Korean Job Discussion Forums

[daisydew]

I just got to Seoul a couple of days ago and am staying with my aunt (i'm a halfie) on an F4 visa. Before I left I had scoured this website looking for jobs with the best vacation but had a hard time finding good ones in Seoul with decent areas (preferably gangnam, I know i'm getting picky). Any suggestions? I would like to find a job within the next 2 weeks or so if possible.

Also, do u get to choose your vacation times? Because that would be ideal. I have a friend's wedding I want to attend in the beginning of July. Or do most of the schools have a similar calendar that they use for vacation? Less working hours is a bonus too, i don't care if i get paid a tiny bit less.

[ThingsComeAround]

What does LOTS of vacation time really mean?

Are you qualified to teach uni?


If not.. teach private classes.

[Big Mac]

Most hogwans give you 10 days of paid vacation each year. That's in addition to national holidays. You don't usually get to choose your time.

If lots of vacation time and low working hours are your only concerns, then perhaps you should be thinking about whether this is the right work for you. If I was an employer and a potential employee made it clear that these were their only concerns I would not want to hire them.

[dyc]

[Radius]

[Harpeau]

You could always do privates with an F-4. Make up your own schedule.

[Ramen]

i'm not telling you where i work.

[Young FRANKenstein]

[marsavalanche]

This thread is hilarious. You're in for a huge wake up call. Please OP, do keep us posted when you land that job with 6 weeks vacation, 3 of which you get to schedule when you want--letting the hagwon know ahead of time optional.

[Ramen]

try WONDERLAND.

[ttompatz]

[calicoe]

Hey ttompatz:

Completely trust and respect your posts. Would you mind elaborating a little bit on the definition of "serious qualifications" these days. I am seeing a lot of variation. I am currently at a university, but definitely want to upgrade the next time around, and of course, upgrade my own skills and credentials in the meantime.

I don't mean to hijack, but this may help the OP plan realistically as well. What is the most realistic "heap" I should be aiming for next time around, and what can I do now to get there?

Me:

B.A. in English
master's in another field (from a university "brand" Koreans love)
3 years prior ESL in another country, one of which was university
1 year public school Korea
2 years (at end of contract) university in Korea

Total (at end of contract) 3 years public school/3 year university

My current university is OK as an entry point, but I feel worked to death, and don't get as much vacation benefit. What can I do or should do next to improve my lot? I have an idea, but I value your feedback as well.

Thanks in advance.

[ttompatz]

It realistically depends on what you want to do and where you want to go.

IF you are tied to Korea then do you want to stay in ESL or change fields?
Do you want to stay teaching at the tertiary level or change?
Are you willing to move into other fields or change countries?

If you want long vacations, good pay, short hours and work at the tertiary level then get your ABD/Ph.D.

If you want decent vacations, decent remuneration package and work at the primary/secondary level teaching get a B.Ed/PGCE/PGDE / DELTA (usually 1 year (3-4 months for a DELTA) post grad).

Learn Korean and leave the ESL field and work on an E7 (specialist) in your chosen field.

I assumed (from the nature of the post) that the OP was seriously under-qualified for work as a teacher and had limited Korean skills so would be unable to move out of the ESL field and into anything else.

.

[Stan Rogers]

I can't help but laugh at some of the people on this board who really believe they deserve to start in a top position. Get real.

It's ok to have a dream, but geez.

[calicoe]