Korean Job Discussion Forums

[theshadowranger]

6 months of job hunting.

I was rejected by EPIK today.

I feel like shit right now.

What are my other options for Korea?

[PatrickGHBusan]

Options?

Keep looking.

Take another look at your application documents, maybe you missed something or could do a better job of presenting yourself.

Look at what you are demanding in terms of job conditions and then figure out if that is realistic in the current market (flooded with applicants) and according to your qualifications.

However, how can we truly help with the tiny bit of information you provided?

Last thing: read the FAQs on here, they are chock full of information.

Good luck.

[schwa]

Keep it in perspective. Your application was rejected by EPIK, not you as a person. I imagine their staff is swamped with the task of winnowing down submissions & who knows what little detail might have caused yours to get tossed.

Go for a hagwon. Do your research & choose one carefully. There are decent ones out there that will hire you. Put in a good year & if you like it here then you'll be in an improved situation to move on to public schools, if you want.

[PatrickGHBusan]

Great point schwa!

OP, that is quite true, EPIK turned down your application, they did not reject you personally.

Also, they have been flooded with applicants, so if you applied late, then you may have simply been rejected as they met their quota....

[sulperman]

A little late now, but don't put all your eggs in one basket next time. Actually, it is not too late. You have plenty of options. Hagwons aren't so bad. They can be better than a public school in many cases. You can meet a ton of people and have the time of your life. And there are still public school jobs available not through EPIK.

Disappointing, sure, but not the only option out there. Don't worry, plenty of opportunities out there.

[theshadowranger]

[sulperman]

6 months? You should be contacting EVERY recruiter with emails about specific jobs on their ads. Recruiters like somebody who knows what they want.

Also, the importance of the picture CAN NOT be overstated. If yours is crappy, get a new one professionally done at a studio today. Wear something nice and smile. Doesn't matter how ugly you are (not that you are) as long as you look presentable and like a real candidate. There are a lot of bad pictures out there.

[Fox]

Did you apply directly to EPIK or through a recruiter?

[theshadowranger]

I applied directly to EPIK. I'll try taking a new picture. I've been contacting every recruiters but I haven't been specific about jobs. I'll try that more. I usually just say that I'm interested in all jobs that they have available.

[hubbahubba]

[theshadowranger]

I don't know what that means.

[fergalreid]

Had you submitted your documents?

[sallymonster]

If you really want to work in a public school, start contacting recruiters and ask about public school positions. Lots of public schools, especially GEPIK schools, hire independently through these recruiters. Also, apply to the general GEPIK and any other MOE that is hiring in a separate process from EPIK (I think Incheon and Busan MOE's do some direct hiring).

[theshadowranger]

I have all of my VISA documents. I sent letters of recommendation to EPIK and the other things that they asked for.

[JD_Tiberius]

Dont worry about it too much. I am in a similar position, EPIK rejected me back in April. Theres still GEPIK, and if that doesn't work for me, then I'm going to look at GOE(Gyeongsangnam-do)

Plus its almost June. From what I have heard from my recruiter, that is the month when they get the schools coming in.

Another thing to think about, the rising tensions between North and South Korea might put off alot of people who want to go to Korea to escape the crappy American economy. Many of these people may already have been accepted for jobs through EPIK and are now in the process of reconsidering. It may be wishful thinking, but if theres one thing the media is good at, it's scaring people through sensationalist journalism.