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triple50
Joined: 06 Jul 2010
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 Posted: Thu Jul 15, 2010 7:19 am Post subject: How long does it take to find a position? |
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| I just started submitting my information to recruiters about two weeks ago and am hoping to start teaching in Korea by early September. Is this reasonable? I'm very open to the children's age that I teach and if its a public or private school. I would really like to be near Seoul but will even compromise on that. As I'm very new to all this I would really like to know what people's experience is on how long it took to find a position. Thanks |
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recessiontime
Joined: 21 Jun 2010
Location: Got avatar privileges nyahahaha
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| Posted: Thu Jul 15, 2010 8:20 am Post subject: |
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I was physically in Korea 2 weeks after getting hold of a recruiter. You might want to consider getting one.
maybe. |
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SeoulNate
Joined: 04 Jun 2010
Location: Hyehwa
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| Posted: Thu Jul 15, 2010 8:31 am Post subject: |
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I hate to say it, but it depends on appearance and age.
If you are white and <30, then you will have about 100 job offers in a week. If not, it will take a little longer.
If you are open about where you work, as you claimed, it wont take long even if you look like the stay-puff marshmallow man. |
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triple50
Joined: 06 Jul 2010
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| Posted: Thu Jul 15, 2010 8:36 am Post subject: |
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| I'm a black man and was worried that might be the hold up. I've sent my information to many recruiters over the past 2 weeks but have yet to get any offers. I have my BA and masters degree so I figured I would be an attractive candidate and things would move faster. Well I guess all I can do is wait. Thanks for the replies. |
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SunDevil Dre
Joined: 07 Jun 2010
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| Posted: Thu Jul 15, 2010 8:43 am Post subject: |
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| triple50 wrote: |
| I'm a black man and was worried that might be the hold up. I've sent my information to many recruiters over the past 2 weeks but have yet to get any offers. I have my BA and masters degree so I figured I would be an attractive candidate and things would move faster. Well I guess all I can do is wait. Thanks for the replies. |
Have you had any phone interviews with recruiters? That usually happens before they send your info to schools. If you have all of your documents ready and a degree in English or Education, or TEFL certificate, I think recruiters will give you higher priority. |
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wjf1
Joined: 14 Apr 2010
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| Posted: Thu Jul 15, 2010 10:39 am Post subject: |
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| I think you could get a job instantly if you have all your visa documents in place. Although to be fair I have no idea how much of a factor skin colour is over there. I'd hate to think that is the reason you've received no job offers. |
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CSlinguist
Joined: 11 May 2010
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| Posted: Thu Jul 15, 2010 3:37 pm Post subject: |
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| triple50 wrote: |
| I'm a black man and was worried that might be the hold up. I've sent my information to many recruiters over the past 2 weeks but have yet to get any offers. I have my BA and masters degree so I figured I would be an attractive candidate and things would move faster. Well I guess all I can do is wait. Thanks for the replies. |
Hi there I wanted to give you my experiences thus far. I am a half black and half Spanish woman and I have a BA in Linguistics/ Psychology and I have been studying Korean for 4 years. I think that race matters a good amount because I have been searching for a position in Korea since May and have only recently been successful in getting job offers (in areas that are mad rural and small and def not in areas close to Seoul). My case in point is my friend who is white and female and got offered a hagwon gig in Incheon in under a month. Her major is not lingustics or English (which are most desired by schools) and she doesn't speak Korean except for a few phrases and words.
However, Hagwon's are, in my opinion, not really interested in whether you will be a good teacher or not, they just want someone who looks in their opinion (and the opinions of the tuition paying parents) REALLY American (i.e White, Blue eyes, Blond hair, thin, attractive). So you might get the raw end of the deal in terms of location if you go the hagwon route (which I wouldnt personally recommend doing).
In my opinion I feel like going for public schools via GEPIK/ EPIK/ SMOE is safer because these programs are government run and provide a little more job security (i.e they, most of the time, cant just fire you because they feel like it, which hagwons do alot it seems)
But overall I know of some Black people that are working in Korea now and it may be a little more difficult to score that position you're looking for but if you're patient and a little flexible it'll happen.  Hope that helps! |
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jvalmer
Joined: 06 Jun 2003
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| Posted: Thu Jul 15, 2010 4:42 pm Post subject: |
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| If you're willing to consider a smaller city, you can get placed. The strangest I've seen was a black Ugandan working in a hagwon in a city of 200,000 somewhere near Daejeon or Daegu (not sure). He spoke english with a heavy accent but somehow manged to get a job. |
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SunDevil Dre
Joined: 07 Jun 2010
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| Posted: Thu Jul 15, 2010 5:18 pm Post subject: |
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| CSlinguist wrote: |
| triple50 wrote: |
| I'm a black man and was worried that might be the hold up. I've sent my information to many recruiters over the past 2 weeks but have yet to get any offers. I have my BA and masters degree so I figured I would be an attractive candidate and things would move faster. Well I guess all I can do is wait. Thanks for the replies. |
Hi there I wanted to give you my experiences thus far. I am a half black and half Spanish woman and I have a BA in Linguistics/ Psychology and I have been studying Korean for 4 years. I think that race matters a good amount because I have been searching for a position in Korea since May and have only recently been successful in getting job offers (in areas that are mad rural and small and def not in areas close to Seoul). My case in point is my friend who is white and female and got offered a hagwon gig in Incheon in under a month. Her major is not lingustics or English (which are most desired by schools) and she doesn't speak Korean except for a few phrases and words.
