPIK would like to share with you. Please read carefully and help us more so that we can successfully finish our 2010 recruitment season.
1. The Busan POE positions have been reduced. The Busan POE will hire ONLY 125 applicants for March 2010 semester.
2. EPIK will provide queue numbers to document packages to go onto a waitlist from now on. We will place applicants based on their preference. All applicants in the queue will need to be flexible with their placement. To efficiently create the waitlist, we would like to know of possible withdrawals. If your applicant is not flexible for placement, please tell us because it can cause a delay in the processing and placement of other applicants.
3. We understand it might be hard to anticipate who will pull out. However, we need to know which candidates are flexible. We can help to place candidates who are very flexible if you tell us as soon as possible. To manage the waitlist efficiently, we would like you to keep us update with your applicants� status.
4. Please inform us as soon as possible if you have any applicants who want to be placed in Gyeonggi. We will make a Gyeonggi list for the 20 positions. Only applicants who have submitted their documents will have the opportunity to be recommended to Gyeonggi (first-come first-serve policy). If the applicants are ready to send their EPIK and Gyeonggi documents, they will have a better chance at securing the position.
5. Criminal Record Check (CRC) issue- The Ministry of Justice strengthened their policy, and they asked us to request additional CRC for applicants who moved from State to State. We are asking the applicants to submit an additional CRC (no needed to be apostilled).
If there is no problem with the initial CRC, we will recommend him/her first and then we will conditionally issue E2visa package on the basis that we receive the second CRC.
6. Recommendation or Reference letter (Ref. letter) ? The majority of our incomplete document packages is due to the reference letter. We even found some forgeries. It�s shameful. We request that you check and screen the reference letters more thoroughly. If the ref. letter does not have an official letter head, please ask them to obtain a more authentic one. If the ink signature part is scanned one, ask them to get the ink signature. If the ink was added on top of the scanned one, please ask them to get the original ink signature. From now on, any unauthentic ref. letter will result in an automatic failure. All responsibility will be on applicants and also recruiters. We want you to work with us as a team.
7. Gyeonggi province additional documents- We have received some questions from some of our recruiters. Most of the questions were concerning the guidelines. Later, many recruiters admitted they hadn�t opened the guideline files. Please read the guidelines carefully. If you cannot open the file, contact us and ask us again. Again, before sending us the Gyeonggi additional documents, please check in first (ONLY Level 2 above for Gyeonggi)
Thank you for reading this long email. As you may already know, we are having hard time handling the large influx of documents during this difficult situation. We also have had many problems with incomplete documents. At this point in the season, we will not spend our time informing applicants about their incomplete documents. Please send us the accurate and complete documents and please triple check. All incomplete documents will be placed at the end of the waitlist with bad queue numbers.
We apologize for any inconvenience from the Busan issue. We ask you for your understanding with strong support. Thank you in advance.
Sincerely,
EPIK |
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Big Mac
Joined: 17 Sep 2005
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| Posted: Thu Dec 24, 2009 6:09 pm Post subject: |
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| Wow, it sounds like this is becoming a trend with public schools now. Something similar to this happened with SMOE in the fall. One more reason why public schools are not the best places to work anymore. |
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schwa
Joined: 18 Jan 2003
Location: Yap
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| Posted: Thu Dec 24, 2009 6:56 pm Post subject: |
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But the cause is clear isnt it? Far more renewals than recent past history would have suggested.
Raising two points: EPIK didnt anticipate the extent of underemployment in the US & other western countries (but in fairness EPIK honchos arent global economists), & the job cant be all that bad if so many already here are willing to put other life plans on hold for a year or two more.
Bummer to those with disrupted expectations though. |
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pusky
Joined: 03 Jun 2009
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| Posted: Thu Dec 24, 2009 9:33 pm Post subject: |
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| its good that they are telling people before they buy tickets and fly out at least. Seems like a ton of EPIK people are renewing this year. I would think that most places will end up having fewer slots than anticipated. Busan is obviously the most sought after place in EPIK, but I can't imagine that its the only place experiencing a lot higher renewal rates. |
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blonde researcher
Joined: 16 Oct 2006
Location: Globalizing in Korea for the time being
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| Posted: Sat Dec 26, 2009 12:58 am Post subject: |
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If EPIK applicants dont know their papers have a problem, with for example the signature of the writer - and they are not going to be told, and papers are thrown to the bottom of a barrel, then applicants will be planning for leaving in February as planned and simply waiting for their notice of appointment letter to come in January. ??
I can see some very rude wake up shocks happening for many EPIK applicants, as well as many of the Busan applicants getting shifted to the remote hard to fill towns in ohter provinces.
I guess this is now a 'watch this space' situation for many. Considering Busan POE pulled this same trick for the March 2009 intake as well by deleting at least 50 jobs at the last minute after advertising them. |
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sigmundsmith
Joined: 22 Nov 2007
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| Posted: Sat Dec 26, 2009 2:34 am Post subject: |
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A friend of mine applied for a position with Gangnam District Office for their public school program.
Went for an interview then later was informed that they don't know if they have the budget for any new teachers.
Well, that was the official information sent.
