Korean Job Discussion Forums

farzfive · Joined: 11 Jul 2010

So I have been on the hunt for about 2-3 weeks now. I have been offered 2 jobs so far, but both were at schools with negative reviews and sh*t contracts.

I was just wondering how many bad offers everyone here went through before they took their first teaching job in Korea.

ttompatz · Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Location: Kwangju, South Korea

farzfive · Joined: 11 Jul 2010

Well yea, I have zero teaching experience, and come from a media background.

I don't mind working at a hagwon, I just don't want to get screwed by one. The two offers I was given were from schools with horrible track records as far as treatment of employees goes. The teacher at one of the schools even advised me to stay away.

I am debating getting my TEFL certification to maybe give me a little boost when it comes to potential job offers.

definitely maybe · Joined: 16 Feb 2008

7, but that was back in 2001!

seonsengnimble · Posted: Fri Jul 23, 2010 5:41 am Post subject:

I took the first offer after skimming the contract. I jumped in blindly and was very fortunate I wasn't screwed. The contract I signed, however was pretty crappy. It had no specified vacation time (vacation days according to the wonderland calendar), no pension and phone teaching.

The job required a ton of work for relatively little pay, but the boss was honest and very helpful in getting me situated in Korea.

Reggie · Joined: 21 Sep 2009

Before my first job, in 2006, I turned down an offer in Taiwan and accepted a job in Seoul.

Right now, I'm turning down a lot of offers in Seoul while I try to land my dream job in a city just south of the North Korean border. It doesn't look like it's going to pan out, so I'll probably work in Seoul or, more likely, China.

drama_addict · Joined: 30 Aug 2009 Location: Seoul

I once got five offers. Turned down four of them (two in Korea, one in Japan, and one in China).

This was in 2008 and I ended up accepting an offer from EPIK. Wish I hadn't as the school sucked. EPIK is a crapshoot. You have no way of knowing what type of school you'll end up at.

gummychoco · Joined: 05 Jul 2010

My husband and I have been looking for about a month and have received 4 offers. The first 2 were really cruddy - the contracts were unclear as to what kind of "extra hours" and Saturdays we'd be expected to put in for free, didn't offer what we thought was a standard 10 vacation days, pay wasn't so good, reviews were bad... etc. etc. I was beginning to think that maybe that was the kind of crap I'd have to choose between. This crappy contract or that crappy contract. And we kept being told by those recruiters that we should just sign, even if it blows, because It's so hard to place couples, especially mixed couples, blah blah blah. Then I got 2 good offers, better pay, enough vacation, nice and helpful recruiters & school directors... but these were only offers for myself and did not include my husband, and so he'd have to find a job at a school nearby. But then its not certain when he'd be able to join me in Korea or if he'd even be able to find a job...

But I think we're about to receive a 5th offer though, one for the both of us. Phew.

Don't settle for a cruddy contract! Averaging 1 job offer a week really isn't that bad and it's only a matter of time until something decent turns up. My husband and I also have no experience and no certification. I know that I was able to get more offers than my husband because I am eligible for an F4 and have some volunteer experience working with children. The recruiters that found me those gyopo jobs did recommend that my husband get certified so that he could be placed more quickly nearby.

farzfive · Joined: 11 Jul 2010

SeoulNate · Joined: 04 Jun 2010 Location: Hyehwa

about a dozen. just be patient.

naturegirl321 · Joined: 18 Jul 2006 Location: Home sweet home

4 uni jobs and a handful of hagwon jobs, as well as a PS job. It helps to be open about where you work. If you want to be in Seoul, be prepared for lots of competition.

Louis VI · Joined: 05 Jul 2010 Location: In my Kingdom

Three.

Vix · Joined: 18 Jun 2010 Location: Seoul

Four, mostly as my recruiter then was offering me jobs in the middle of nowhere when I said I wanted to work in a city!

ddeubel · Joined: 20 Jul 2005

Really, really, really make sure to contact someone at the school or who has previously worked at the school before. I mean, a "grunt" / teacher.

Beyond that, do your homework, network and contact others about the school and people. It isn't just about the money but about the people you work with. Can't say that loud enough.

Check out http://twitter.com/eltjobs 400 jobs a day from all over the world come in to the feed I set up. Also, search it through twitter search . Just put in your search feed, like "eltjobs+kindergarten" Here's an example.

Good luck,

DD
http://eflclassroom.com