Korean Job Discussion Forums

[siberiantiger]

I really want to work in South Korea had have had all of my documents ready to go (notarized and verified by the Korean Consulate) for two months but can't seem to find a public school job.

I applied for a Busan EPIK in early September hoping to get one of the ASAP positions for October but EPIK failed me after the interview. So I applied for EPIK March 2011 with Rowan and ESL Planet but found out two days ago that EPIK did not progress me to the interview stage. (They didn't give a reason why.) I also use Adventure Teaching for hagwon positions but they can't seem to find me anything either.

I have my documents ready to send so that's not the problem. I have a BA Honours degree, an MA degree, and am finishing a PhD (though all were in history, not English). I have a few academic publications. I'd prefer to be in a city anywhere in Korea but am happy to take a rural position. I don't have any ESL teaching experience but I have been a university graduate teaching assistant for six years teaching classes on my own. I also have one year's experience as a supply high school teacher. I've worked as a childcare provider for children aged 2 and 9. I'm comfortable teaching any level in Korea. I'm also a natural blonde, have blue eyes, and I'm from Ontario so I don't have a strong accent.

I don't really want to work in a hagwon because so many things can go wrong but EPIK doesn't seem to want me. Is there anything I can do to have a better chance or is it just too competitive?

[jaybert06]

http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?t=193131

you may be able to find some answers in there, the discussion sounds similar to what you are asking.

i don't nearly have the qualifications you do, but i have gotten a few offers and a couple contracts to look at so far. what i did was write out a form email with my name, info, where i stood on your necessary docs, my available start date, preferred age to teach, and preferred city. i also attached my resume and headshot and wrote a paragraph describing myself and why i wanted to work in korea. then i emailed that to every single recruiter who posted an advert on the korean job board for a week. probably 60% of the recruiters i emailed contacted me back, and 25% of those sent me potential positions, but i'm still getting emails.

in no means am i an expert, as i have not even definitely accepted a job yet, but this is what worked for me.

[amnsg2]

I'm not an expert either, but I've always managed to get a good response from recruiters. I can't help you with public schools because I've focused almost all my attention on hagwons but the problem might be that you just aren't using enough recruiters. Try emailing a couple more with your most polished email outlining everything you can offer them. They want a quick, easy placement so emphasise flexibility, willingness to be out there and work anywhere and highlight that you have all your documents.

I'm not sure what the problem could be if you are using different recruiters for hagwons, though. Could you stress your background in history as offering a new cultural perspective for your students? I doubt some directors care too much but they'd remember you as the highly qualified history student.

Just a thought- it could be that they think they'd have to pay you too much, I would have gone with universities with that background. It's really really unfair but they can get lesser qualified baby graduates like me on 2.1m (I'm easy to please, I still get excited about being paid in millions...)

[oldfatfarang]

O.P. Don't be discouraged. You're just way too overqualified for EPIK (they have to pay you too much & PS are intimidated by highly qualified westerners). EPIK is looking for fresh (read cheap) inexeperienced grads with a BA.

With your qualis you have a much better chance of getting a job in a uni - but you usually have to be here to interview in person for uni jobs.

You may also have a problem with your age (you didn't say) and your photo (level of perceived 'handsomeness'). Looks are everything in Korean TEFL. Again, don't be discouraged, just keep trying.

However, I'd seriously reconsider going rural in Korea. While you may think that this will be a refreshing change, it can be a nightmare (very low level students, unhappy Korean teaching staff, no supplies and underfunded, very long daily commutes from nearby cities (mine is 2.30 hours a day), no English speaking staff, xenophobia from locals (can be bad if you have to live in a small town) and so on. In rural Korea you really are the foreigner. This list isn't finished by any means).

With your qualifications, you should look at the NET program in Hong Kong - ME - or teaching at a K uni.

Good luck.

[tacticalbuddhist]

Send a professional picture with your resume but also send one or two of you posing with a kid (nieces, nephews, friend's kid) along with your emails. Make sure the kids are cute. I think my response rate from recruiters when I sent out pictures with my nephew was 80% compared to around 50% without. It's that, or show off your assets... it's crude but it works.

[liveinkorea316]

Yes, like the other poster said. How old are you? It doesn't matter to us on this forum. But it sure does matter to many employers in Korea.

