Korean Job Discussion Forums

[jd99gst]

Unfortunately, it does make sense financially. If it increases the amount of people they put through by any percentage, it was a financial gain.

This doesn't make it right, but they all do this for a reason - to increase profits.

The only point at which it doesn't make sense is if they lose their rights as a preferred recruiter, which just isn't going to happen as the recruiter will just blame the foreign applicant.

[WillTurnerinVanCity]

[KR1]

[quote="WillTurnerinVanCity"][quote="young_clinton"][quote="gogoma"]
I'm 99% sure it was because you stated you have herpes. I'm not trying to be rude in any way but I heard a lot of recruiters even told applicants not to put down health problems no matter how minor (allergies, high blood pressure, etc.) Also at EPIK's orientation, they test specifically for STD, TB, etc. :/ good luck on your next try![/quote]
Don't tell them anything period! Why would you?[/quote]

If you elect to not disclose health information prior to your arrival, and it is discovered through the medical check - if EPIK/Korean Immigration decide it is significant enough, they may send you home at your own cost.

It has been known to happen, and the teachers had to shoulder the financial burden.[/quote]

This is what I heard too, that is why I disclosed that information on my Epik application. I heard that Epik was extreemely thorough on health evals so I didnt want to lie and end up them finding out and sending me home. I would rather try a different company in korea or even a different country to teach english in.

It sucks because I am the perfect applicant to teach English overseas (as I know many of us are) and I really want to go soo bad! I will start looking for legitamate recruiting companies, again any specific recruiting companies or recruiters known to hire and has good overseas benefits like free housing, good pay, health insurance, possibly free airfair would be appreciated. Thanks.

[pikadoopoo]

Ah, so you didn't even get a chance to get interviewed...

Good luck though! Are you interested in GEPIK as well?

[jyutyen]

The replies here have been really helpful for future applications. Ever since I received the "sorry, better luck next time" e-mail, I've just been wondering why. But enough with the emo-ness.

I was just wondering if anyone else had sent in confidential reference letters via one's university career center only to find out after the deadline that EPIK did not receive the scanned letters.

In retrospect, I realize that sending in confidential letters might have been overkill, but has anyone else had similar difficulties sending in applications separately from reference letters? Despite my reply to EPIK stating the subject and submission time of the university e-mail, my efforts in asking them to check their full inbox have been fruitless. Haha, dang.

Anyway, thanks for any comments/advice! And good luck with other ESL jobs, everyone!

[jyutyen]

[minos]

List nothing.....they'll throw away your app for having a broken arm.

[The Great Toad]

KR1 let me tell you from years of living in Korea and understanding their outlook on less than ideal persons from their view. You will NEVER get a job in Korea with the aliment you said. Likewise a homosexual couple will NEVER get a teaching job in Korea either if they clearly state that and stress they want to live together.

I am just speaking about how a Korean hirer would see it - obviously in Canada or Britain that is not the case.

The only possible way I could see you getting a job in Korea is with a desperate Academy who needs a Warm Western Body Now. And you happen to walk into their door and agree to work for 2.1 mil a month. But, expecting any employer in Korea to accept you out of the country with your condition will NOT happen. You may wish I was just being cynical about this but you need to understand Korea has a conservative culture like that of the USA in the 1950s.

I am not going to advise you to lie on your contract - however I can not see you getting a job in Korea from afar. I wold say your best bet is to go to China and apply in person there. But, I would doubt they would hire you if you named your problem.

Pardon me if I am wrong I would be fascinated if there are some openly homosexual teachers out there or teachers with chronic conditions like you described. But think of a small town in the 1950s America Bible Belt and try to imagine what would happen a person like the above applied for a job to teach - they would never get it...

On the other hand I am surprised that there are some male/female unmarried couples now getting hired together with a shared living habitation. So maybe Korea is slowly joining the decadent free loving post-hippie West?

