Korean Job Discussion Forums

[hamie]

I'm formally from New Zealand and there are a couple of recruiters that work directly out of the country. Remember it's a tiny country (population wise, more sheep than people) so maybe that's why there are less of us here. I've never had any problem getting a job or offers from here. Maybe it's because I've got blue eyes though or maybe it's just that I know what I'm doing (cough cough).

[thegreg52]

My school has told me on numerous occasions how happy they are that I am young, male, white, and from America with an American accent. I don't think Korea cares that they are biased.

[jpotter78]

Though I agree with Mr. Pink and Urban about not taking into account outside factors, age discrimination has always been prevalent here. Just the way it is. I was turned down at a Hagwon yesterday because I have "too much experience". What do you think that means? I was also told straight up last year that I was too old (I'm 31) by another hagwon.

[curlygirl]

I was placed by a home-based recruiter in NZ back in 2007 for GEPIK. At that time he was doing pretty darned well for himself with commissions. At the beginning of 2010 he told me he was jacking in the recruiting business as he couldn't get his partner companies in Seoul to take on a single one of his prospective teachers.

Americans and Canadians have the preferred accent and hence the monopoly.

[TheChingu]

Korea is a growing country, they're setting records in GDP growth, highest in 8 years.

Their motives for learning English are chiefly economic. They prefer N. American English accents because that's where the economic market is, and the vast majority of native English speakers.

They want to sell our dumb asses T.V screens to put in every room of the house and maybe one to slap on the dog's back while we walk him.

That's of course a gross oversimplification, but sadly they are not trying to improve English speaking ability so we can foster cultural exchange and understanding or for pure educational mastery.

I'm truly sorry that they rejected your application, but with the economic downturn in the US there are a ton of applicants I'm sure.

I'm a recent college grad with an average GPA, a science major, no teaching experience save some camp counseling and I got a decent entry level job with EPIK in less than a week and now make double what my friends in the US are grovelling for.

I'm tall, white, most desirable English accent anywhere (Michigan, look it up), educated enough, and willing.

That seems to be all you need.