Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Hawkeye Pierce]

I recently dropped by a Public School where I had worked to see one of my former Korean co-teachers. I learned that the present NET is a very young, black female without any previous teaching experience. (So, the racism suggestion which frequently appears in some threads is not supported in this case.) I suspect that the present youth movement is because the schools want cheap, pliable NET's and not due to ageism. However, the public schools clearly don't want to pay for teaching experience.

[PatrickGHBusan]

[Vagabundo]

plenty of "older" teachers working for public schools.

Being 30 plus may actually work to your advantage in some instances.

try a public school, but now you'll have to wait until Feb/March, though they will be hiring for that period shortly.

[Junior]

[stephorama]

My age has definitely hampered my job prospects in Korea. I am 40 years old, credentialed and do not look 40. On my last bday my step-daughter said, "Aren't you too young to be married to my dad?" Though she has been told my age many times she always subtracts ten years for some reason.

I don't think the age thing is about looks or energy at all. I know that the pics I have shared are good. I am in very good shape; hell I don't even color my hair yet! (While many late 20 and 30somethings I know are coloring to cover grays.)

I've been negotiating a contract and don't just acquiesce to the schools desires. Just as I would in the U.S., I expect them to acquiesce to my demands. I know what I am worth, I know what I deserve and I expect to be compensated appropriately. My recruiter and I have talked about it and he has said, most people just sign the contract and come over. (Read - most younger people.)

I'd rather not take a job in Korea than just "go for it" and hope everything works out OK. Someone younger might be more willing to take such a risk. (Current studies of younger brains clearly show that even up to age 25 people engage in much greater risk taking behaviors.)

Korea is clearly taking advantage of young, inexperienced, eager, less-than-seasoned people because it is much easier to manipulate them and get them to just sign and go.

So yeah...

[eslwriter]

If you really want to work in Korea (frankly I don't know why a certified teacher would), perhaps your best move is to come here on a tourist visa. If you have the quals you mentioned, your age on paper won't pass the sniff test.

You see, Koreans don't really - deep down - want qualified foreign teachers. They want malleable people who will fit in. Don't question anything. And certainly they don't want people to pollute the Korea education system with foreign ideas.

These days the number of (sic) qualified applications is high so recruiters have the pick of the litter full of youngins with fresh faces and freshly minted university diplomas.

I would guess a highly experienced pro teacher would find much better pay and satisfaction in other regions that have respectable international schools like Hong Kong. There are a few international school in Seoul; in other parts of Korea, the reputation is sketchy.

[mimi belle]

There seem to be a few older teachers at least on this forum. Maybe they had the advantage of already being in Korea before things got competitive?

It's true the teaching positions are entry level. But if you're changing careers, that's something you'll have to deal with wherever you go. Some people might tell you to try China as it's supposed to be easier to get work there. Or, it might also make sense to stay in your home country and do training there. Maybe evening courses? If you have qualifications, that will make it easier for you eventually wherever you are.

If you are still interested in korea, and you're not having luck with recruiters, you can either try more recruiters or apply to one of the government programs. One of the main ones is called EPIK. I dont know if they have an age limit but I dont think they do. They are currently hiring for positions starting in the Spring.

http://www.epik.go.kr/
http://cge.ken.go.kr/eng/index.asp
(This one's for GEPIK. Different region.)

The application involves a lot of paperwork, and I have no idea if you'll get in. But if you're not having luck with recruiters, maybe something to try? If you need more info about these, then look through the forum.

[southernman]

I'm also older, you've got to use what you have to your advantage.

Forget about Hagwons, the hours suck anyway in the majority of the jobs

Go the Public School way.

On you Intro letter, this is obvious, but just be as positive as. Among other things, state that as a teaching professional you've undergone CBC's for the last 20 old years (they seemed to like when I mentioned i'd been undergoing CBC's for over a decade and that I totally supported the need for doing so). You say you scrub up ok in your photo, that is also a bonus.

Maybe it's the case for the majority of older teachers but when I applied for EPIK last year they tried on several ocassions to talk me into going to Seoul Because of my qualifications, experience and my letter of Introduction. I've got quite a few letters after my name, you probably have to, use them all. The more qualifications you have the more impressed they are, EPIK anyway

[Vagabundo]

[PatrickGHBusan]

[Hawkeye Pierce]

[PatrickGHBusan]

Hawkeye, I do hope you are not saying I am a recruiter.

Rest assured, I am NOT a recruiter and in fact I never have been a recruiter.

However, feel free to insunate this if it floats your boat.

[oldfatfarang]

[stephorama]

[Hawkeye Pierce]

Patty, me old son,

Just think of how much money you could make if you were, since, as you wrote, being a NET is an entry level job. So, it is just like being the french fry man at McDonald's. All that is required is any University degree and being a native Englishee speaker.

There is tremendous profit to be made recruiting your friends and family to come to the Land of the Morning Kimchi!

Don't miss out on this golden opportunity!