Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Browncoat Fox]

Hey everyone, I am very interested in applying for jobs in Korea for sometime mid-September. This site has been really helpful in a lot of ways, but I have some beginner questions that I am still pretty confused about. Any help (even if just directing me to a place where X question was already answered) is greatly appreciated.

First off, I am finishing up my bachelors this summer, yet I'd like to leave for Korea asap after I finish here (at UCSB in America). Classes end September 11. I would like to be done with my contract by about the same time next year if I apply to grad schools in England next spring (for the following fall), but I am still debating this, so if that sounds impossible is it likely I can do over a year but less than two?

I also won't have my physical degree yet (as it takes the school far too long to give those out). What exactly should I try to get from the school to prove my degree, and how would I go about explaining that when applying for jobs?

Second is the resume itself. Is there anything specific I should do for it that I wouldn't do for a normal resume? I know I need to include a photo (I am a 25 year old male, and will probably have to shave my beard), but I read somewhere else I may also need an online resume posted on a website? Any tips on if that's necessary, and if so, how I would go about doing it?

Are there any companies that advertise on the job board here that are not reputable? I would hate to get a job and find out its with a company (or through a company) that has a bad reputation among teachers.

I would ask about which grades are best to teach and public vs private, but from what I have seen on the forums here the opinions seem to vary greatly.

Are most the jobs posted on the forums here through recruiters, or are some of the jobs from schools themselves? (Doesn't matter, I am just curious, as it could affect how the resume should be written)

I am sure I will have a thousand more questions when I (hopefully) get a job offer, but many of those can possibly be answered by the company/recruiter. Any help right now would be greatly appreciated, as I am very interested in doing this for a year or two, but the process is a little overwhelming knowing little about it. Thanks in advance.

[Yucca Girl]

[Browncoat Fox]

Thanks for the advice. I guess my #1 concern is getting the letter of completion and hoping its enough for my visa. Would I just request this from the school and then mention this in my application? Or do I need to take care of the visa myself?

Id like to start as soon as classes end, but if Id have to wait until October that would work out alright as well.

[Yucca Girl]

[ttompatz]

OP:

Have you considered reading the FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)? http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewforum.php?f=7

look for things like:

Getting a Job - Korea Vs Japan, Taiwan and China
Getting a Job - Things You Need to Know
Getting a Job -Hagwons, Unis, EPIK & Public Schools
Alien Registration Card (ARC)
Getting Organised to Come to Korea
Choosing a Location in Korea
Contracts - Health Insurance, Pension, Severance etc.
Money, Tax, Credit Cards & the Economy
Visas
Dealing with Homesickness, Culture Shock, and Going Home

Really, when it comes to a recruiter, who cares?

A recruiter is nothing more than an introduction to an employer.

Unless you have an extensive network of friends and/or colleagues in your target country OR can read/write and speak the local language and can apply directly they are a necessary evil.

REPEAT: A recruiter is nothing more than an introduction to an employer.

Hello Mr. English speaker this is Mr Hakwon owner.
Mr. hakwon owner, this is Mr. English speaker.
Mr. English speaker, here is the contract. Please read and sign.
School, here is the signed contract. Pay me.
Good bye.

-You are not paying them anything (or you shouldn't be).
-THEY DO NOT WORK FOR YOU! - They work for the school.
-They owe you nothing once you get here.
-They are not your friend.
-They are not your baby sitter.
-They cannot help you if things go to *beep* after you get here.

Beyond that it is YOUR responsibility to check the school out.

Do NOT trust ANY recruiter. They are like used car salesmen. They will lie and sell their soul to get the signature on the contract.

Do your own DUE DILLIGENCE in regards to the school or get burned.

Use the recruiters for what they are. Use more than one and keep going until you get what you want. There is no rush and there is certainly no shortage of jobs.

When it comes to the school - again - repeat - Do your own DUE DILLIGENCE.

1st - READ the contract over very carefully. If that doesn't scare you away then...

The best you can do is minimize the risk by talking to MORE THAN ONE of the foreign staff and ask POINTED AND SPECIFIC QUESTIONS (*when the boss is NOT listening over their shoulder). Don't accept non-specific answers and broad generalizations.

No foreign staff references to talk (directly and via e-mail) to = walk away now.

Accept NO EXCUSES for any reason.

ONE CAVEAT: if it is a public school there may not be a Native English Speaker to talk to but there is a chain of command OUTSIDE THE SCHOOL (your POE liaison) if you have problems and they are more strict in following the terms of the contract.

7777
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[PatrickGHBusan]

Tom nailed it again.

My advice:

Get all your documents ready BEFORE YOU APPLY.

A letter of graduation will not always cut it. The chances of you getting a work visa are slim to none if you try to do so before you have official proof of graduation.

Take the TIME to do proper research, this will pay off later down the road.

As a complete newbee with no contacts, recruiters may be your best bet.

I posted this for another new applicant...it may help you out too:

Read the FAQs on here, they are full of useful information. Check out places like galbijim for more useful information.

Once you have a feel for the place, ask yourself some basic questions, again BEFORE you apply anywhere. These are useful questions as they will save you time and frustration with recruiters or employers later down the road:

1- Where do you want to work (location)?

Large city, Mid-sized city, Rural area?

That will help you focus your search and present your application in a way that will generate offers you actually want.

2- Where do you want to work (type of employer)
Hakwon, Public School?

Hakwons hire all year long.

PS hire only at certain times of the year (usually in the spring for a September start).

Each type of employer has its advantages and disadvantages. For example PS positions mean you are a co-teacher and teach large groups (usually 40+ kids). Hakwons mean you teach your own class to smaller groups (8-12 kids).

Scheduling will be different, vacation time as well...

3- Who do you want to teach?

Kids or adults or a mix of both?

Each has its challenges but there are more jobs teaching children.

4- What are you worth?

That is determined by your qualifications (degrees) and experience in teaching. It is also deternined by the market and right now the market is flooded with applicants. That means that while jobs are still plentiful, there is more competition and employers are pickier.

A typical newbee with a BA in a non teaching specialisation with no experience is looking at 2.1-2.2 Million Won per month.


Figure 1-4 out and you have a broad picture of what you want.

Then figure out when you want to start and how long it will take to gather all the necessary documents. The Criminal background check can take longer, especially in the US.

I strongly recommend you have all your documents in hand BEFORE YOU APPLY.

Once you have all the above done and completed, pick recruiters or employers that place where you wish to be. Prepare a tailored application package and apply.

As for reliable recruiters or employers, you will get all sorts of answers here. Take it all with a grain of salt. Recruiters are middlemen. No more, no less. All they do is match you with an employer. Once thats done you should be dealing with the employer.

Good luck and feel free to pm or email me if you have more specific questions. I worked in Korea for 11 years before returning to Canada. I was in Busan for the duration.

Take care.

[Kysorb]

[dizzyl]

I am in the middle of applying too and have had a very positive response from one recruiter.
But because I want to do this properly and be the best I can be the question I have is... to TEFL or not to TEFL?
Any views on this? I can obviously just turn up there and wing it, but would love to make a good impression from the off and make the whole ride smoother from the start.
Any opinions would be useful.

But like the OP, the questions just keep coming, but will wait till the October jobs start appearing and things start moving till I start harrassing people for opinions!!