Maybe again that renewals are high due to the economic situtation and the estimated number of new teachers required was not needed. |
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Sadebugo1
Joined: 11 May 2003
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| Posted: Sat Dec 26, 2009 4:58 am Post subject: |
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No, EPIK/KORETTA has been a disaster since its inception. The program started in '94 on a limited/trial basis with approximately 50 instructors placed around the country. I joined when it expanded in '96 and was placed in Taegu for two years. The excuse made back then was that it was a new program and needed time to iron out the wrinkles. Fifteen years later, nothing has changed and perhaps, it has become even worse. After the Asian crisis, I watched as they cut back on benefits not caring that our salaries had already been reduced dramtically due to the currency devaluation. I finished my contract, got a job in Saudi, and never looked back.
They always aspired to outdo JET, but have never come close. The only purpose of EPIK seems to be providing a haven for teachers wanting to move on from hagwons. Ultimately, it will never improve because it is simply a reflection of how business is conducted in Korea.
Sadebugo
http://travldawrld.blogspot.com/ |
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Raquel82
Joined: 21 Oct 2009
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| Posted: Sat Dec 26, 2009 6:46 am Post subject: |
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| blonde researcher wrote: |
If EPIK applicants dont know their papers have a problem, with for example the signature of the writer - and they are not going to be told, and papers are thrown to the bottom of a barrel, then applicants will be planning for leaving in February as planned and simply waiting for their notice of appointment letter to come in January. ??
I can see some very rude wake up shocks happening for many EPIK applicants, as well as many of the Busan applicants getting shifted to the remote hard to fill towns in ohter provinces.
I guess this is now a 'watch this space' situation for many. Considering Busan POE pulled this same trick for the March 2009 intake as well by deleting at least 50 jobs at the last minute after advertising them. |
Where did you read in the letter that applicants were not going to be told about issues with their paperwork? I didn't read that at all. It seems it is the responsibility of the applicants and the recruiters to make sure everything is complete. My recruiter has been in constant communication with me about my process with EPIK. She emailed me right away when there were no more positions in Incheon. She let me know I could be placed on a waiting list for Busan (since it was my second choice) or I could immediately be guaranteed a position in Daegu. Of course I opted for the Daegu position. Hopefully they won't have any additional cuts. |
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fusionbarnone
Joined: 31 May 2004
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| Posted: Sun Dec 27, 2009 5:28 pm Post subject: |
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The real shake-up is going to happen when Americans begin to realize this "recession" is much worse than what the confidence men/Ponzi-runners on Wall street are saying and start saving thus putting-off buying Korean products.
I work for a High School in the US with really good benefits and I'm not surprised that teachers are renewing. EPIK is an excellent employer to wait out the coming economic crash in the west. |
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blonde researcher
Joined: 16 Oct 2006
Location: Globalizing in Korea for the time being
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| Posted: Sun Dec 27, 2009 11:55 pm Post subject: |
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The original EPIK letter to recruiters posted by the Op said:
[quote]At this point in the season, we will not spend our time informing applicants about their incomplete documents. Please send us the accurate and complete documents and please triple check. All incomplete documents will be placed at the end of the waitlist with bad queue numbers.
THEREFORE, If EPIK will not take the time to inform direct to EPIK applicants oe applicants who sent papers direct to EPIK (not to their recruiter first ) about incomplete documents arriving (which are mostly problems with recommendation letters)
as the letter posted said - "6. Recommendation or Reference letter (Ref. letter) ? The majority of our incomplete document packages is due to the reference letter"
How will applicants know their papers have been placed at the end of the waitlist and the 'bad queque ??  
Does this also mean that EPIK is not going to tell recruiters if their applicants papers that have been sent directly to EPIK are incompete?
Recruiters will of course be shuffling around calming alll their applicants of the shifts of locations available and the time frame for official papers as they will certainly want to keep them as 'happy as possible' and staying in along the EPIK journey. |
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maingman
Joined: 26 Jan 2008
Location: left Korea
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| Posted: Mon Dec 28, 2009 4:31 am Post subject: . |
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Sadeb wrotte :
The only purpose of EPIK seems to be providing a haven for teachers wanting to move on from hagwons.
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TheUrbanMyth
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Location: Retired
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| Posted: Mon Dec 28, 2009 7:08 pm Post subject: |
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[quote="blonde researcher"]The original EPIK letter to recruiters posted by the Op said:
| Quote: |
At this point in the season, we will not spend our time informing applicants about their incomplete documents. Please send us the accurate and complete documents and please triple check. All incomplete documents will be placed at the end of the waitlist with bad queue numbers.
THEREFORE, If EPIK will not take the time to inform direct to EPIK applicants oe applicants who sent papers direct to EPIK (not to their recruiter first ) about incomplete documents arriving (which are mostly problems with recommendation letters)
as the letter posted said - "6. Recommendation or Reference letter (Ref. letter) ? The majority of our incomplete document packages is due to the reference letter"
How will applicants know their papers have been placed at the end of the waitlist and the 'bad queque ??
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If they didn't send all the required papers such as the recommendation letter, then they should have a very good idea of where they will be placed.
In the West if you apply for a job that requires extensive documentation, the employer won't even bother letting you know you won't be considered if you didn't provide the asked-for documentation...he'd just go on to the next applicant. |
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