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mysterious700
Joined: 10 Mar 2006
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 Posted: Sat Sep 10, 2011 6:22 am Post subject: |
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| CPJ wrote: |
It all depends on who you are.
If you're younger, female, attractive, good education then you'll get tons of offers.
If you're older, male, unattractive, then you probably won't get many replies. |
What about older, male, and attractive? (Still under 40, but no young spring chicken.) Kids always seemed to like me when I taught before. Wow! Things have really changed over there. What will happen to these fussy Koreans if things ever flip back? Hope their entitled a$$ gets the boot it deserves. Let's see. |
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Weigookin74
Joined: 26 Oct 2009
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| Posted: Sat Sep 10, 2011 6:37 am Post subject: |
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| mysterious700 wrote: |
| CPJ wrote: |
It all depends on who you are.
If you're younger, female, attractive, good education then you'll get tons of offers.
If you're older, male, unattractive, then you probably won't get many replies. |
What about older, male, and attractive? (Still under 40, but no young spring chicken.) Kids always seemed to like me when I taught before. Wow! Things have really changed over there. What will happen to these fussy Koreans if things ever flip back? Hope their entitled a$$ gets the boot it deserves. Let's see. |
Similar situation, except I had enough sense not to let go of my job. Many people go home to take a break and then come back to teach at another school. I knew a guy who did this in 2010. He wanted to take 2 months off but ended up not being able to get back here until 5 months later. Might be worse now due to the recession dragging on and GEPIK cutting teachers flooding the market even more. I wanted to take a break this year, but I didn't let go of my job. If you have one keep it, renew, even if you don't get a vacation. When will it be ok to take a break? Maybe 2012 or 2013? The bright side to these 22 year olds is that most of them stay for a year or two and go home. When there is less coming over here eventually things will flip back. But I don't think it will be what it was pre-2009, but better than now. Have faith, stick with it, work hard, and we'll all emerge on the other side when the Korean market recovers. |
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ZIFA
Joined: 23 Feb 2011
Location: Dici che il fiume..Trova la via al mare
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| Posted: Sat Sep 10, 2011 6:57 am Post subject: |
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| Weigookin74 wrote: |
| He wanted to take 2 months off but ended up not being able to get back here until 5 months later.. |
5 months can be pretty serious if you're paying all your own expenses. |
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Jack_Sarang
Joined: 13 Aug 2006
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| Posted: Sat Sep 10, 2011 7:08 am Post subject: |
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[quote="Rhakorii"]Wait, you need a minimum of two years experience to teach in China, right?
/quote]
A lot of ads say "1-2 years experience required" or "TEFL required". As far as I am aware none of these are required for a work Visa.
In fact a lot of the DD Dragon ads claim all you need is a TEFL. Then a lot of the others just want a BA where 'experience or TEFL' is a bonus. |
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AlastairKirby
Joined: 29 Aug 2011
Location: UK
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| Posted: Sun Sep 11, 2011 10:34 am Post subject: |
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Hi,
Looking for work in Korea is pretty terrible at the moment.
When I went to Korea in 2008 I was a tw*t whose only interest was chasing Asian girls and getting drunk.
They snapped me up.
Now I am 28 years old I am too old.... what? 28 isn't old. I fact since I left Korea I haven't been drinking, I've been going for long walks in the countryside, doing weights, going for runs etc... I'm in the best shape of my life. I have never felt this positive about myself and my ability to teach.
I've been back for about 6 months. I got a CELTA and I worked at a summer camp where I was regularly assessed. Got lots of excellent feedback. I'm a natural with young learners. I am certain if I went back to Korea I could really do some good.
Ironic that at 25 I was a cynical git yet at 28 I am idealistic about teaching English - even though I have experience of the Korean public school system!
It can be disconcerting how arbitrarily we are discarded by potential employers in Korea. My date of birth says otherwise but I am younger now. I am also more experienced and dedicated.
