Korean Job Discussion Forums

[thefourblackbars]

Hey all ,

I need some clarity here.

I live in Taiwan currently. Trying to get in the Korean Public school system.

I applied for 3 schools in Yangsan and was rejected by Busan EPIK yesterday. I studied teaching (have taught in schools in Sydney) and have a major in Education, I am studying my masters in education, I have 1.5 years teaching experience in Taiwan. I don't know why I was rejected. Was it sheer number of applications? Not qualified enough??

I worked in Korea for 2 1/2 years but my recruiter dropped this experience because I had a run-in with my 2nd hagwon boss as she tried to swindle 2 years of bonus from me (she'd bought the hagwan from my previous boss a year and a half into my 2nd contract and claimed she didn't have to pay me as I hadn't worked for her for the whole time.. I took her to the labor board.. so she wont give me a good reference)

I've been offered a phone interview for a job in Uiryeong (near Haman) but apparently there are 50 people going for this job and I can't get an interview til next Friday!

What are my options here? Should I just forget Korea for this half and stay in Taiwan? Do most people fail telephone interviews and will they come crawling back to me if I wait? It's getting too close to my contract completion here in Taiwan and I'm not sure how to play these cards I've been given!

Any advice, help, direction, comments would be appreciated.

[Perceptioncheck]

Hmm - don't know why you were rejected from EPIK, sorry. Perhaps you would've been too far up on the payscale? Government programmes can sometimes be a bit illogical about cost-cutting. Sure, why hire an experienced, educated and slightly more expensive teacher when you could get an inexperienced, clueless newbie and save a few hundred thousand won?

How many recruiters are you working with? If you've only got one phone interview on the cards, I'd seriously think about getting in touch with some different recruiters and seeing what they have to offer. Good luck!

(I'm sure you've already thought of this but hey, this is Dave's! - so I just thought I'd ask: is there anyone else at the bad hagwon that could act as a reference for you? A co-teacher? Because when I was looking for a position in Korea, the recruiters and the people who interviewed me were only interested in my Korean ESL experience. So having some on record might make a big difference to your job hunt).

[thefourblackbars]

Perception check

I appreciate your feedback. I feel like a dummy here mate. All this experience, a willingness to work even in a rural area and I get the boot?

Anyways, all hurt pride aside, contacting other recruiters... I've done the silly thing of sending my documents in with this Recruiter already. So she has my apostilled crim rec check, references, copy of my degree etc etc... this is what I did LAST Time I applied for Korea so I thought it'd be the same thing with EPIK. Apparently not...

I applied for a 2+ position. Apparently they have cancelled the 1+ and the 1 positions around the province.

[Perceptioncheck]

Wow, they've really cancelled 1 and 1+? They're even cheaper than I thought they were (and that takes some doing!).

I know it's not a particularly popular opinion in these parts but as far as public school goes, I think you dodged a bullet. I found it frustrating enough to be a human tape recorder half the time, and I'm not even a qualified teacher. Plus, you might've had a Wicked Co-teacher, and frankly speaking, they're hell to deal with.

If I were you, I don't know what I'd do about the recruiter situation. Would it be possible for the recruiter who has your documents to send them on to another recruiter if you secured a different position? I know it's a bit cheeky but I reckon it's bit cheeky of the recruiter to ask for all your documents before they got you a job. So fair's fair!

[thefourblackbars]

Perception Check,

Yes they cancelled both. Sucky eh?

I think I will take your advice, another friend suggested that too.

I've even put my hand up for rural Korea. Put me anywhere, I just want in with the public school system (It fits well with study, plus I love rural settings and love korea so.. )

I just found out in the Gyeongnam area - 500ppl applied for 50 schools.

[oldfatfarang]

OP, you're way overqualified and experienced to be a 'Teaching Assistant' in a Korean public school. This may be your problem.

Also, how's your photo, weight, handsomeness, and age???????? Interestingly, I was at an EPIK orientation and all the young cool looking dudes were selected for Busan, all us older codgers were 'selected' for rural rice-ville in the provinces.

Also, I can't see any Korean recruiter/employer contacting a non-Korean previous employer - especially in another country. They will definitely ring your Korean references though.

Whatever, keep applying and good luck.

[thefourblackbars]

Cheers Oldfartfarang,

Photo is good mate. I'm 29, pretty handsome, I have a GF currently so I'm no loser haha, I'm definately not overweight, I'm actually a pretty fit person (Train in Karate, etc etc) + gym 5 times a week (always have) . I don't drink, smoke, do drugs ( I probably will after this bloody EPIK saga though!)

My taekwondo teacher went reference for me in Korea. It's a long story but my recruiter told me to come up with a story how I know him and I came up with a story that I know my TKD teacher from when I 'trained in Korea in Taekwondo when I was younger' Which is partially true...

The EPIK people say 'Send your references with an official stamp' etc etc.. so why are they asking me for references if they don't check it! I've got an awesome reference written by the head teacher of my current school in Taiwan.

Anyways, if EPIK don't want me, they lose a pretty dedicated teacher.

[southernman]

[thefourblackbars]

Southernman,

What I don't understand is why they skip over 'Education degree... with Education major' and 'currently studying a Masters of Education'... doesn't that ring a bell.. 'Maybe this guy LIKES teaching!' Lets.... CALL HIM!

I think my recruiter said something like 'They aren't employing any more 1.. +1' etc etc

APplying through EPIK directly. Is it too late?

[southernman]