Korean Job Discussion Forums

OBwannabe · Joined: 16 Feb 2008

I'm surprised at just how hard it has been to find a job.
I've sent my resume, cover letter and pic to about 15 recruiters and directly to a couple of other hagwons over the last few weeks and have yet to recieve an offer.

Two recruiters have asked if it was ok to contact my old employer for a reference. I believe my old supervisor will give me a generous reference, so I don't think that's the problem. But even those recruiters haven't gotten back to me.

Is this typical these days with the huge influx of newbies saturating the market, of just my bad luck?

OculisOrbis · Joined: 17 Jul 2006

Newbies are not only saturating the market, they are the preferred hire. They are cheaper, more pliable, less likely to know when they are getting cheated or what to do about it, cheaper, younger and prettier (in some cases), easier to intimidate, cheaper, less likely to stand up for themselves, cheaper, less likely to question authority, etc...Did I mention cheaper? Yes, it is more difficult for experienced teachers to find jobs with pay that reflects their experience. It isn't impossible, just more difficult.

theshadowranger · Joined: 23 Jul 2009 Location: Bude/ MS/ USA

It took me over 7 months to find a new job. 4 of those months I was already in Korea with an E2 VISA. I just had to do a transfer, I had experience and I couldn't get anything. I was lucky to get the one that I finally got. The recruiter has a good reputation with the city hall that hired me and that helped. There are more people looking for jobs now. Also most schools want pretty white girls to hire. It's going to take a lot of time and a lot of patience.

bcjinseoul · Joined: 13 Jan 2010 Location: Seoul, Korea

I can relate OP.

In the middle of my 4th contract (which I'll end up finishing next month)
last winter, I applied to almost every recruiter on eslcafe.com. About 60 or 70 on a Sunday afternoon; one at a time. I wanted to get out of SMOE and into a short shift afternoon hogwon. Only 10-15 got back to me and they only offered me 9-6 and 10-7 kindie hogwons in mostly gyeonggi. I'm thirty next year, so I guess my age and experience goes against me. Of course, I was in the middle of the contract.

If this happens again when I blast away in about 2 weeks for an afternoon hogwon, I'll be in China in a few months, needless to say, and never look back. Guess I won't have to do an FBI check or get a notarized/apsotilled degree after all; maybe...

Guess ESL is like rap music...most people find themselves outside the game by their late 20's or early 30's...

PatrickGHBusan · Posted: Mon Jul 19, 2010 4:41 am Post subject:

What I find odd is how some teachers with experience in Korea (say over 3 years) still use recruiters....

I mean surely in 3 years you can make professional contacts and find out about jobs that do hire more experienced teachers. Going through a recruiter after over 3 years in country sets you up for a hard time because the market is flooded with newbies that do use recruiters.

As an experienced teacher you have the advantage of getting the inside track through networking. Make use of it!

OBwannabe · Joined: 16 Feb 2008

PatrickGHBusan · Posted: Mon Jul 19, 2010 7:03 am Post subject:

What kind of contacts have you made in your time in Korea OB?

iwillteachyouenglish · Joined: 07 Jul 2010

Only one recruiter has found me anything, and I am pretty much willing to go anywhere and did not ask for much money. I think until the global economy picks up you're just going to see more and more people trying to do this.. In some US cities, there are companies going around to universities and recruiting recent grads that otherwise never even would have heard about teaching in Korea.

If not for the bad economy, I know I wouldn't have looked this stuff up. Sounds too fishy and scam-like... well I guess it is kind of shady, but not as bad as I would've thought. There aren't many jobs in the states and I assume much of Western Europe is as bad, or worse. In South Africa and the US, there are laws against hiring too many white people (which seems to be what S Korea really wants). Get ready for the massive flood as we head into the Great Depression Part II

To give you any idea how bad it is, both my wife and I have degrees from nationally ranked universities. Although we are both employed, we have sent out hundreds of applications to carefully selected positions, with cover letters and resumes designed by professional career consultants. I think we have had maybe 5 or 6 interviews, most of which we would have turned down, resulting in zero offers!

Mr. Pink · Joined: 21 Oct 2003 Location: China

What do you consider experienced? Where were your previous job experiences?

What type of educational background do you have?

These questions can determine a lot. Also, are you in Korea? I found in the past that there is definitely a trend for recruiters and employers to hire experienced teachers who are in country and who can attend an interview.

matthews_world · Joined: 15 Feb 2003

I'm a tad over 40 with a handful of years experience. I'm going back to rural public schools which I love and needed to use a recruiter. I got interviewed and accepted the position at the highest level on their salary scale. Of course, this is my plan B and my A is for Seoul.

You pretty much have to know where you wanna teach to begin with. Start the job search early, prepare those docs in advance, know that it may take months, have a plan B and hopefully a job will be found.

Plan C: Go home or stay in your country.

WadRUG'naDoo · Joined: 15 Jun 2010 Location: Shanghai

PatrickGHBusan · Posted: Mon Jul 19, 2010 9:25 am Post subject:

Good point about short termers Wad.

However for someone who stays in Korea more than one year, networking and knowing whats available out there is only smart business.

If you work for the same Hakwon for 3 years it means in year 1 you could have started getting out there, maybe attend KOTESOL on that weekend instead of going out with your buddies.

There are ways to keep informed about jobs. You can check out other schools for example, see how the work, when they will need teachers. Everyone can do this, it is just about choices.

jlb · Joined: 18 Sep 2003

creeper1 · Joined: 30 Jan 2007

I really find it hard to believe that you people really can't find jobs. Come ON! Are you saying that every rural school here, every school in some far flung island has a native teacher? Question

I think you just need to be more flexible with regard to your location.

Now on to networking. Can it find you that dream job?

Networking will only get you far. Who are you going to network with? NETS? What decisions do they make? None! They make a decision about what GS25 they will get drunk outside of but nothing about who gets a job.

I guess the pinnacle of networking here would be endearing yourself to Dain Bae's and having her number.

Dr. Whom · Joined: 06 Mar 2010 Location: South Korea

I'm 45 and just got a new job. After school program in Seoul.
5 hours/day for 3.2M. No probs. Whole thing took about a week
from searching to signing. I don't know what you guys are talking
about. Of course it may be that I have an F-2-1 visa. I think all the
new crap employers and employees have to go through may put people
of hiring E2s.