Korean Job Discussion Forums

[inthewild]

Hello,
I've done searches and looked through the FAQs but would appreciate your help. I could not find what I was looking for.

Does anyone have a link to a post/FAQ about the best way to get a contract without being in Korea in the first place?

For example, I've read up on the Big 4 in Japan and they tend to have websites with offices in North American and recruiting schedules for the whole United States.

I am guessing I will need to fly to Korea first to get employed but the security of having a job before I go over would be nice.

I appreciate your time.
Nate

[Derrek]

I poked around looking on the net for a few months, then eventually lined up some interviews and flew down here on my own dime and looked at the schools. I found one, left, then came back to start work there about 3 months later.

The scary thing is not knowing what the school is like, or even what life is like here without seeing it first. And being in Korea definately opens doors to some of the "better" jobs.

If I had not come here to see it first, then I would have likely took a job with a worse place, and not seen what my apartment was before I got here.

Getting a job in Korea is like playing Russian Roulette. You can't hardly guarentee you'll get a good situation, but you can take a few bullets out of some of the chambers by being careful and following simple rules:

1. ALWAYS talk to at least 1 teacher (preferrably 2) before you accept a job. Phone is best.

2. ALWAYS have someone in Korea who is more knowledgable look over the contract. Post it on here and get some responses about what looks good and what doesn't.

3. Try to get the director to send digital photos of the school and housing, if possible.

4. ALWAYS have working days and hours listed in the contract. Find out if one hour of teaching is 40 minutes, or 50 minutes, or 1 hour.

5. Don't be afraid to ask questions like, "How long have you been in business?"
"How many foreign teachers have you had/do you have?"
"Have you ever had to fire a foreign teacher? Why?" (once had a school tell me they fired a guy because he didn't put the toys back -- a pretty good indication that they're either picky or lying.)

There are more others can add... I've got to run.

[kylehawkins2000]

No, you do not need to fly to Korea first to get employed.

Use a website to look for job postings and send in your applications via email. Most ESL teachers in Korea are hired this way.

Go to the "Korean Jobs" section of this website and you'll find numerous job postings every day. These schools do not generally require you to be in Korea unless they specifically state as much. Schools will often hold a basic 'interview' over the phone.

Sometimes these job interviews are not much more than "Hello, how are you? You're a foreigner? You have a degree? You are good looking? You have a Canadian/American passport? I want to hire you."

[tokki]

Look at this site, and several others for job offers, send out a whole bunch of applications and you will get an offer within a week. Several offers probably. Thats how most people got their first job here.

[some waygug-in]

Getting any old job is easy, getting a job that's worth having.......... well, I'm still working on that one.
Cheers

Do check the name of the school against the blacklists, greylists, and the Job information Journal. I know it seems like a lot to sort through, but it's well worth it. It can mean the difference between getting a reasonable job, or getting conned into a year of slavery.

Be aware of what you're getting into.

good luck

[jazblanc77]

blacklists mean shyte... best thing you can do to protect yourself is to always talk to a FORMER foreign teacher. Talking to someone who works there now is useless... they will lie through their teeth like I have so many time because I didn't want difficulties with my employer.

Ask about:

1.) the teaching schedule - will you do split shifts or block work, will you work Saturdays, and what is considered a teaching hour (30 hours is okay if each teaching hour is only 40-50 mins + a break of 10-20 mins - it works out to a lot more if breaks aren't included in a teaching hour)

2.)What is te curriculum?

3.)Are foreign teachers treated fairly?

4.) Does the director honour the terms of the contract? VERY IMPORTANT

5.) How long has the school been open? (first timers might want to avoid new schools as they have no organisational materials or policies nor any curriculum. They also have no idea how to deal with foreigners.

6.) Will you get paid on time?

7.) Why that teacher left working there.

8.) How many teachers work there?

9.) Does the director speak English?


If I am forgettin something, people should add more in another post. These are some of the questions I would ask anyways after going through several contracts

[The Man known as The Man]

YOu could just hold your breath and take the first job offered-it workded for Homer