Korean Job Discussion Forums

baguingr · Joined: 10 May 2009 Location: INCHEON

I'm getting real tired of waiting for answers and dealing with recruiters from inside the US and thinking about going over on a tourist visa to improve my chances. Do you guys think this would be a good idea? Also wondering about how it works. Do schools ever refund you plane money and do the documents all work the same way? I have seen a good amount of ASAP jobs that are looking for teachers in korea, but still this is a little intimidating to go over there without anything nailed down. Just like to hear from anyone who has done this or if anyone thinks this is a really good or really bad idea. Thanks

northway · Joined: 05 Jul 2010

Schools won't refund your plane ticket because they already have to pay for your visa run, and it's essentially impossible to even do a visa run as a first time teacher unless you're American and can go to Guam. I came over on a tourist visa and found a job that I still have and enjoy (I'm extending my contract), but I really wouldn't recommend it, especially if you don't have a free place to stay indefinitely.

baguingr · Joined: 10 May 2009 Location: INCHEON

This will be my second year so think I can do the Japan run. I'm american and I also have friends I could stay with for a long time in Seoul.

Troglodyte · Joined: 06 Dec 2009

In that case, if you have all your documents, you could come over and do a search in person. You'll get a lot more replies from recruiters, and you'll also be able to go door-to-door and ask directly at schools in the area that you want to work in.

But I'm surprised that you're having so much difficulty. If you've already had an E2, there are plenty of schools that will fly you over (on their dime) get you the work visa number AND send you to Japan. Plenty of schools still do things last minute and want an immediate start. Tell the recruiters that you want something starting ASAP. That way you come over and see the school before getting the E2 visa.

northway · Joined: 05 Jul 2010

Given all those factors, it's really not a bad idea if you can afford the plane ticket. When I did it I had a job within about a week after starting to seriously look for one. My school's pretty decent, and I've definitely shown myself to be a good teacher, but it's a job I likely would not have gotten with zero experience had it not been for the fact that they needed someone in like four or five days.

baguingr · Joined: 10 May 2009 Location: INCHEON

thanks for the advice. I'm gonna give it one more good push here and send emails and post resumes like crazy, but if I still don't have anything decent I'll make the trip over. I need something fast because money is running thin so it would suck to have to buy the ticket myself but I have credit cards and also people I can barrow from on no interest. One more question, Are all the fall/winter semester hagwon jobs snatched up or are there still some out there that would allow me to start in aug. or sept.?

Troglodyte · Joined: 06 Dec 2009

Contact as many recruiters as you can find. Tell them that you have your documents ready (scan them to show the recruiters) and say that you want something to start in the next week and you want a one way ticket to Korea provided. They will find a school for you. Just be very clear that you want something starting in the next week.

ChilgokBlackHole · Joined: 21 Nov 2009

Hotpants · Joined: 27 Jan 2006

I've recently job hunted on a K tourist visa. I secured a job within 2 weeks, and a visa within three weeks. But I used to teach in Korea before and have a lot of quals.

For visa purposes, if you have never had an E2 visa before, you're supposed to go through a consulate/embassy interview in your home country. That would mean you making 2 flights to Korea, for which you may at best only get reimbursed for part of one the legs.

If it's your first time looking for a job in Korea, keep applying from home. That way, if you still don't get a gig, you're not losing out on too much money and can be ready to take a job back home as well. If you've got money worries, I would be cautious about the prospect of getting into some unscrupulous institute and not getting paid, and getting even further stuck. If you're doing a speculative job hunt in Korea, it's better done when you've got a bit of cash behind you to cover multiple scenarios.