Korean Job Discussion Forums

[stejskalova]

I got the jist form another thread that we all shouldn��t go through recruiters, and that they aren��t exactly necessary to the relocation process, ect�� ect.... But for the few months my girlfriend and I have been searching for positions in Korea, it seems that the recruiters are the only ones who promptly get back to us.

Anyway, after we were offered a position in Seoul last night, I told the recruiter (over the phone) that we would need at least a few days to look over the contract and decide. Almost immediately after, he wrote an email to my girlfriend saying that the school wouldn��t wait for our decision and that they would need an answer by today.

Is there some sort of running recruiter joke in Korea to see who can hire the most ignorant wide-eyed teachers the fastest? The email he sent to my girlfriend was filled with pressure and sales tactics to make us move before this belittling offer disappears:

��There are plenty of other teachers that want this position, but the school chose you, even though they don��t usually take couples��

What would be the motivation behind this other than to make us feel that the school is ready to take any warm English speaking body in from the rain? I really enjoyed the interview I had with the school, but all this ��Lets make a Deal�� nonsense taints it, and makes me feel as though I can��t trust my own judgment. Could this pressure actually be coming from the school, or is it just solely conceived by the recruiter?

Another thing that bugs me is that the recruiter doesn��t want to get us references (emails, numbers, anything of teachers there) from the school. He claims ��it��s wasting the schools time�� and the fact that I had a 10 minute conversation/interview with one teachers there is plenty to convince me to sign a year-long-microsoft-word-document-with-blank-spaces-all-over-it contract.

Should I contact the school and send a copy of this ridiculous email?

I hope this isn��t the norm. Any help or resources that aren��t as slimy as recruiters would be great, thanks!

Jammed Newbie

P.S. What is with this new idea of making teachers pay back a recruiters fee��s if they don��t fulfill at least 6 months of a year long contract? In a previous contract we looked at, I had the school remove it, and they did, but rather hesitantly. Annoying, and in my opinion, not the responsibility of the teacher.

[Son Deureo!]

Your instincts are good. While the hogwons may be in a rush to get someone over in a hurry because of their lousy planning, that doesn't mean you need to be in a rush to take the first job you're offered. Especially if they refuse to give you contact information from a previous teacher.

There are plenty of jobs out there.

Having said that, even the best schools seem to make their hiring decisions on a last minute basis, so if you see a school you do like, you may need to snap the job up in a hurry, because they probably are looking for the first warm body they can find.

[crazylemongirl]

The problem is of course that the recuriter isn't working for you they are working for the school. The quicker they can get you placed the quicker they will get their fee.

Also korean schools are pretty quick on their hiring practice. In most cases an interview means 'we want to hire.' Well at least in my experience.

[Hope]

I'm going through the same process with recuiters. They certainly don't give you much of chance to make a well thought-out decision. Which recruiter would not give you the names and numbers of the native teachers at the institute?

[Gord]

[~PRC~]

[crazylemongirl]

[rapier]

I actually like this side to Korea here... you can fly into Korea with 10 won to your name after having blown wverything on a great holiday backpacking, and within days you have a new job, appartment, and a sub/advance. All very quick and on demand. Suits my nature.

Good/bad schools? its pot luck... just make the best of what you get.

[kangnamdragon]

Sometimes recruiters pressure you because they think you may have other job offers.

[Gord]

[shawner88]

Hahah. I fell for that the first time years ago, so please learn from my mistake.

Read this excerpt from my Geoje-do story on my website. This takes place just an hour after hanging up with the recruiter. I checked my e-mail.


The last one was from a new school on a small island to the south called Geoje-do. With this one was a special note from the director himself, Mr. Kim. He called me an "outstanding teacher" and said he would like me to teach at his school "without further delay." He would have Mr. Wong send me a plane ticket shortly, provided I answered yes immediately. Otherwise, he said, he would have to choose another of "many highfully-qualify" and "expertly teachers" who have been "hoping and wanting patiently" for a chance to teach there. The end of the e-mail from Mr. Wong read: "Mr. Shane, these jobs very urgent. Many teachers want these jobs. You have to be like race car now. Reply with other documents and job you want APSA! Then school send you contract. You bring that and original diploma to Korea. So easy. When you reply, next is watch mailbox for plane ticket."

[~PRC~]

Gord...

My name is Natalee, I am not hiding behind a screen name. If I was asked if it was ok to give out my phone number to a teacher wanting to contact me in relation to finding out about the school I was working at, I would have no problem with it. No-one would want to work at my current school... and if any positions become available at my new school... you can call me for the details... I'll add my number to the job advertisement... and I'll PM you straight away with the link...

[Toby]

Schools want you to refund the recruiters fees as they are usually not cheap and it just means they are covering themselves a bit financially if you quit early. It is wrong for them to do that, but it is not unusual.

[some waygug-in]

I too would gladly share any info on a school. I would appreciate if the school asked me first, but I sure wouldn't have a problem with telling a prospective employee what's what.

As far as getting in trouble for giving a bad report.... I've gone through that, the next time the school didn't give out my email and they just hired a guy directly.

As for the Wal-Mart comparison, no I probably wouldn't phone all the cashiers to ask about their job, but I might go and talk to one or two personally.
How many jobs have you ever applied for where you didn't ask any questions about the conditions?

Usually, for most of the jobs I was applying for in Canada, I had at least some idea what the job was about, and what was expected of me. But even after being in Korea for 2 years, you still never know what to expect.
Ask all the questions you want, don't listen to Gord. (unless he will be your new boss )
If a recruiter won't give you time, tell them to stuff it. Maybe they will start to learn.

Don't rush, you'll be glad that you didn't.

[Gord]