Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Zanniati]

I'm 22, American, male, I have an associates in social science and a bachelors in economics with no teaching experience. My paperwork is done. I have my CBC, and everything has been stamped by everyone that owns a stamp. I have been going through a recruiter for a little while now.

My recruiter has been looking for jobs for me since I got my CBC which was about 2 weeks ago. He has only sent me 2 jobs and said that I'm not a competitive candidate and the market is terrible so I should just take one of them. One of them I'm not really interested in at all, the other I might be but I'm not sure if I should try to hold out for something better.

I have a job in the states at the moment so I'm not in a rush but I'm afraid the job market will be worse in June when all the seniors graduate from college.

1. Am I non-competitive and does the job market suck that bad?
2. Will the job market get worse when everyone graduates?
3. Am I better off holding out for a better job or should I just take one and go?

The job that I have an interview for tonight is in Mokpo, which has been really hard to get information on through forums. Has anyone worked there and how is it? It's with an ECC chain which again, is hard to get info on. Anyone have info on that? Is 9.5 hours a day (10-7.30 or I could do 10-6 but I think the kindies are the longer hours which I want to do) and 4 hours on Saturdays too much? They say it's 100 teaching hours a week. Pay is 2.3m.

Some people have suggested that I go the EPIK/GEPIK route. I've read that you go wherever they send you with no real choice on your part, is this true? I've also read they don't really hire until August, also true? Lastly, if I got in touch with someone to do EPIK/GEPIK today, how early could I expect to get a job?

Thanks for reading and for any advice you can offer, I know it's long, I just wanted to get it all out in one thread.

[HANGRY]

I'm curious about some of these questions too, being a first timer. From reading these forums, the one piece of advice that I've gleaned is to never trust a recruiter, and to take a good long look at the contract before you sign anything.

One question I have is that if one person wants to get a position in Gyeonggi-do (which supposedly mostly hires in June), should they still go ahead and fill out an EPIK application now, and just hold out until the GEPIK positions come available?

Another question I had is that if I see a GEPIK public school position advertised by one recruiter, and I ask them about it and send them a resume, am I automatically locked into that recruiter for any other GEPIK positions? I know that supposedly if GEPIK receives two applications from two different recruiters your disqualified, but how strict is this?

Sorry to hijack the thread with my own questions :p

[ttompatz]

You are as competitive as anyone else in the market. There are about 20,000 (out of 30,000 E2) candidates JUST LIKE YOU that come over here EVERY YEAR.

CHANGE RECRUITERS>

By going exclusively with one recruiter you severely limit your chances of finding a decent job.

Search with 1 recruiter and you have access to perhaps 20-50 potential employers over the space of a year.

Use 20 recruiters and that number jumps up into the many hundreds or potentially over 1000 jobs, even if the employer himself doesn't speak English (lots of hagwan jobs, MOST private placement PS jobs and virtually ALL private K-12 jobs fall into this category).

The problem lies in the fact that most people do NOT understand the role of the recruiter.

They are an introduction to a potential employer that you yourself would not otherwise be able to find. Then, if they are any good at their job, they guide you through the placement and assist with the paperwork necessary to get you as far as the employer.

They are NOT your friend.
They do NOT work for you (they are paid for and work for the employer).

They are like a used car salesman.
You walk onto their car-lot (website), peruse the cars (available jobs), if you see one you like you inquire about it.

After you listen to the sales pitch you let YOUR mechanic have a look at it (due diligence checking out the school).

If it is all good then you make the offer (accept the contract) and complete the sale (begin the paperwork for your visa application).

A good salesman will ensure that the paperwork is in order to make the sale and allow you to register the car. (A good recruiter will make sure your paperwork is in order and help get you through the paperwork to get your visa.)

I have no problem with using a recruiter or telling anyone else to use one (or more the case, many). They are your best option for fining the BEST fit when it comes to a job in Korea (or most of Asia for that matter).

.

[shostahoosier]

Ttompatz lecture on recruiters should be a sticky!

OP, dont let a recruiter push you into a position you're unsure of. If you're willing to go the hagwon route, you can get something in Seoul or Busan if you do a little more digging.

Dont feel confined to Mokpo with all the Korean mafia.

[Zanniati]

I've heard that using multiple recruiters can be harmful because you will get turned down by any school that gets your resume twice, is this not a risk?

[Chris.Quigley]

Given that each school is likely only to use a single recruiter, you shouldn't have a problem with them getting multiple resumes.

In the rare chance that it happens and one of your recruiters drops you... they might send you an angry email...OH NO! But who cares! They don't care about you! Just move on to other recruiters.

There is nothing unethical about using multiple recruiters. The recruiter isn't on your side. They are being paid by the school to find a teacher.

Do not allow a recruiter to pressure you into a job.

[Zanniati]

This may be a silly question but where should I look for other recruiters? I actually found this one through a friend who got his name from another friend.

[RMNC]

If you post your info on Dave's and WorknPlay you should get at least 10 trying to contact you.

[Zanniati]

[creeper1]

GEPIK are great to work for and the province is close to Seoul and quite a few decent waygookin work here but I am left with a negative vibe about the future with GEPIK.

They are not renewing TEFLers or starting people outside of March and August. There is a big chunk of people getting let go (effectively) because of this. Fewer places and more grads (unable to find work because of a slow western economy) chasing what positions remain..

As a first timer I'd go with a reputable hagwon or if you must go PS then EPIK could be for you.

Really I think hagwons with their smaller class sizes ease a newbie in better than a PS which is mostly getting shoved in at the deep end with 40 kids plus at times.

No-one speaks much about this but really hagwons will teach you class management and lesson planning skills.

If you like the job then you can move onto PS.