Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Illysook]

I've seen students from my school while shopping, having dinner, and all sorts of stuff like that. It's better not to cause controversy. You may not know that your bad behavior got back to your boss, but when they suddenly change your schedule for the worse, it's not always because they are crazy and irrational.

[Hotwire]

The op seems to think that tailoring resumes to jobs works here.

In reality I have been fed up so many times by sending my very good and well written resume out to then have a phone interview with someone who doesn't even know my name, what my ba is in or where I'm from.

One American / Korean recruiter I was friends with basically told me 'man your resume is fantastic but you realise it' a waste of time right and in reality it will put a Korean off because they wont understand it etc...'

The reality is the op got the job for being young white and female.

Ta da!

[zenbone]

i took the 1 week challenge. I applied to 7 recruiters (plus have 2 working for me currently) i will keep you all posted as the job offers come pouring in!

[iwillteachyouenglish]

I have a job in Korea now and I am white and male, so there goes the female hypothesis.

1) Don't bother with white recruiters. They try to sell you crap and do not have enough connections.

2) Find several Asian recruiters. Some will just waste your time, but you need only one good one.

3) Jump through all the hoops with the pictures and everything.

[Los Angeloser]

I've had two interviews in 4 weeks of searching. The most recent was an adult split shift position which wanted 300.000 won withheld as a "safety precaution" from my first two monthly pay checks(600.000 won to be returned at the end of contract).

I questioned this part when I first heard about it/read the contract during my 2nd interview by saying it "bothered me" and was told nothing could be done/non-negotiable. There were other red flags which I didn't mention but that was the one which made no sense. It's an in your face and illegal way(according to labor law) of saying " we don't trust you so we have to hold your $$$ " which of course isn't a good way to enter a contract. A very nice Korean teacher from the school was doing the recruiting but her "Director" would've made my year there miserable I'm sure.

I guess I didn't get the job because I questioned the matter. If you want a job in Korea you better be ready to accept almost anything. There are too many fools out there that accept anything, that is your competition.

[zenbone]

i just had a contract last week for a public middle school that withholds 300,000 for the first THREE months (900,000 total). so it might be the newest trend. As i thought about it I came to realize that is their way to pay or reduce the cost of all the perks like airfare and such. Kinda sucks but what are you going to do. I am in this for the experience not the money... i make over 2x yearly what i will make in Korea.

[laguna]

[ThingsComeAround]

Great post

At first I thought the OP was seeking a job. Bravo for giving advice to the newbs out there

I disagree with the 1 week limit because most recruiters don't have their ducks in a row. The OP is giving an ideal situation where you have competent recruiters & schools that are seriously seeking applicants. I've been ready to sign papers and the recruiter would pull the ol' switcharoo (after holding my docs) claiming or.. feigning innocence

Definitely do your research about the area where you will live, and talk to teachers from the school you will work at. Don't take crap from recruiters (they will lie, lie, lie). Work with what is most comfortable. Don't rush!

[Los Angeloser]

[quote="zenbone"]i just had a contract last week for a public middle school that withholds 300,000 for the first THREE months (900,000 total). so it might be the newest trend. As i thought about it I came to realize that is their way to pay or reduce the cost of all the perks like airfare and such. Kinda sucks but what are you going to do. I am in this for the experience not the money... i make over 2x yearly what i will make in Korea.[/quote

The place I was referring to was a hagwon which offered zero perks(no housing, only allowance) unless you count working a split shift a perk. I know about the public school thing and it bothers me as well, but they are a bit more reliable than the typical hagwon. As I mentioned there were other red flags, but that was the clincher and not getting a split shit position doesn't bother me much.

[Hotwire]

"One American / Korean recruiter."

So not white obviously. Guess I should've wrote Kyopo to make it more clear.

I have done the 300,000 for 1st three months deposit with 3 public schools and have always got it all back.

I wouldn't pay it to a hakwan though no chance in hell.

Los Angeloser is correct in that as from now on and until the economy improves here and worldwide - you better not question too much and be willing to accept anything.

3 of the biggest recruiters in Seoul have pretty much told me that teachers are going to have to be more flexible this year - ie - willing ot put up with more tom tit.

It's an employer's market for the 1st time in a long, long time (perhaps the first time ever in this industry.) Best believe they are going to take full, rapacious advantage.

[Isehtis]

I've been following this pretty diligently for around two months now, had a handful of interviews. A few days ago I got an offer, the contract was a piece of **** but I decided I'd stick it out for the year just because it'd actually get me into Korea and then from there I'd be in a much better position to find a job. Woke up early today to mail my documents, opened my inbox to see that the offer wasn't available after all...

White, straight out of Uni (One of the best), good CV, good photograph

[PRagic]

Amazing. I wrote something up like the original post for incoming teachers back in...uhhhh...1994. Some things don't change too much, and the basics still are apparently the basics. Seems to be way more paper work now than there was then, though.

Good that it's a post. Might save some people a lot of heartache.

[natalia930]

[Chollian]

[quote="Hotwire"]Los Angeloser is correct in that as from now on and until the economy improves here[/quote]

Korea's economy is booming, and according to the IMF forecasts it will grow by 6% this year. It is the market for ESL teachers which is the problem as there seems to be something of an oversupply.

[ippy]

Honestly an excellent post, but it does undermine its own message a bit in one regard.

Most of the jobs that want you in korea are the ones outside the big cities. They also carry a fair few benefits to them. Of course its not for everyone, but if you have a decent capacity for living in semi countryside then it will definitely help in getting a nice solid job with some sweet countryside kids (remember it takes four hours to go from mokpo to seoul, and 3 to go from mokpo to busan, so unless youre on a tiny island, you'll still be near enough to a city for a blow out). Rural isnt really as big a deal as the OP maybe insinuated, its kinda peaceful and a gentle pace of life.

You dont need to be in seoul, and you dont need to count your nearest Emart in subway stops. You can get by quite happily without this. If you're flexible about where you go, believe me, there are plenty of jobs in korea. As far as i understand it, thats pretty much how its always been.