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Looking for work at Korean universities

 
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moonapali



Joined: 17 Aug 2009
PostPosted: Thu Feb 25, 2010 5:52 pm    Post subject: Looking for work at Korean universities Reply with quote
Hello All,
I would like to work at a Korean university. I have an F5 visa and worked 7.5 years at a couple of different hogwans on Jeju.

I enjoy teaching and would like to make more of a career of it. Hogwan teaching has been fine, but I want to step-up the challenge and also have some more free-time to pursue an MA (distance course).

I have a contract pending for Saudi Arabia at a university (Sept. 2010), but would rather stay here in Korea.

Can anyone recommend a university? What is the best method of approaching a university? Are recruiters a viable option, or are all of them just minions of the Devil Twisted Evil ?

Thanks in advance. I welcome any constructive advice.
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The_Source



Joined: 09 Oct 2008
PostPosted: Thu Feb 25, 2010 9:22 pm    Post subject: Re: Looking for work at Korean universities Reply with quote
Sorry to break it to you, but a Korean university is a step down from a hagwon, not a step up. Expect to see a fraction of your current salary.

And you won't have much better luck in Saudi Arabia, either. You will be treated as the lowest of life forms.
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sofaking



Joined: 30 May 2008
PostPosted: Thu Feb 25, 2010 11:50 pm    Post subject: Re: Looking for work at Korean universities Reply with quote
The_Source wrote:
Sorry to break it to you, but a Korean university is a step down from a hagwon, not a step up. Expect to see a fraction of your current salary.

And you won't have much better luck in Saudi Arabia, either. You will be treated as the lowest of life forms.



I love these generalizations....

OP.... Some uni jobs are like the situation mentioned. Some are not!!

I have been at a uni for the past 5 years. I earn about 50% more than your average hagwon job. I work 15 hours a week (no desk-warming here). I get 5.5 months of paid vacation a year.

I'll take my job over your hagwon position, Mr Source!

And there are quite a few jobs like that out there.

Although many unis don't REQUIRE a Masters, the pool of applicants is so qualified these days that it is difficult to secure a job with just a Bachelors degree... even with uni experience under your belt.

Networking is the best way to get into the uni scene. Many of these positions are filled because an applicant has been recommended by someone already on staff.
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seonsengnimble



Joined: 02 Jun 2009
Location: taking a ride on the magic English bus
PostPosted: Fri Feb 26, 2010 4:18 am    Post subject: Re: Looking for work at Korean universities Reply with quote
As wee Todd id said, there are some great ones out there, but the best way to get a job is through personal connections. I will be starting a pretty good one soon if everything works out with immigration, but the conditions are pretty nice. I have no uni experience, a bachelor's degree and E2 status.

I don't think recruiters are really an option for universities since the positions usually sell themselves. If you don't know anyone working at one, check the job boards here and at work'n'play and if you can find it, ddeubel put up a pretty good link for uni jobs. You can also try canvassing areas you want to work in.

Now might be a difficult time to find a uni job though because the school year starts in a few days. I would recommend checking in the summer or next november-december.
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languistic



Joined: 25 Nov 2009
PostPosted: Fri Feb 26, 2010 5:07 am    Post subject: Re: Looking for work at Korean universities Reply with quote
The_Source wrote:
The_Source is an incredibly wonderful person whom everyone is absolutely and completely in love with. He is a gift to the world and speaks with great wisdom on all subjects.



Tough to get a uni job now...most have just hired and gearing up for the year...try in September/October.

Last edited by languistic on Fri Feb 26, 2010 4:32 pm; edited 1 time in total
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djsmnc



Joined: 20 Jan 2003
Location: Dave's ESL Cafe
PostPosted: Fri Feb 26, 2010 5:36 am    Post subject: Re: Looking for work at Korean universities Reply with quote
sofaking wrote:


I earn about 50% more than your average hagwon job. I work 15 hours a week (no desk-warming here). I get 5.5 months of paid vacation a year.



Yep, and I don't really know anyone working in a uni right now who says otherwise!
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PatrickGHBusan



Joined: 24 Jun 2008
Location: Busan (1997-2008) Canada 2008 -
PostPosted: Fri Feb 26, 2010 5:44 am    Post subject: Re: Looking for work at Korean universities Reply with quote
The_Source wrote:
Sorry to break it to you, but a Korean university is a step down from a hagwon, not a step up. Expect to see a fraction of your current salary.

And you won't have much better luck in Saudi Arabia, either. You will be treated as the lowest of life forms.


Laughing

Wow really?

So to you 2.5 for 12 hoursper week is worse than 2.2 for 30 hours per week?
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djsmnc



Joined: 20 Jan 2003
Location: Dave's ESL Cafe
PostPosted: Fri Feb 26, 2010 8:47 am    Post subject: Re: Looking for work at Korean universities Reply with quote
PatrickGHBusan wrote:
The_Source wrote:
Sorry to break it to you, but a Korean university is a step down from a hagwon, not a step up. Expect to see a fraction of your current salary.

And you won't have much better luck in Saudi Arabia, either. You will be treated as the lowest of life forms.


Laughing

Wow really?

So to you 2.5 for 12 hoursper week is worse than 2.2 for 30 hours per week?


Yeah, with the nearly ubiquitous "Instructor is expected to work every weekday excluding Korean holidays"
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The_Source



Joined: 09 Oct 2008
PostPosted: Fri Feb 26, 2010 2:53 pm    Post subject: Re: Looking for work at Korean universities Reply with quote
PatrickGHBusan wrote:
The_Source wrote:
Sorry to break it to you, but a Korean university is a step down from a hagwon, not a step up. Expect to see a fraction of your current salary.

And you won't have much better luck in Saudi Arabia, either. You will be treated as the lowest of life forms.


:lol:

Wow really?

So to you 2.5 for 12 hoursper week is worse than 2.2 for 30 hours per week?


Yes. Even if we were to base the analysis on the two salary figures you provided (which I also disagree with), the 12 hours per week means 12 TEACHING hours. It doesn't include prep time (which is substantially longer at a Korean university), grading (evaluating classes of 40+ students is brutal) and office hours (with students whining about why they should have received an A+ instead of the A that you gave them). Schools are also increasingly requiring summer and winter camps.

Many teachers get star-struck by the word "university" and they imagine Korean universities as cushy, prestigious jobs. The Korean universities know this, and they continue to worsen their working conditions because they know they have an endless supply teachers who want to work for them. I've worked at two Korean universities before, and why anyone would want to work with such horrible conditions for such a low salary is beyond me.
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