Korean Job Discussion Forums

[CtotheB]

I have some questions for you guys I couldn't find anywhere else.

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What's the deal with reference letters for your applications? What should they contain, and written by whom?

How dirty will my apartment be when I get there? I've heard some horror stories.

Is it possible to request an officetel from an employer? Or would that just piss them off? I just don't want some shoebox.

Should I bring my guitar? I'm a musician, but I don't wanna get ripped off at Nakwon.

Are there 24 hour gyms? Good weight lifting ones? What's the average cost?

Can I get photos of my accommodations before I get there? Or would it just be completely up in the air?

What's the scoop on haircuts, and getting a decent one? Barber poles? What's the deal with the 1, 2, or whatever poles?

Does my resume look alright? Names and locations omitted.

[balzor]

[MalFSU1]

What's the deal with reference letters for your applications? What should they contain, and written by whom?

I had the head of my graduate program write me up a nice letter, that unfortunately got lost by the US Postal Service, and I didn't have time for them to send me new ones, so I just had a lady who oversaw my work at a temporary job I was working write that I was a good person, smart, a problem solver...blah blah

How dirty will my apartment be when I get there? I've heard some horror stories.

I had a horror story...place was disgusting. The teachers before us left tons of crap behind and literally seemed to have never cleaned the year they were living there...took an entire weekend and about a dozen trash bags to make it feel livable. A small studio or officitel has less to clean than the three bedroom apt my boyfriend and I moved into though.

Is it possible to request an officetel from an employer? Or would that just piss them off? I just don't want some shoebox.

If you are working hakwon you might be able to make the recommendation

Should I bring my guitar? I'm a musician, but I don't wanna get ripped off at Nakwon.
If you play it alot and it's important to you I would say bring it definitely...it will be cheaper to check it as luggage than to buy a new one

Are there 24 hour gyms? Good weight lifting ones? What's the average cost?

Finding a decent gym should not be a problem, unless you are in the boonies

Can I get photos of my accommodations before I get there? Or would it just be completely up in the air?

Varies from situation to situation...if you are doing public school through something like EPIK then definitely not

What's the scoop on haircuts, and getting a decent one? Barber poles? What's the deal with the 1, 2, or whatever poles?

You don't really need to go to a barber shop here, young men and women get their hair cut at the same place. Seems like older Koreans go to barber shops. Get your hair cut nice before you come, take some pics and use those to show them what to do.

[furtakk]

What's the deal with reference letters for your applications? What should they contain, and written by whom?

I don't think these are taken all that seriously as far as I know. Some friends who work for EPIK just had random references (i.e. from jobs not even slightly related to teaching).

How dirty will my apartment be when I get there? I've heard some horror stories.

My place was disgusting, which was depressing because it was a relatively new officetel (less than 5 years old). The fridge was broken, stove had no knobs, bathroom had a centimeter of scum, old vomit or curry (couldn't figure out which) crusted on the floor under the bed, etc. It took me about 1 week of cleaning a few hours a day to get it nice and fresh. I threw out virtually everything in the place minus the built in furniture and bed. I had to wash and scrub everything by hand. My place is fantastic now, but I was super pissed when I moved in. I don't know how people can be such slobs, but the guy must have never cleaned over the entire year.

My first year place was fine though. It really depends on the person living in the place before you and if your hagwon is considerate enough to have it cleaned before you move in (pretty rare).


Is it possible to request an officetel from an employer? Or would that just piss them off? I just don't want some shoebox.

They will give you whatever they have available. They don't typically find new housing as most schools are locked into leases. Anyway, officetels don't necessarily mean big. My officetel is in a great area and is pretty spacious, but it's still only a one room. My friend lives in a pretty new villa and has 2 bedrooms, living room, and a kitchen. If they offer the option of an allowance you could always find a place and pay the difference.

Should I bring my guitar? I'm a musician, but I don't wanna get ripped off at Nakwon.

