Korean Job Discussion Forums

[UKsimon]

Do you imagine it will be as competitive as the March (2010) EPIK?

I managed to get selected for the March start, but a late problem with my ref. letters meant that i lost my place.

I haven't managed to find a position since, so was wondering if it's worth waiting until EPIK later on in the year?

Are there any other programmes or options that might be worth considering?

Thanks,

Simon

[JD_Tiberius]

What sort of problem did you have with your reference letters?

I'm hoping to get on the September intake too, I'm calculating that the intake might not be as high as last september because the job situation in western countries is marginally better than before and the outlook for the class of 2010 isn't quite as bleak as it was for the class of 2009. Trying to apply logic to humans is futile though so my predictions will probably be wrong and there will be a huge surge this autumn.

[UKsimon]

My recruiter initially accepted all of my documents, stating they were fine. He went ahead and sent them off to EPIK.

At the last minute, he told me that EPIK were holding back my letter of appointment until i gave them ref. letters with official letterheads.

I had sent him scans of my ref. letters before hand with my concerns, but he assured me that they were fine (a lesson learnt on my behalf) and i didn't have to get new ones.

After i was told to get them again, it took too long so my place was lost.

Annoying really, seeing as i could be in Korea right now.

[JD_Tiberius]

wow that sucks, good lesson learned though - always be skeptical of assurances. It sounds like you should avoid that recruiter next time to be honest.

[bcjinseoul]

From what I've read on the threads here in recent months, almost everything but the really bad hogwons (9-7, kindies, 2.1 M KRW a month, no benefits, 2 weeks vacation or less, etc.) seem competitive these days...unless you you're willing to settle for work in the middle of the country. I read that EPIK was going to hire 250 people for Busan during the August 2009 intake, but ended up only hiring half as many since so many people renewed. For the semester that just started, I've read on this forum months ago that there were A LOT of resumes for GEPIK, plus they're going through something of a series of budget cuts as well, so a whole bunch of people didn't make the cut...including a friend of mine who's been here a while and has a CELTA. I'm not looking to start any generational/age warfare on the internet, but there seems to be a trend in public schools (especially SMOE?) these days to hire fresh college graduates as supposed to a older, experienced teachers who have been here a few years...

[chelle]

They are getting more selective, saw this:

*QUALIFICATION CHANGE*: EPIK is going to require all teachers to qualify for at least a level 2 salary. That means successful applicants must have one of the following at a minimum:
- Teacher�s License/TEFL/TESOL(100+ hours)/CELTA Certification.
- Bachelor�s degree in Education, English Education or English Language/Literature or Linguistics
- Bachelor�s degree in anything + 1 year full time teaching experience
- Master�s degree in any discipline

http://www.footprintsrecruiting.com/all-teaching-jobs/public-school-teaching-jobs-in-korea/172/public-school-positions-in-korea-all-re

Luckily it is easy to get a TEFL cert.

[JD_Tiberius]

I'm going to take that for what it is and call BS on footprints part. A change in the requirements for EPIK is big news and every recruiter worth its salt would be mentioning it if it was true. They are the only recruiter that seems to be mentioning that "change" so it is just their requirement rather than EPIKs.

Yeah I am skeptical, and with very good reason.

[JD_Tiberius]

I actually kind of feel your pain now. My former employer, who I asked 5 weeks ago very nicely to give me two references for the beginning of March has still not even got around to writing them. They were incredibly cavalier about it too. I stressed as best as a I could that I needed them urgently so that I could actually begin applying to EPIK through recruiters but I get the impression that they will still drag their heels over this. Its a catch-22 situation really. the more I keep on at them the less likely they are inclined to write one.

Missing out on a job opportunity because your referees don't give a crap/ don't do as you ask has to be the worst way to miss out.

[airfilter]

Yeah, I'm kind of nervous about it myself.
They are supposedly accepting applicants again beginning on April 1st, but they don't have all the required information put up yet.


I'm beginning to try to look at some of the other options.

[lifeinkorea]

[WillTurnerinVanCity]