Korean Job Discussion Forums

reversengineer · Joined: 15 Aug 2011 Location: Texas

So last Thursday I was informed by my recruiter (Gone2Korea) that I was placed on the waiting list and should wait 1 to 2 weeks to hear back about receiving a contract from EPIK. Has anybody else had an experience with being put on the wait list? Here's what I'm wondering:

1. What are the actual chances of getting a contract for this school year? And would that contract be issued in a timely fashion, or sometime around November?

2. Is there a way I can see my position on this waitlist? Knowing so could help me to make a better informed decision.

3. Would I be in a better situation to just start over and work for a hagwon? Starting an application to work in the private sector seems pointless since I would have to start over on visa documentation -- including the FBI Criminal Records check -- since EPIK will be keeping everything that I sent.

Thanks for the insight, your replies and comments are appreciated.

itiswhatitis · Joined: 08 Aug 2011

I wish you all the best.

You are a perfect example of why I always tell people to avoid public school jobs and to go for hagwon jobs instead.

Public schools will not be hiring again until February and if you are on a waiting list now then I highly doubt that you will get a position.

matthews_world · Joined: 15 Feb 2003

There will be those that don't show, current teachers who changed their mind about renewing, other schools opening up and October jobs so you'll get placed.

reversengineer · Joined: 15 Aug 2011 Location: Texas

matthews_world, you seem pretty certain of this. I sure hope you're right. I gave some serious thought to getting a second round of visa documents done, but I really just don't want to incur the expenses if I don't have to. Also, that FBI check takes nearly forever. Until then, I have registered to substitute teach at a local school district.

Anybody else waiting to hear back from EPIK or a recruiter?

matthews_world · Joined: 15 Feb 2003

Seeing as you don't have your documents in tow puts you at the bottom of their list.

mollayo · Joined: 11 Oct 2010 Location: At the my house

I think the OP meant that he doesn't have a second set of documents (for backup in case he decides to go the hogwan route).

reversengineer · Joined: 15 Aug 2011 Location: Texas

That's correct -- I don't have a backup set of documents for applying to a private school recruiter.

Modernist · Joined: 23 Mar 2011 Location: The 90s

Just DON'T listen to this troll/crank itiswhatitis. Sucks to be on a waitlist but I would bet it comes through. 2 weeks won't make or break much when looking to work abroad. If they keep jerking you around, then start to look elsewhere, but don't give up and go hagwon unless you feel it is a better fit for your your background.

picasso77 · Joined: 06 Jun 2011

Jotun_Symph · Joined: 21 Aug 2011

I wasn't aware that EPIK was hiring at all right now, I thought applications were being accepted for positions starting in Spring 2012.

About the other question, if EPIK has your documents, and doesn't hire you, then they should send them back to the recruiter. It's not much trouble for them to do this and I think it's a pretty common protocol. I wouldn't think they would be so callous as to hold your documents.

WadRUG'naDoo · Joined: 15 Jun 2010 Location: Shanghai

A waitlist for a teaching job in Korea. God. I'd be like "Please shoot me now."

cincynate · Joined: 07 Jul 2009 Location: Jeju-do, South Korea

Go and get new documents and apply for a hakwon job now. Epik is going to jerk you around for the entirety of your contract. You mean nothing to them. However, when you work at a hakwon, you are their bread and butter.. so they know how much they need you. As long as you let them know you know the same thing, you're on the gravy train. Stay out of the Korean Government Bureaucracy. It's massive and pointless.

OHIO · Joined: 16 Aug 2011 Location: Korea

Forget Korea, there are plenty of jobs in other places. Korea is increasingly more and more becoming a very crappy place to work and live. I thank God I'm not Korean and stuck in this hellhole the rest of my life. Just a few more months and I'm free! Laughing

cincynate · Joined: 07 Jul 2009 Location: Jeju-do, South Korea

OHIO.. very true. Things have changed drasticly since I first arrived here. This was a great place to work and live. I think the Koreans are getting sick of us or something. Once this contract finished.. time to move on. Korea is not the paradise it used to be.

WadRUG'naDoo · Joined: 15 Jun 2010 Location: Shanghai

Very true. I'd never go back to Korea. Not with the gig I've got in Shanghai. And I work weekends!