If you can fit it on the plane then why not?

Are there 24 hour gyms? Good weight lifting ones? What's the average cost?

Depends on gym/area. I've seen anywhere from 50,000 a month to 150,000. No idea about 24 hr places. I've never seen anything like that and if they exist I would imagine they are more on the expensive side. I'm not a fitness junkie, but they seem to have all the typical gym equipment.

Can I get photos of my accommodations before I get there? Or would it just be completely up in the air?

It's not a unreasonable request and most schools should provide some if you ask.

What's the scoop on haircuts, and getting a decent one? Barber poles? What's the deal with the 1, 2, or whatever poles?

I'm a guy and I get really simple haircuts. I go to a guy who charges 6,000 and it's better than most haircuts that I got back home. Most actual hair salons will have big windows where you can definitely tell they are places to get a haircut.

[thegreg52]

What's the deal with reference letters for your applications? What should they contain, and written by whom?

My reference letter where written by the principal of a school that I student taught at while at university as well as my employer. They just said I was trustworhty, reliable, kind, yadda yadda. They are really no different than any other letter of reference. They didn't mention Korea at all.


How dirty will my apartment be when I get there? I've heard some horror stories.

I got lucky with this one. My place is huge and in a fairly new building. Plus, I'm the first native teacher the school has ever had, so my appliances and everything are all brand new. Don't expect this though, I think...


Is it possible to request an officetel from an employer? Or would that just piss them off? I just don't want some shoebox.

I have no idea, sorry. It probably depends on the school.


Should I bring my guitar? I'm a musician, but I don't wanna get ripped off at Nakwon.

DO NOT BRING IT! I'm a musician as well. I lugged mine across the world for no reason. You will be able to find a decent enough guitar for a good price here.


Are there 24 hour gyms? Good weight lifting ones? What's the average cost?

My school has a gym that I have a key to, so I'm not sure. Some of my friends signed up for ones that were around 60000 a month.


Can I get photos of my accommodations before I get there? Or would it just be completely up in the air?

Probably not. I had no contact with my school until the day I arrived in my city.


What's the scoop on haircuts, and getting a decent one? Barber poles? What's the deal with the 1, 2, or whatever poles?

The haircuts I get here are better than ones I got home. Just tell them to make you sexy. They know how. Go to one barber pole places. 2 means "extra service" usually...if you know what I mean.

Good luck!

[CtotheB]

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[JBomb]

I get my haircuts at the saunas. The barbers here are fantastic for just good old fashioned manly hair cuts. That and the shower and the soak afterwards is brilliant.

[akcrono]

Many people on this forum may not know the dangers associated with bring a guitar on a plane (since you have to check it). Frets dot com has a good guide to packing a guitar, but the decision to bring it depends a lot on what you think you will do and your attachment to your guitar.

http://frets.com/FRETSPages/Musician/GenMaint/Packing/packing1.html

Personally, I own a Gibson SG which I have had for many years. I would be crushed if it got broken. On top of that, since it's electric, getting a setup here would be expensive (especially since i'm spoiled w/ tube amps). I left my guitar at home and bought a cheap accoustic here for 100k that I'll probably sell for close to the same price whn I leave. That way i don't have to risk my guitar. I miss my SG, but I wont be gone forever!

Side note, if you decide not to bring your guitar, don't forget to de-string it or let the tention out before you go.

[CtotheB]

Added to first post.

[AsiaESLbound]

Be sure to bring your important documents as you might need to resubmit them to your school or immigration several times after arrival. Your degree should be waiting for you in Korea upon your arrival as you will have sent it to apply for your visa with immigration keeping your FBI background check and degree copy on file without a request to re-verify documents. Let's hope!!!

As for a guitar, Korea produces very good musical and electronic equipment, but you can pay extra to check your baby onto your flight if you can't leave it home. Either way you go about it, you will be spending money to what you enjoy doing.

[DorkothyParker]