[alwaysbeclosing100]

this is your problem:

I have a BA Honours degree, an MA degree, and am finishing a PhD (though all were in history, not English). I have a few academic publications.

No one wants to deal with someone with your qualifications when there are an abundance of 22 or 23 year old grads(blonde female and good looking of course) who will work for low pay and are easily manipulated. English teaching ability matters very little here usually. I'm not trying to sound harsh I'm just giving a reality check on what you have experienced.

[oldtactics]

On a related note, why are you applying for EPIK in the first place? You're qualified for a non-tenure position at a uni or college - apply for those jobs instead. Send a super-impressive package including copies of one of your published pieces. Don't get discouraged.

[siberiantiger]

Thanks to everyone for your replies! I want to address your questions/comments/suggestions so I'll try to go in order.

jaybert06: Thanks for that link! I've been following that discussion and you're right that it sounds similar. The only thing is that OP has degrees in English and a CELTA, I have neither. I'll keep sending my resume/photo out on my own (along with my preferences and docs status), hope for some interest, and keep working with my recruiters.

amnsg2: Thanks for your response. I haven't had a problem getting a recruiter and they've all said they'd have no problem placing me. Then I wait for offers from schools but few, if any, come. I've worked with Adventure Teaching, ATC, ESL Planet, and B2Corea. I did ask all of those recruiters if I should omit my MA degree (and PhD-in-progress) from my resume/applications so I could be on the same pay level as the majority of applicants and they've all recommended keeping it on. The truth is, I would be more than happy with 2.0 million won...if only it was offered. I'm not really interested in how much extra money I can get, I'd really just like to experience Korea.

oldfatfarang: Thanks so much for your insight! I'm 30 (though people always assume I'm in my early to mid-twenties so I do look younger, though I'm sure that means nothing at all). Honestly speaking, I'm not drop-dead gorgeous but I am pretty and I have a good professional picture. I thought being open to rural jobs would help show that I'm flexible about location. It doesn't matter to me if I'm in Seoul or a really large city like a lot of applicants seem to want. I'll keep trying Korea but I'll look into Hong Kong and Korean universities. Thanks!

tacticalbuddhist: Thanks so much for the suggestion! I'll definitely send a photo with my adorable nephew. I never even thought of that but it's a great idea.

liveinkorea316: I'm 30. (See my response to oldfatfarang.)

alwaysbeclosing100: Thanks for that. I know I have some more qualifications than many applicants so you're not being harsh. I'm not sure what else I can do except omit my graduate degrees from my resume/application (I've never listed my publications so that's not the problem) but all the recruiters I've been working with have recommended not doing that.

oldtactics: I've been teaching university students here in Canada for a few years and would really like to teach children so I thought EPIK was a good fit for what I wanted. As far as I know, university positions are difficult to get unless you're in country and they don't come with housing. I'll apply for university positions and see what happens. At the very least, I'd be comfortable enough in that academic setting.

I appreciate all of the advice! I'll just keep trying and hope something comes my way.

[Otherside]

OP, I had the same problem. I missed the September intake, and since then it's been hell getting a position.

The running joke (which has quite a bit of truth to it) is that the ideal employee is young, female and North American. I didn't pick up whether you were male or not, but otherwise, qualifications aside, you should be in line for a job pretty easily.

Here comes the rub: There is HUGE glut of applicants at the moment. You have a good set of qualifications. In a "perfect" world, the better the qualifications the more likely you are to get a job. Here, they see the qualifications and two things come to mind:
1. They're gonna have to pay you more. Hiring the 23yr old grad with a BA, could save them 300k a month, in their eyes, you aren't worth the extra money. (Ironically though, they'll complain when the teacher they hire is still of a college mind-set, and teaches like he has no experience...because he has no experience).
2. An older/more experienced teacher is more likely to cause waves. Rookie teachers follow the system and go with the flow, older/more-experienced teachers have been around a bit, and will know when the system is flawed, and not be scared to let their feelings on the matter known.

