Korean Job Discussion Forums

[greatunknown]

So, I've finished all of my exams and will have my degree in hand on May 22'nd. I've got my passport, I've got a CBC from a few weeks ago (I can get another one if necessary it only takes 2 weeks here). Once marks for the semester come out I'll request some sealed transcript copies. I would like get to Korea early this summer or even sooner if possible. I haven't really spoken to any schools or recruiters yet, but I'm thinking my next step will be to start sending recruiters/schools my resume and photo (I'll be sure to shop around for a good job too)?

Really just looking for advice on how to get over there ASAP. I still have to get my actual degree, then get it notarized and/or apostilled or whatever right? Also I will be needing a skype or telephone interview with Korean Embassy to get my work visa (I live on an island that is over 1000 miles from the closest embassy)

Am I forgetting anything? I'm thinking I'd like to get over there by early July does this sound reasonable?

Thanks for whatever info/tips/advice you can spare!

[Ash812]

[RMNC]

Are you Canadian? If not, you won't need transcripts.

Sometimes they will let you do a phone/Skype interview or waive it if you live too far away.

Remember that you have to get your diploma Apostilled by your Secretary of State for your state/province. And as well, you have to get your FBI CBC apostilled by your federal Dept. of State, they won't accept state-level apostilles on fed-level documents anymore.

Most recruiters won't care or respond to you unless you have all of your documents ready to go. The first question out of their mouths is "Do you have all of your documents apostilled?!" and if not, they'll just tell you to let them know when you do.

What to do when you have all of that stuff in hand is to post on Dave's Resume Board and Worknplay and make yourself seem as great as possible. Since you have your docs ready at that point, the recruiters will swarm to you. You'll get job offers, lots of crappy ones. Find a GOOD job before accepting whatever comes your way. That means posting your contracts in the review thread in this forum so others with more knowledge (me) can look over them for you to make sure you're not getting screwed.

Start thinking about where you want to live. Seoul? Busan? Anywhere? They all have their own positives and negatives. Seoul is fun and big, but the pay is medium and city life can be crazy, expensive and polluted. Busan is nicer and cleaner, but doesn't have as much to do as Seoul and isn't as accessible to foreigners. Most other cities pay you more, but there's less English accessible areas and fewer things to do if you're a foreigner, and it's harder to get things you want, like foodstuffs and foreign products.

The process moves fast once you sign a contract, you're usually in Korea in less than 2 weeks. Be prepared to give all of your stuff away, buy luggage, whatever. Have some cash (at least $300) to get you by if you need it. You could also take this time to do a very short TEFL program to get a pay bump at wherever you get a job.

[greatunknown]

That is excellent information RMNC! Thanks so much!

To answer your question, yes I am Canadian. I guess I need those transcripts.

One question, is there any special way I should prepare my resume? I've got very little experience working with young children although I think I would be good at it and I am sure I would enjoy it. I privately tutored math/chemistry/physics to high school and first year university students, but that was so long ago I don't even remember any of their names!

I'm a 27 year old Canadian with a B.S and work experience that mostly isn't related to teaching, how will this effect my job hunt?

[RMNC]

Doesn't matter, up-play any tutoring or teaching experience you have. I still use my high school volunteer hours from years ago on mine. This is my resume, just with all the info removed. Notice how I shine a particularly good light on places I worked at in the past (even if they're over 5 years ago- something is better than nothing)

http://www.filedropper.com/resumeexample

[sojusucks]

If you are up for an adventure then come here. Most college students end up leaving in a year but you'll probably have a few good stories.

Good luck. Remember not to get mad. You may be taken advantage of but remember that this is a short term gig.

[morrisonhotel]

[giwizzef]

My advice:

Get as much of your paperwork together as you can before you talk with recruiters. I also wanted to come as quickly as I could in order to avoid a lengthy window of unemployment. My experience was that when I told recruiters I was ready to leave ASAP, they took it to heart and matched me up with schools that wanted someone yesterday.

If you have not traveled extensively, are a person who needs your creature comforts, and/or you do not speak Korean, you'll probably be happier working in a larger city.

Consider a hagwon job. If you're wanting to come to Korea at the end of May and not wait it out until August, there will be a lot more hagwon jobs to pick from than public school ones at that time of the year. Yes, I know that the majority of the curmudgeons in this forum adamantly advise against working at hagwons. But I took a hagwon job (because I also came at a sort of "off" time for public school openings) and do not regret it. Is my hagwon perfect? Heck no! It's not without its issues. But I've worked a few jobs in my life, and my experience is that there is no such thing as a "perfect" job. All workplaces have issues and the ones I've encountered at my hagwon, thus far, are typical workplace glitches that you might expect to find in any job at any business.

Mentally prepare yourself. Come prepared to work with children, not all them ones that you will like (same goes for co-workers). Be ready to find yourself in situations in which communication is difficult and very challenging not just because of language barriers but cultural ones as well. Expect extreme culture shock. Leave any type of judgmental tendencies behind when you leave your home country. They won't serve you well here. Expect that there will be some bumps and adjustments, and that some days will be better than others. Bring the right attitude, and you won't regret coming for a minute.

Take much of the negative information you read in this forum with a grain of salt. Before coming to Korea, I was glued to my monitor gleaning for information. I got it, and some of it was actually very valuable (and continues to be). But not all of it. Watch out for the jaded and cynical. What I figured out after I got here is that, lurking between those genuinely interested in helping out, there are a lot of miserable people frequenting this forum and, if they are as grumpy in their everyday lives as they are in this forum, it's no wonder they hate life in Korea. My guess is they'd hate life anywhere with such attitudes.

[greatunknown]

Wow so much great advice and info!

Thanks a lot folks!

I'll keep getting my paperwork together, my goal is still to be in a large Korean City this summer! I'm stoked to A) Start working and B) travel!

Thanks again for the help everyone! Will do my best to take some of it!

[Skippy]

As a Canadian you have to have your Criminal Record Check and University Degree verified by the nearest Korean Consulate (not apostilled which is not available in Canada aka done). The verification can be done over the mail. The new rules say you do not need transcripts BUT you will. Get about 5 to 10 extra sealed transcripts. Every Korean department seems to want a sealed one.

As people say get your paperwork ready. Then get extras if you can. Heck an extra copy of your diploma can be good too. Having another notarized copy of your degree and verified by the consulate can come in really handy. Because all it takes is a screw up or lost paperwork and you might have to wait for weeks to get things done. Also having extras can be really good if you get fired or quit your job and your are all ready with your paperwork to jump to another job (meaning it has not expired yet)

Please be careful with your Criminal Record Check - remember it has to be national aka from the RCMP. A name check is fine (I think), but it has to be from the RCMP. People will say that hey all police checks go through the national database. It does not matter, when dealing with Korean bureaucracy do not expect logic. They will look for RCMP or National in the document. Take "the well it worked for me or my friends" with a big grain of salt.

Good Luck!

[AwesomeA]