Korean Job Discussion Forums

[em79]

Hi everyone, i'm new to this.... me and my partner are looking to go and teach in S.Korea in the next couple of months.

We are both from UK and have CELTA certs. Can anyone recommend particular recruitment agencies?

is it best to deal with one based in UK or in Korea itself? Have people had good experiences with agencies- do they hekp you out with problems etc?

Thanks for your help.

[ttompatz]

[em79]

Wow! ok thanks, i think i get the message!
feeel like a lamb to the slaughter after reading a lot on here....do most people generally have positive experiences (with teching in korea in general) ?

[ttompatz]

[Goon-Yang]

If you read Dave's, most of us have terrible experiences. Then again Dave's is full of a bunch of crybabies with a bunch of extra time.

This forum/board is not a proper population of teachers. The majority of teachers (there are over 10,000 of us) never post on Dave's and have a great time in Korea. It's the minority here you read about.

That being said

1) Check your school.
2) USE a recruiter if you must, they are using you, so use them.
3) Make sure you get all your paperwork done before you arrive and if you're going to travel get a multiple entry visa from the get-go.
4) MAke of Korea what you will. If you come here thinking you're going to hate it, you will.
5) This aint Kansas. There are times you're going to think WTF s goin on?

[em79]

thanks, that's kind of what i thought/hoped, people usually tend to write more about negative experiences but dont represent the whole picture. i appreciate the advice on here though.

Just spent a year living & teaching in Mexico and though i know it's not the same, feel somewhat prepared for/open to the culture shock. anyway, I'm form England so if i went to Kansas I'd probably think WTF is going on?!

[eoneinna]

I suggest Ann from Korvia. YouniKorea was okay, too!

[bigclanger3]

I'm also from the UK with a CELTA.
I applied to SMOE through Korea Connections. They're based in Vancouver and Korea.
They were very helpful, open and honest and they got me a public school job in my first year.
I would say it's worth getting in touch with them.
Many of my friends used Footprints and have nothing but praise for them too.

It is said you should only use one recrutier if applying for PS jobs as multiple applications will be ignored. I don't know how much truth there is to that though.

good luck

[bocceman]

I recommend Jessica from JJ Recruitment and Bonnie from OKRecruiting.

As a Korean-American I hate to say this, but other than the above two exceptions, I've generally had better experiences with Gyopo and Caucasian recruiters than with Korean recruiters. The Korean recruiters seem to be run in a very disorganized and adhoc way. They also seem to do a poor job matching up the right applicants with appropriate jobs.

[Dude Ranch]

[withgusto]

I always got the 'yes, yes, great' thing in CH too.

In mexico, manana....always manana. This isn't the mother land.
We adapt and overcome; hopefully.

[bsrosenfeld]

I'm alarmed to read about people's experiences with their recruiters. I definitely came across some characters during the beginning of my search, but I was able to weed out those 'used car salesman' right from the beginning and stopped working with them
My recruiter was, has been and continues to be awesome. He was upfront and honest about the type of opportunities that would be best suited for me and provided candid advice at all times. Now that I am hear he follows up with me on a consistent basis and is even in the process of setting me up with a cellphone for free. At no point in time did I ever feel used or mistreated.
Yes, they do receive commission for placing you in your position, but the play a huge part in the application process. There were many time that I had questions for the Korean consulate, the airline or my future employer. All it took was a phone call or an e-mail (and he worked 24 hours a day it seemed) for him to find the answer.
Bottom line, do your homework, talk to as many recruiters as it takes and find the best one for you.

Good luck!

[Murakano]

for Public School I recommend Korvia or Korea Connections who largely specialize in public schools only....and fairly reliable and respond to e-mails properly unlike so many others.

[rookieglobetrotter]

I've worked with some recruiters, and the most personable ones I worked with are the ones from Access South Korea-Now or Ask-Now from Canada. I wasn't even working with the head guy Jason, but he always gave me honest advice and now I go to many of their large events. The other ones were decent but seemed like they were taking too many applicants on and didn't have time for my questions.

[Depths of My Soul]

I was wondering whether to use a recruiter for EPIK, but think I'll try and apply direct.

I heard that in general, recruitment agencies don't give you any 'post arrival care or help', so was seriously doubting their usefulness (or lack of it).
Besides, being a UK citizen it seems extra silly for me to be passing on things to Canada or The States (where most of the recruiters seem to be based) to be passed back to Korea.

I figure that Chinese whispers can only create more confusion in the long run.