However, Hagwon's are, in my opinion, not really interested in whether you will be a good teacher or not, they just want someone who looks in their opinion (and the opinions of the tuition paying parents) REALLY American (i.e White, Blue eyes, Blond hair, thin, attractive). So you might get the raw end of the deal in terms of location if you go the hagwon route (which I wouldnt personally recommend doing).
In my opinion I feel like going for public schools via GEPIK/ EPIK/ SMOE is safer because these programs are government run and provide a little more job security (i.e they, most of the time, cant just fire you because they feel like it, which hagwons do alot it seems)
But overall I know of some Black people that are working in Korea now and it may be a little more difficult to score that position you're looking for but if you're patient and a little flexible it'll happen. Hope that helps! |
I'm black too and just started applying like the OP, so I appreciate the insight on your search(even though it's a little discouraging  ). |
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shostahoosier
Joined: 14 Apr 2009
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| Posted: Thu Jul 15, 2010 5:24 pm Post subject: |
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It's really best to patient with finding a hagwon job anyway as there are many bad ones out there.
Your problem though is that (I think) you're applying to hagwons which are less about teaching and more about selling. They prefer white teachers because they are worried that their students wont want to take classes from someone who they dont picture as an authentic English speaker.
It would be much easier for you to get a job at a public school (and probably much safer too).
I know quite a few blacks (in addition to other races) who work at some of Korea's "best" public schools.
Dont be discouraged. Korea doesnt hate blacks, its just that many places prefer white teachers. |
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PatrickGHBusan
Joined: 24 Jun 2008
Location: Busan (1997-2008) Canada 2008 -
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| Posted: Fri Jul 16, 2010 5:24 am Post subject: |
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Some ways to speed up your job search:
Accept placement in a smaller city.
Have all your documents in hand before you apply and state this in your application.
Have reasonable expectations and demands. If for example you are a newbie with no teaching experience and a BA in a non-education field, do not ask for 2.5M per month. In this market you will not get it or at least not for a long while. Ask for a more reasonable 2.0-2.2.
Know what you want before you apply...
Hakwon?
Public School (bascially too late for this year)
If a hakwon, kids or adults?
About this in the thread:
| Quote: |
| In my opinion I feel like going for public schools via GEPIK/ EPIK/ SMOE is safer because these programs are government run and provide a little more job security (i.e they, most of the time, cant just fire you because they feel like it, which hagwons do alot it seems) |
You guys should realise that most Public Schools have completed hiring for the year. What is left out there are last minute vacancies and jobs in smaller towns. Big programs like EPIK have shut down recruiting for the year. They start up again next spring.
There may be some PS jobs out there but you will have a harder time getting them this time of year. |
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chronicpride
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Fri Jul 16, 2010 6:58 am Post subject: |
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| jvalmer wrote: |
| If you're willing to consider a smaller city, you can get placed. The strangest I've seen was a black Ugandan working in a hagwon in a city of 200,000 somewhere near Daejeon or Daegu (not sure). He spoke english with a heavy accent but somehow manged to get a job. |
That might have been Geochang, which is kind of between Daegu and Daejeon. 100K+ ppl. I recall a guy from Africa teaching in town for awhile. |
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JustTurtle
Joined: 05 Jul 2010
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| Posted: Fri Jul 16, 2010 8:34 am Post subject: |
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| CSlinguist wrote: |
However, Hagwon's are, in my opinion, not really interested in whether you will be a good teacher or not, they just want someone who looks in their opinion (and the opinions of the tuition paying parents) REALLY American (i.e White, Blue eyes, Blond hair, thin, attractive). So you might get the raw end of the deal in terms of location if you go the hagwon route (which I wouldnt personally recommend doing). |
that's not very American xD |
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CSlinguist
Joined: 11 May 2010
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| Posted: Fri Jul 16, 2010 8:49 am Post subject: |
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| JustTurtle wrote: |
| CSlinguist wrote: |
However, Hagwon's are, in my opinion, not really interested in whether you will be a good teacher or not, they just want someone who looks in their opinion (and the opinions of the tuition paying parents) REALLY American (i.e White, Blue eyes, Blond hair, thin, attractive). So you might get the raw end of the deal in terms of location if you go the hagwon route (which I wouldnt personally recommend doing). |
that's not very American xD |
puhaha true true... but Koreans aren't looking for REAL American Americans...more like Laguna Beach looking Americans  |
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CSlinguist
Joined: 11 May 2010
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| Posted: Fri Jul 16, 2010 8:54 am Post subject: |
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| PatrickGHBusan wrote: |
| Quote: |
| In my opinion I feel like going for public schools via GEPIK/ EPIK/ SMOE is safer because these programs are government run and provide a little more job security (i.e they, most of the time, cant just fire you because they feel like it, which hagwons do alot it seems) |
You guys should realise that most Public Schools have completed hiring for the year. What is left out there are last minute vacancies and jobs in smaller towns. Big programs like EPIK have shut down recruiting for the year. They start up again next spring.
There may be some PS jobs out there but you will have a harder time getting them this time of year. |
Of couse I meant working with recruiters that mainly work with EPIK/ GEPIK/ etc. public schools. I know that the deadline has passed to apply directly thru the programs themselves but recruiters can still set ppl up with jobs in those schools that are still available. I would agree that most of the really conveniently located positions are long gone but there's still hope for good positions. |
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