Korean Job Discussion Forums

myenglishisno · Joined: 08 Mar 2011 Location: Geumchon

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NohopeSeriously · Posted: Wed Mar 09, 2011 7:30 pm Post subject:

I first started a GEPIK postion when I was 24 (now no longer working for multiple disputes). I thought I was the oldest one compare to all those 22-23 year old NETs.

Speaking of which, the average age of starting your first career in Korea is around 27. It was 26.5 2 years ago.

myenglishisno · Joined: 08 Mar 2011 Location: Geumchon

NohopeSeriously · Posted: Wed Mar 09, 2011 7:42 pm Post subject:

silkhighway · Joined: 24 Oct 2010 Location: Canada

I think a lot of it is in your head or maybe perhaps the way you carry yourself makes you seem older.

The average starting age is definitely higher than 21/22. How many people at the age have both finished college and made the decision to go to Korea? 27 as a median age in Korea seems reasonable to me with the bulk of hagwon teachers in Korea being 24 or 25. My experiences from the hagwon world from many years ago were that people from about 23-32 fit in normally, with people younger or older than that being the exception.

Chet Wautlands · Joined: 11 Oct 2008

I'm 29. I'm starting to feel pretty old here. Hanging out with people my age makes things a lot better. If you feel awkward baby-sitting 24/25 year olds, then find people a bit older to hang out with.

fishy · Joined: 24 Oct 2006

Most of the people I teach with are 38 and up. There's a few in their 50's and two in their 60's too. But it's at a university, though. I guess the question you have to ask is "Am I too old for Korean b*llcr@p?" And then go get yourself a job with minimal b*llcr@p.

Ramen · Joined: 15 Apr 2008

you are old only if you think it. i'm almost 70 years young. Razz

mmstyle · Joined: 17 Apr 2006 Location: wherever

Hahaha. This thread is funny. Your coworkers are so....young.

RangerMcGreggor · Joined: 12 Jan 2011 Location: Somewhere in Korea

I'm 24 and I always turn my head away from my coworkers when drinking, if you get what I mean.

thegadfly · Joined: 01 Feb 2003

28 isn't too old for this career -- in fact, you are almost old enough to be entering your prime. When I was 28 here, I used to recalculate my age into Korean, so I could be 30 -- managers in the 63 building on Youido didn't want to be taught by some young kid, and 30 seemed to be the cutoff point for where folks begin to take you seriously as a teacher....

Quit looking for entry level gigs, and start looking for places where experience and maturity count for something -- you have at least a good decade left where you will be a prime candidate, and probably 20 years before your age will noticeably reduce your opportunities....

minos · Joined: 01 Dec 2010 Location: kOREA

At my SMOE orientation, most of the people were 25+

I'm one of the few teachers who came imediately out of college at age 22. Most folks I know here worked at least one job before coming to korea.

I've never met a 21 yr teacher here....

northway · Joined: 05 Jul 2010

I'm twenty four, I'm younger than all my coworkers, and I still feel like I'm too old for this.

OneWayTraffic · Joined: 14 Mar 2005

jwilks · Joined: 13 Oct 2010

I'm 27 and 25-28 seems to be the age of most of the teachers I'm meeting in Korea. I work at a private elementary and most of my fellow native teachers are about the same age. A few are 30+.