[Ribena]

I am amazed by the fact that people who have failed to get a job they want blame everything but themselves for their rejection. They come on her with a pre-determined idea of why they were rejected and cojole people into confirming this instead of looking for advice on how they could improve their application for next time. Then again maybe that's just me and the world is out to get people.

[KR1]

[quote="Ribena"]I am amazed by the fact that people who have failed to get a job they want blame everything but themselves for their rejection. They come on her with a pre-determined idea of why they were rejected and cojole people into confirming this instead of looking for advice on how they could improve their application for next time. Then again maybe that's just me and the world is out to get people.[/quote]

You misunderstand the point of a forum. This is a grown up conversation where people learn from those who are, have been, or are desiring positions teaching abroad. Obviously, I understand the consequences of my personal actions. From my research on Teaching in Korea I do understand that they think most westerners are "sluts". That is not my case. However, I am not here to defend that as much as I am attempting to learn how to get a good teaching job somewhere overseas whether that be in Korea or somewhere else. I am an excellent person, professional, well liked, intelligent, healthy, great teacher who has a passion to go overseas and teach. I will find a position and get hired, I am on this forum to learn from others. I am getting in contact with recruiters to go over my application per some advice I received at the beginning of this forum.

[Ribena]

[Draz]

They don't test for herpes, probably because half the people in the world have it, and even more than that would test positive because of asymptomatic herpes. They would be sending way too many people home. That doesn't mean it's no biggie and you should put it on your self health check, though.

[Modernist]

Not to distract from the responsibility stoking, but in regards to health checks/issues:

It is NOT the case that you have to go through some horribly invasive health screen to get a PS job in Korea. IF you go directly through EPIK, then yes you will get a super-thorough check and you will have to pay at least 60K for it.

But some of the Provincial programs are very simple with their checks. They use the national EPIK form that you fill out, but the check itself is very easy. Mine was a)urine test, b)eye exam, c)chest X-ray, d)glucose test, e)blood pressure. That's it. NO blood test. And my school paid for it too. So herpes, if I had it, would NOT have DQed me for my job, because they would never know.

OP, keep looking. Try looking at the smaller programs, if you can get past the Seoul/Busan obsession on these boards. Skip EPIK and GEPIK. You can find good positions, good money, easy life, good access to things if you put some time into it, stay flexible and don't get too discouraged.

[KR1]

[quote="Modernist"]Not to distract from the responsibility stoking, but in regards to health checks/issues:

It is NOT the case that you have to go through some horribly invasive health screen to get a PS job in Korea. IF you go directly through EPIK, then yes you will get a super-thorough check and you will have to pay at least 60K for it.

But some of the Provincial programs are very simple with their checks. They use the national EPIK form that you fill out, but the check itself is very easy. Mine was a)urine test, b)eye exam, c)chest X-ray, d)glucose test, e)blood pressure. That's it. NO blood test. And my school paid for it too. So herpes, if I had it, would NOT have DQed me for my job, because they would never know.

OP, keep looking. Try looking at the smaller programs, if you can get past the Seoul/Busan obsession on these boards. Skip EPIK and GEPIK. You can find good positions, good money, easy life, good access to things if you put some time into it, stay flexible and don't get too discouraged.

[/quote]

I tried to Personal message you but I have to have 25 posts before I can PM anyone. What exactly do you mean by Provincial Programs? Do you mean go through a different recruiting agency other than Epik? I have applied with another recruiting co. the other day and they use the same Epik application but they don't go through epik. Hope thats what you mean because they look like a reputable co. Thanks for the encouragement and info.

[NYC_Gal 2.0]

Try again and don't post it on your medical form. There are two forms of herpes and both are very closely related. Nealy all of my students have the oral kind because of the shared cup and food culture.

Almost all hospitals will draw your blood, but they check for:
1. blood type
2. liver function
3. chilesterol
4 HIV

Urine is for drugs and kidney function.

The rest is just blood pressure, vision, possibly hearing, weight, and height. That's it. Don't fret.