Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Andyc24_uk]

Just wondering if anyone has had any luck with recruiters advertising on this site?! Over the past couple of weeks, I've applied for seven different jobs in Jeonju which have been advertised by recruiters on ESLcafe. One replied and set up a phone interview for the following day - I sat in all morning waiting, but recieved no call. The other six of them haven't even bothered to reply to my Email.

I'm not a 'newbie' - I have a teaching qualification and 3 years' UK high school teaching experience, plus more than two years' teaching experience in Korea. I have the necessary visa documents ready and waiting, and I understand the way Korea works. Without wanting to sound arrogant, I doubt recruiters are exactly flooded with better-qualified applicants for these jobs.

So, WTF is going on? Are recruiters completely out of touch with reality and holding back, hoping for people with an MA in TESOL or Linguistics to give them a call? or is it just that 90% of recruiter adverts on this site are a complete waste of time?

[broken76]

Overall I'd say the recruiters that you contacted either don't have positions in the area requested or the positions that they do have don't want to interview you.
A recruiter gains nothing by not placing you.

[stevieg4ever]

To be honest mate it is anyone's guess but just because they don't call
it doesnt necessarily mean its a bad thing or that you are the problem.

They may figure that someone with actual nailed on experience can see through most of the rubbish and, as I am sure you know, many many positions are not what they propose themselves to be.

But give them a call all the same id say.

[Girlygirl]

OP,

Go here: http://thejeonjuhub.com. Perhaps you can get those recruiters attention faster.

Good luck.

[thegreg52]

My guess is that they are all very busy right now with the placements of the teachers that are going to ROK in a few weeks.

I used Reach2Teach and was very happy with them. (www.reachtoteachrecruiting.com)

Good luck

[djsmnc]

Andy C 'longside the MC GQ. Reeeeeeespect!

[curlygirl]

This *might* be what's tripping you up.
http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?t=176721&highlight=

The fact of your being British rather than North American is a hindrance. The fact that you have experience means you know the ropes and are less likely to let hagwon bosses push you around. And heaven forbid if you're not slim and "pretty, pretty". It really is all about looks here and experience counts for so little.

As another poster said, a recruiter has nothing to gain by not placing you - no job for you equals no commission for the recruiter. Maybe there are no positions in that area that match what you've requested, or maybe the employers are just keeping a closed mind about who they want to hire. In any case, it's not the recruiter that hires you; it's the school. Cast a wider net and list with as many recruiters as you can because you've got nothing to lose.

Good luck with the job search.

[dooplodicus]

Try ESLstarter. They are always really quick to reply. The girl I dealt with was called Clare. [email protected]

[abigolblackman]

It may be because he's British, but I'm American and I'm going through the exact same problems as him. I've contacted at least 10 recruiters and applied to 5 jobs a day for the past 2 weeks and have only gotten one response from a recruiter. I have 1.5 years experience in Korea a at many schools and programs [SMOE the whole time with short term (legal) contracts] so I'm "qualified" for the positions I'm applying for.

Maybe they are busy. But I think they are holding out for white blonde girls from America, and come March when they can't get them, they will hold out for gyopos and F2's, then come April when they can't get them, and everyone has a job or quits, plenty of jobs will open up.

Personally I'm in a good position because I can quit anytime I want and make a Visa run (30 days notice of course). If you have steady income, just hold out to April, I'm sure many decent positions will pop-up all of a sudden and they will be begging you to start immediately.

Don't take it personal. I'm sure the first thing they do is look at my picture and throw out my resume.

abigolblackman

[Saskatoongirl]

i got my job direct, it was so much less hassel that way.

[Andyc24_uk]

Thanks for replies... Yeah, I've got various contacts looking out for opportunities for me by word of mouth; It's much easier that way - I'm just surprised that none of the jobs I applied for (all were specific vacancies advertised on here, not a general 'do you have any jobs in Jeonju' application) even responded... I think there may well be something in the 'pro-American racism' argument...

[abigolblackman]

@Saskatoongirl

Direct from?

abigolblackman

[youngwisdom84]

[ChrisGuy]

I posted my CV on this site and got contacted directly by a school. The process has been pretty simple, and they have been very nice. I will be working in Seoul, Yongsan-gu (I understand people find it tough getting work here?) so perhaps I have been quite fortunate. Also going against the general grain of what people are saying, im male, from the UK and with no experience which means it seems even more unlikely I would end up in such a position.

I fly out in a week to the day! I cannot wait, but as far as I can tell, i have fallen on my feet. They even bought my plane ticket!

I suppose this should mean there is hope for everyone out there.

[thegreg52]