Korean Job Discussion Forums

digirl2956 · Joined: 01 May 2007

If anyone over 50 is experiencing age discrimination in Korea I hope you will share your story. Especially if you have been working here for awhile. Many who came here when english education was first getting started and helped pave the way are now being pushed out through the recruiters being told not to hire over a certain age. If you are under 50 and feel this does not affect you I hope you will realize this could be you someday and will help in making it a brighter future for yourself by participating with telling others about my survey. If you decide to share your story you must be willing to give contact info so we will know you are genuine. Thanks

dirving · Joined: 19 Nov 2009 Location: South Korea

Please read my Private Message to you.

anyjobsoutthere · Joined: 23 Apr 2009

I just posted on the subject of opportunities for people over 50. I wish I could pm you but I must have at least 25 posts to do so - rather silly policy I'd say. Anyway, my question was whether there are any jobs for those over 50. Is it even worth looking? I worked in Japan years ago and have a lot of experience in other parts of the world.

ttompatz · Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Location: Kwangju, South Korea

Depths of My Soul · Joined: 04 Apr 2010 Location: In The Sun

Being a foreigner I guess it's near impossible to lie about your age, what with having to show passports etc.

PatrickGHBusan · Posted: Wed Apr 14, 2010 9:04 am Post subject:

As usual Tom is dead on.

frankly speaking · Joined: 23 Oct 2005

Tompatz. I wonder if you didn't get job offers for the young learner positions because of your qualifications not your age.

In my experience there are quite a few women in their late 40's and early 50's working with younger learners. They seem to do very well. Most are mothers and have raised their kids so they have a good temperament to begin with.

I wouldn't hire someone to work teaching children that has most of their professional experience working as a University lecturer and consultant . Even if the same person was in their 20's.

I would just keep asking myself, why would someone so qualified want to change and teach children. The only two answers that I can come up with is that they don't want to work hard for their money thinking that teaching children will be less of a commitment for them, or that they are a pervert.

Overqualified is a big problem. I think that it is even more of an issue than age.

I am not in my 50's yet but I am in my 40's. I still haven't found too many problems getting teaching jobs but again, I take jobs that my experiences are related to.

I have heard parents say that I am old, but they didn't mind because I knew what I was doing.

If I am applying for younger teaching positions, I don't include all the details about my University positions or publications. I focus on my many years teaching younger learners.

Yes age discrimination exists, but I still think that people applying for the right position often get it.

I know that there are a lot more recruiters and adds from recruiters now, but they are a lot more picky than most schools. I have found that if you bypass recruiters the schools are more willing to give someone a try. The problem with recruiters is that they want an easy sell. They don't want to argue about someone's qualifications. If they cannot get someone quick to fit the position, some other recruiter will.

guava · Joined: 02 Sep 2009

PatrickGHBusan · Posted: Wed Apr 14, 2010 11:35 am Post subject:

All fine and good guava...

But if you white out the age information on your passport, typically a recruiter or EPIK will toss your application in the bin.

If you ask why you were turned down, they can say, with confidence, that they have a flood of qualified applicants and that they just could not fit you in.....

Then there are the retirement age issues to consider.

Still what you said is nice and well meaning.

guava · Joined: 02 Sep 2009

In my case the employer wrote to me that my profile was not complete because my application didn't include my age. Thats the basis of the complaint filed with the NHRCK.

oldfatfarang · Joined: 19 May 2005 Location: On the road to somewhere.

Many of us older posters are in the same boat. We are way overqualified to teach in Korea, but lack the specific English/education degrees to enter primo jobs in other countries. It's kinda galling to see your mates get primo international school / university jobs (in other countries) because they have a B Ed.

Years of TEFL experience in Korea doesn't seem to overcome our problem - we remain unqualified and so excluded from many countries. So we stay teaching in Korea - overqualified, but underpaid. Our problem isn't easily fixed when you're over 50, as it isn't economically viable for us to go back to uni to get this basic degree.

I expect to hit the age wall next year (if I re-apply for another job in Korea). However, that's not really a problem for me, as TEFL isn't my life-long career (although I really like the job and helping the kids).

ttompatz · Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Location: Kwangju, South Korea

guava · Joined: 02 Sep 2009

thunderbird · Joined: 18 Aug 2009

private academies really like young teachers, my british coteacher is 30 and hes like the oldest foriegner theyve ever had.

frankly speaking · Joined: 23 Oct 2005

Thunderbird, the one thing that you don't factor in is that there are also a lot more younger people applying for these jobs than older people. You have to figure that the majority of people over 50 are not going to start out at the low end of the teaching pool.

Old Fart, I really never understand you:

"We are way overqualified to teach in Korea, but lack the specific English/education degrees to enter primo jobs in other countries."

Then you state "we remain unqualified and so excluded from many countries"

The fact that you have a few years experience doesn't make you qualified. The fact that you don't have any relevant qualifications does.

You might think that you are overqualified, but I doubt that even if you were younger that you would get the top shelf jobs in Korea. The fact is that for the best jobs you need specialized training or at least the appearance that you have that knowledge. You as a public school teacher are just a communication teacher and nothing more. I doubt that even 10 years in Korean Public schools qualifies you for much. There is a limit to the skills and knowledge that you use for those jobs.

You are not overqualified, the fact is that you are unqualified and still teaching in public schools.

Korean public schools are in my opinion the bottom shelf jobs in Korea. I will always prefer A good private Academy to a public school job. You have more autonomy, make better progress, and actually can develop a curriculum that matches the student's needs.

I will also say that you don't need an education degree to get top jobs in other countries. There are many good jobs in the middle east for BA +CELTA +3-5 years experience.

The higher paid adult jobs don't even want education degrees, they prefer TESOL.