Korean Job Discussion Forums

[nattyos84]

I am going to be applying for the EPIK Spring 2012 intake in October and was just wondering if anyone had any tips on recruiters, best and worst etc? Tried to search for this but it doesn't seem to be working so sorry if this has been asked lots already.

I am applying as a couple with my boyfriend and I know it is very competitive but we want to be placed in the same city. So I would like to apply through a well reputed recruiter. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

[daejeonsv]

Why don't you try applying directly to an education office and skipping EPIK? Busan, Incheon, Seoul and (maybe) Daegu will hire directly from select recruiters. I taught in Incheon one year and was hired by the education office and skipped every training, test, and workshop that EPIK teachers have to take. The education office will offer you an orientation which is nice for noobs, but IMO, try to pass up EPIK if you can.

[itiswhatitis]

Do either you or your boyfried have any teaching experience in Korea or any other related experience/education? EPIK is very competitive and unless you have some education/experience I doubt that you will get a job with them (first come first serve may not always be the case...remember: recruiters want to get as many applicants as possible and as soon as possible)

If you and your boyfriend are extremely lucky you may both get placed SOMEWHERE within Korea with EPIK but (frankly speaking) the only way that you would be both placed in the same city is if it was by coincidence (and an amazing coincidence it would be). In order for a recruiter to to place you and your bf in the same city (or even to attempt it), that recruiter would have to go to EPIK and tell EPIK that they would like to help out their applicants/potential teachers by offering some of them the service of being able to live in the same city as their bf's/gf's. No recruiting business is going to do that for you.

My frank advice: If you want an EPIK job, avoid making special requests (that is a flashing red light to any recruiter to stay away from you).

It seems to me that this may be one of those times in life were you may need to make a trade off: you can try your luck at an EPIK school and hope for an amazing coincidence (no disrespect intended) OR you and your BF can go for a hagwon job instead and be certain to be placed in the same city (possibly even within walking distance from each other)

As for public school jobs VS hagwons jobs...I won't get started but I've done both and I am currently at a hagwon...I would NEVER go back to a public school for anything. But I won't even get started on that.

[Ribena]

[nattyos84]

[nattyos84]

Hi again,

I'm struggling to understand the differences between different ways of applying for EPIK.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of applying direct through the EPIK website compared with going through a recruiter?

Thanks.

[jeremysums]

Seoul is like one of the toughest place to get a job for some reason.

[Jingo besus]

I'm currently using ESLstarter and have no complaints, all emails are responded to within 1 working day and Claire has been very helpful in getting my application processed. If you want to approach a recruiter with your questions I'm sure she'd be happy to help.
http://www.eslstarter.com/south-korea.php

(FAO Mods - this isn't spam and i don't work for them, kthnks)

[enj0i]

If I do a year in TaLk with an associate's degree what would be my odds of getting in with EpiK?

[samcic]

Epik recruiters can be good when they want to.

[katbrady]