Korean Job Discussion Forums

[JFV]

Hi, my wife and I are looking for employment (preferably in Busan or Ulsan). We both have some instructing/ workshop leading/ tutoring experience and TESOL certificates. I have my undergraduate degree and she is just finishing hers up. She will be able to have her diploma in hand come mid-September and thus would likely only be able to start a contract in October, at the earliest. This is kind of a unique situation because I need to begin a contract in September so that I can be back in Canada to start teachers college the following September. I am not willing to break contract because I don�t think that that is fair to the school/ faculty/ students and I am also not willing to defer teachers college until the next semester. I hope I am not being too demanding.
Many recruiters we have talked to have described this as an �awkward situation�, although I prefer the term �unique situation� as it doesn�t sound as pejorative . We understand that couples positions are out of the question because of our prospective starting dates. We also understand that will likely not work at the same school (couples do need their own space anyways). We accept these factors. Our main priority is to end up in the same city (Busan). Otherwise, that WOULD definitely be an �awkward situation�.
This is where we are at now: We figured that if we pick a big enough city in the South, ie, Busan, Ulsan, Daegu, we would be able to search independently. I would be able to find employment in September and because those markets are big enough, my wife would be able to find a placement in October. I feel nervous though because I feel like we are leaving a lot up to chance. Can anybody help us with this �� situation�? Any feedback would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!
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[jhuntingtonus]

I think your chances of both being hired in a city the size of Busan would be almost 100%, unless you have some unusual severe problem. And remember, it's not critical that you both get the exact starting dates you want - more important is for you to get set up first.

[JFV]

I hope so!! Thanks for your vote of confidence! Any dissenting opinions�

[madkisso]

I don't know the policy on posting links or recruiters info (have to go back and read the rules and regulations), so I won't. But, I just had to turn down a position at a school in Ulsan because they wanted me to start right away-fly out mid-August and begin work late august to early september). I know they were really looking for a teacher and were super disappointed that I couldn't start soon enough. They already have one couple working there and want more teachers. If you are interested at all, PM me and I can give you the information. Hope this helps.
Michelle

[ttompatz]

Since your wife can't get a job until October - she will have to remain behind for a month after you leave anyway (unless it is her plan to break her contract early (and lose out on severance and return airfare).

Best option:

Come ahead of your wife.

Land your job for ASAP.
You get your job.
Get settled.
She joins you on an F3 (dependent family visa).
She gets her documents in order.
She looks for a job in the same part of the city that you work in.
She makes her visa run to Japan and away you go.
If you are lucky she may even be able to work at the same school/hagwan that you are at.

.

[Troglodyte]

Here are a couple points that no one has made yet.

If you are going to work at different schools, then make sure that you ask your school how many square meters big the apartment is. You want to make sure that it's a 2 person apartment. Many aren't.

Since your wife won't need accommodation from her job, if she's willing to pay for her own airfare (and not receive severance), then you can find plenty of schools who will give her a contract of less than 12 months. If this is ok with you guys, then the best plan might be for you to come over first, settle in, then have your wife come on an F3 visa. If she's here, she can job hunt directly, instead of using an agent. There are a lot of schools in cities like Busan. She can go door to door asking about positions. Then she just has to do a visa run to Japan to get an E2 visa. (Or can it be changed in country?) Then, when you finish your contract, you can both return home together. If she needs no airfare, accommodation or severance, then she may even be able to negotiate a higher monthly salary.

[Son Deureo!]

[Troglodyte]

[JFV]

We spoke to the Korean consulate in our city and they said exactly that. We need to interview here (Ottawa) before being granted our VISA. This is only because it is our first time working in Korea. Otherwise, it would have been a good plan. We dont mind working in different schools or starting and ending at different times. My greatest concern is whether or not it is safe to assume that just because I get offered a job in Ulsan or Busan, so will she. I don't want to leave a variable like that up to chance and then come to find that she is unable to get a position. Considering the fact that she has TESOL, classroom experience, and former employment at the department of foreign affairs.. Would it be safe to assume that getting employment as an ESL teacher would not be an issue? Also, what would be the best way to negotiate a larger "studio" apartment with my employer? Would I have to pay more? COuld her employer give her a housing allowance instead so that it could be contributed towards a liveable apartment?

by the way, thank you for your responses, Im starting to feel more comfortable about this whole thing!

[Troglodyte]

In a city the size of Busan, there are job a plenty. It's no problem to get a job there.

If you are going first, then once you get here, you can go door-to-door and ask if anyone is hiring, give them your wife's CV. Negotiate with them if they are interested. (e.g. housing supplement instead of accommodation) You going around and asking in person will allow you to find more schools in a shorter time than going through an agency (which are dubious to begin with). You can also find something very near to your apartment.

When YOU are looking for a job, tell the recruiter that you want something with a living room and a bedroom. Or tell them that you want somethings with as least X number of square meters. Say that you're wife will be living with you. You don't need to tell them that she'll be working. Remember, the average salary is 2.2 or 2.3 million won per month (if you are experienced, it could be up to 2.4million). So, if they say that it's going to be hard, you could offer to work for 2.1 in exchange for a bit larger apartment.

[wesharris]

[Troglodyte]

I think that they are Canadian.

[JFV]

We are. But thanks.
I had never considered handing out her resume to employers nearby. Great suggestion. How well received do you think I will be? Is it commonplace to go door to door, or is it more of a nusance to show up unexpected?

[Troglodyte]

Nowadays, most people get there first job through a recruiter or sometimes from a school directly via a job board (which are also saturated with recruiters).

Many people that continue teaching at hogwans (as opposed to giving public schools a try) but don't want to continue at their current hogwan when they finish, DO go door to door a couple months before their contract finishes. I think that it's relatively common. You can get a lot better results than relying on recruiters. You can also pick and choose where you live/work and check out the school and accommodation in advance. This is the main reason that people do it. Also, some F visa teachers will do this to look for jobs (although many also use recruiters). I think that you'll find a lot more jobs, and probably jobs that your wife will like more by going door-to-door. In the down town areas of big cities, there are literally dozens of hogwans (mainly kiddy hogwans) within a few blocks of each other. Sometimes you will even see 2 in the same building. It's a huge industry here. The only other place that I've seen that even compares to this is Japan (where door-to-door applications are also common).

She could apply with the recruiters as well, but I'd recommend that she doesn't accept anything until you've had a chance to go around your neighborhood and look for the local kiddy hogwans (sometimes residental areas have a couple) and the nearest downtown area (which will be full of them). That way you can see if there's something you like that's really close to your apartment (i.e. less travel time for her to get to work).

If the hogwans ask where YOU work, then don't tell them. You could be working for their competition. Tell them that you work across town, but that you met other foreigners from this neighborhood and they recommended it for working and conveniences and in your area there are very few hogwans.