Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Los Angeloser]

[dongjak]

Nope. I am the only person she knows who works at a University and she didn't apply to mine. I also got my job without any contacts or networking.

Every job that granted her an interview, asked her to write a teaching philosophy.

You can look for all the loopholes you want: ohh, she got the job because she is a woman, she got it because she is blond, she got is because it is a [Mod Edit] job, she got it because she is black, she got it because she has a car, she got it because she has knows someone, she got is because she has braids in her, etc etc etc. But no, she got it because she followed the application instructions exactly and sent in an amazing teaching philosophy and then did a great interview.

Just don't be a total [Mod Edit] and you will get at least a couple of interviews. When you do get an interview be prepared to answer on the spot grammar questions.

[dongjak]

[Los Angeloser]

[gay in korea]

Come on, ladies, let's keep this clean!

As for the actual discussion/fight, trying to attribute 'reason' into some korean hiring practices is a waste of time. I once worked at a university where the hiring policy for the female professors seemed to be they had to be a minimum of 80-100 pounds over weight. When one would leave, they would just hire another 'big gurl' to replace her. So skinny women probably didn't even have a shot.

In short, rather than fighting about whether this woman was hired for her personality, skin colo(u)r, etc, just let it be.[/url]

[earthquakez]

[quote="dongjak"
That said, my best friend has a BA and four years teaching experience at the elementary level and one year teaching at YBM. She applied to 5 universities in Seoul, got 3 interviews but only went on one since they offered her the job the day after the interview. I am not saying this to be nasty but maybe you are presenting yourself in the wrong way? If someone with a BA and one year experience teaching adults (no prior university experience) is getting job interviews at Universities in Seoul, what is wrong with your application package?[/quote]

Of course you're not being nasty, I understand. I am a Brit, minimal accent (Koreans can't work out what my home country is when I open my mouth and I've had Miguk saram constantly from them) tall, presentable looking, always dress up for work although I don't overdo it, have lengthy experience in Japan, Taiwan, and other English oriented employmen in the UK.

I have some kiddie employment experience but most of my work was teaching young adults and adults in jobs that to be honest are not usual in the employment history of many who work in Korea. No, there are no grammatical errors in my application and I doubt I'd have any problems in any interview doing impromptu demo lessons, answering grammar questions or writing an essay on the spot if that was required.

I never left an interview in Japan without finding out soon after I'd go the job. Same in Taiwan. While Japan is becoming the same sorry kind of place Korea is with too many people who would never have thought of teaching English if their home countries' economies hadn't been going down the dumper, you still get an openness to real life and work experience there that I have not found to be the rule in Korea.

When I worked in Japan it was obvious to me that employers did not feel threatened by applicants with real life employment and the obvious skills that made them stand out among people who did not have much variety in their working lives even if they had on paper credentials.

Japan might be going more that way now but every high end job I got in Japan had selectors and interviewers who understood that if your cv has actual experience as opposed to qualifications then you're the better choice. I didn't have my Celta when in Japan yet employers that many people would love to work for but can't understood that I had demonstrated what I could do by reading my cv.

Some Korean employers definitely feel threatened by the same especially as they see what somebody has achieved without on paper qualifications.

I think I haven't been lucky with the universities I applied to in Korea - having more qualifications (2 degrees and a CELTA) and employment history in the fields required than your friend and not getting interviews shows that. I think my work history is far better than having an extra degree and a CELTA.

Good luck to her for getting open minded application selectors and interviewers. If she has only a BA then there was certainly some factor that got her an interview when the rest of us will not be considered if an MA is specified in the criteria UNLESS we know people at that university. I'm not saying this cynically - I think they know she is connected to you or you did have some part in it. Fair enough if you don't want to say it on here.

[earthquakez]

Dongjak - Did your friend have to show all academic transcripts either before the interview, at the interview or after she'd been notified that she has the job?

Another general point - I'm starting to wonder if at universities where foreigners play some role in the selection process, one or two of them don't want the applicants to be too experienced as their cvs and teaching ability could outshine theirs.....

[gay in korea]

[dongjak]

Los Angeloser: I am not saying this stuff to start a fight. I don't work at a unigwon or a crap university. I work at a normal university in Seoul, as does my friend. I am not sure why you feel the need to put down me and my friend and make excuses to why we were hired over others.

Earthquakez: Are you currently in Korea? I have seen some advertisements recently looking for BA/CELTA holders. I don't work at the same University as my friend, I had no part in her getting the job. My friend had to send in copies of her transcripts when she applied for the jobs. She knows she only has a BA so she specifically applied for jobs that had a lengthy application process (transcripts, posting it, teaching philosophies, teaching activities etc). Honestly, she is a very enthusiastic and vibrant person. She makes an amazing first impression and people who meet her automatically want to be her friend. I knew that if she were to get an interview she would get the job.

[carleverson]

[languistic]

[Kwangjuchicken]

[earthquakez]

Dongjak - I've always applied for Korean uni jobs within Korea. Thanks for the reply. Interesting about the difference between posting an application and emailing it. I don't like the email requirement for uni jobs where it exists because it is restrictive although I can understand how the selectors don't want to be showered with all manner of material that is better kept for giving in an interview.

Linguistic - you're a rather sad character if your waste of space is deemed by you to be worthy of posting. This thread was relevant til you came in. Why don't you go and hunt up superNET, I am sure you two will get on famously if you haven't already met.

[Bowden_PSM]

[quote="Junior"]

[enchoo]

The first uni job is most likely a unigwon, but it will open your door to better gigs (not just unis). There will be a handful that will operate as a "quasi" hagwon using a university name with a "teach that foreigner a lesson" director so just watch out and use eslcafe and other esl website reviews to check the school's history and reputation out.

Also some of you can shoot for a PhD while teaching in the unis if there is such a program. You can continue to develop yourself and share professional teaching ideas and updated strategies with your western and Korean colleagues within a university setting. You can appreciate the university spirit and participate in their clubs and sports events. You basically relive your past life as a carefree university student and get paid well doing it!!!

The uni positions are definitely the new BOMB.