OK, so job finding tips:
1. When can you start? If you have all your doc's ready and can start ASAP, look for positions starting ASAP (normally under the GEPIK program, in Gyeonggi province). Things are often last minute here, so if they need a teacher in 2 weeks, and you have everything ready, you have a great shot.
2. Universities have started the hiring process for March. Read some ads and send some applications in. Qualification-wise, you should be fine for most jobs, however as mentioned earlier, many like in-person interviews, though you should still have a decent shot, especially if you aren't picky on location.
3. Hagwons - been there, done that, wouldn't recommend it. That being said, there are reputable hagwons out there. (By reputable, I mean they stick to the contract and won't rip you off, though generally, these guys work you into the ground). If you're set on Korea, and desperate to start now, might be worth a shot. You'll get some Korean experience, be in-country for next year's hiring process, and when you get a PS/Uni job next year, you'll appreciate it so much more after working in a Hagwon.

[WillTurnerinVanCity]

Hi Everyone,

I've seen a lot of comments about people with X qualifications not getting positions, and a lot of theories as to why they didn't get the job when somebody of lesser qualifications did.

I'm not speaking to the OPs situation, but to this issue in general, and my point is this:

I rarely read anything about poor interviewing. Before you ask, I agree that the interview is not the only factor in the selection process, and I'm not saying that the interview is the entire reason for 100% of these situations. Just that this is rarely discussed.

I see a lot of people speculating on the motivations for EPIK and other schools or organizations. They point out that they have 5 years of experience, or that they have a Master's degree, etc., and are shocked that the job went to somebody else. The discussions generally focus solely on the basics of experience and qualifications, but rarely on the intangible aspects of the interview. I suspect it is due to the fact that people who are awful in interviews don't know that they are awful in interviews. If they did, they would fix it.

Interviews are difficult. If you're interviewing for a position, you have to prepare - not just in terms of research but also in terms of mechanics and how you come across. It is an important skill to have, not just for the EPIK process, but in general.

I've been working at Footprints for three years and I normally do 3-4 30 minute interviews a day, sometimes more depending upon the time of year. I've done well over 1000 of these, and while 30 minutes isn't that much time to get to know somebody, it is plenty of time for somebody to come across in a negative way. First impressions are important.

You have to make yourself sound good. You have to make yourself sound like the best possible candidate for a position. Sadly, a lot of people, while attempting to make themselves sound good, cross the threshold and make themselves sound arrogant.

Likewise, some people want to be professional, they want to come across clearly in what they want, and what they expect out of the business relationship they are hoping to have with their recruiter or their school. They want the recruiter to know that they want X area, nothing else. They will only accept offers between X amount and X amount. They want such and such hours, with this much vacation. They feel that their qualifcations and experience make them entitled to this. When done properly, this is perfectly acceptable. However, again, sometimes it isn't what you say, but how you say it, or even how the person on the other end perceives it. There is a fine line between clearly articulating what you want and appearing like a demanding, high maintenace, hard to get a long with personality. A personality that won't be offered a position.

Anyway, I hadn't seen much conversation about this on Dave's, and I thought I would throw it out there. It is almost like that "he's just not that into" idea. In all relationships it seems, business or personal, people would rather find external reasons for why they aren't chosen than be critical of themselves.

Again, nothing against the OP, or others on the thread with similar situations. This is just a post I've been wanting to throw out there for awhile, and see what the Dave's community thought of the issue. I'd appreciate your thoughts.

-Will at Footprints

[wylies99]

One of the reasons why the public schools are looking for cheaper teachers, with fewer qualifications that make them category 1, is because the Korean government cut back on the amount of money going to each school by about 10%. The government gives a large block of money to GEPIK, EPIK, etc... for each foreign teacher hired through the program. They keep a chunk and pass the rest down to the schools. There's more than enough for the foreign teacher's pay, housing and other expenses, plus most schools use the remaining money to either improve the English teaching facilities or for other school expenses.

This year the money was cut by about 10%, so many of the schools would rather hire teachers with fewer qualifications than give up that extra cash they count on to do repairs around the school. That's how this industry works. Make no mistake; even though you are teaching in a public school, you are still in that "bottom line for the money" Korean ESL industry. It's not all schools that have adopted this thinking, but it's enough that the recruiters are getting the message to look for teachers with fewer qualifications.

[PatrickGHBusan]

[nero]

[Diqquad]

With the OP's credentials I would be looking for a college job or international school or something like that.