Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Cerberus]

I may have a conundrum coming up.

setting aside my hoped for expat gig (which is supposed to come thru, but who knows and who knows when, so I'm setting it aside for the purposes of this though process)

after doing some thinking, it strikes me that IF I am going to stay here, the greatest benefit would be to stay at my current situation, mostly because the work environment is good and I'll have 7 weeks of vacation to go along with what would essentially be an all/mostly paid for summer vacation (the re-signing flight money)

if I switch to another job here (let's say my school doesn't get NET money, they still don't know) then I won't have ANY of those advantages and I have enough money saved up where I have no need to continue working right now and can easily take a very extended break, check out the workplace back home and if need be, if I want to return, carefully take my time to choose the best job, rather than be forced into a fairly tight window here with much less options to choose from because of the time of the year.

the only real disadvantage is lugging all my crap home and then back again down the road if need be. (and having to to get a stateside CBC back home)

the few recruiters I've tentatively contacted don't even seem to notice, nor care that I am already within Korea - it's all the same process really.

am I missing anything in my thinking? what sayeth you?

[lifeinkorea]

If you are a first timer, you may need to go in person for an interview at a Korean consulate back home. Maybe Hong Kong or Guam would work. I never tried it.

One word of caution, many teachers are looking for jobs. A school might hire someone already in Korea who doesn't need an interview. You might want to take an early summer gig if this works the same. Then you will have done the interview and probably could get an E2 for fall with just a visa run.

I would find out about this. As for your other stuff, I am in the same boat. If I decide to go to Korea again, I will also need a CBC. It is the same process, but more difficult to get it sorted overseas. Bring your diploma, several transcripts, and print out copies of your resume to hand out in person if you decide to go school to school advertising yourself.

The rest can be done inside the country. Even if you are come to Seoul and want a job in Busan for example, it's doable. You can use the buses they have. Transportation is very convenient in Korea.

[Cerberus]

I guess my question is essentially about 2 things

1) even though some jobs advertise for or prefer teachers already in Korea, I get the sense the difference is really quite minor.

2) question my thinking re whether it makes more sense to go back stateside, and have more options instead of jumping right back into the fire, and because of the short window, potentially int a job I don't really want with far less goodies/benefits than my current one.

it seems to me that unless I stay where I'm at, makes no sense to immediately find another gig within Korea. I can go back home, relax... perhaps get a brick and mortar TEFL, ec.

seems I can always come back, right? and I'll have good qualifications if I choose to with 2 years of K experience, good references and potentially a TEFL.

[jiberish]

Of course recruiters don't care. They only care about your ability to give them a signed contract. Some of the good jobs I saw were only available to people already in Korea. Because they care enough to want to actually meet the person before accepting their application.

If your job is good I would stay.

[themagicbean]

For unis at least it seems much easier to get gigs within Korea. You can network at the KOTESOL conference (as well as while you live in your city) and some will only consider in-person interviews. Plus you would just change jobs/statuses on your visa and that saves a big headache.

[oldfatfarang]

Think carefully about changing jobs. Especially changing a good job - for a 'maybe' better job promised by an Asian employer. There are lots of applicants thesedays, and things ARE tightening -especially for sought after PS jobs.

However, if you need a break, you need a break. With 2 years K TEFL experience already (and maybe a TEFL cert), you shouldn't have trouble getting back to Korea when you're rested (age, ugly, fat, bad references notwithstanding).

Good luck.
Please note my italics.