In summary. Don't be too downhearted if you are finding it hard to get a job. It's not anything wrong with you. The market is tough right now. One recruiter was honest with me and said they are flooded with applicants who are straight out of university. It's an employers market right now. He told me to wait until March.
I'm lucky. I'm living with my parents right now. As much as it is annoying I don't have to worry about food or bills. For those of you who NEED to get to Korea, I'm sorry for you guys. It's tough right now. But check worknplay, Dave's and craigslist everyday. Be prepared to take a chance on places outside of Seoul. I'd love to give Gwangju or Busan a shot. But my friends live in Incheon and Seoul. If you are a first timer remember... You have time. Get a job outside Seoul and transfer when you get the chance.
Don't be downhearted. As a great man once said "When I'm sad. I stop being sad. And be awesome instead." |
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AliNZ
Joined: 11 Feb 2003
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| Posted: Sun Sep 11, 2011 1:36 pm Post subject: Jobs |
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Hi
I'm in a similiar situation. I've been looking awhile too. I've got over 10 years experience - most of it in Korea. Now they say it's my age. But then I find recruiterers will say anything.
There seems to be a few contributing factors - most hve nothing to do with my age or stage - it's supply and demand, I think. |
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isitts
Joined: 25 Dec 2008
Location: Korea
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| Posted: Sun Sep 11, 2011 5:03 pm Post subject: |
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| williamsabia wrote: |
| I have teaching experience for four years in Texas... |
?? Are you a state-certified teacher? If you are, we might be on to something here. |
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edwardcatflap
Joined: 22 Mar 2009
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| Posted: Sun Sep 11, 2011 5:37 pm Post subject: |
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| I don't understand some of you guys. You're getting clear messages that the kind of places you're applying to do not value qualifications or experience for English teachers and one can safely assume from this that they don't really know anything about teaching. Yet you clamour to work for them, with their lack of knowledge and their prejudices. Make your choices now, get out of TEFL, get properly qualified, or if you already are, start applying to places that know what they're doing. |
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rayray123
Joined: 27 Jan 2010
Location: korea
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| Posted: Mon Sep 12, 2011 12:08 pm Post subject: |
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Wow, a lot of people in a similar situation as me. I finished my GEPIK contract at the end of April, didn't look too hard for my next job while I was in Korea thinking it wouldn't be hard to find a hakwon job from the US. Thought I would take 1-2 months off before starting my next job, and now I'm approaching 5 months with no job in Korea.
I have contacted over 30 recruiters. The only problems I am told about are that it would be a lot easier for me to get a job if I would look outside of Seoul and Gyeonggi-do. And I've heard a few times that a school only wants a female teacher. I'm mid 30's but no one has mentioned my age as being a problem. A few of the recruiters are treating my HS teaching experience as though I don't have any experience since most hakwon jobs are kinder-middle school.
What makes me feel worse is hearing from Korean friends and friends who are already employed in Korea who think it's still easy to find a hakwon job there. And act as if I am just not looking very hard, or I'm being too picky. |
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AlastairKirby
Joined: 29 Aug 2011
Location: UK
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| Posted: Mon Sep 12, 2011 1:14 pm Post subject: |
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| edwardcatflap wrote: |
| I don't understand some of you guys. You're getting clear messages that the kind of places you're applying to do not value qualifications or experience for English teachers and one can safely assume from this that they don't really know anything about teaching. Yet you clamour to work for them, with their lack of knowledge and their prejudices. Make your choices now, get out of TEFL, get properly qualified, or if you already are, start applying to places that know what they're doing. |
+1 for this.
This whole process is leaving a bad taste in my mouth. The 'Female teacher highly highly preferred' job listings, the non-responses from recruiters and jobs shows a level of arrogance from employers in Korea.
I am actually grateful for people who have given me feedback.
Any experts seen a similar flood like this in the past? Any idea when the job market will get back to something approaching normal? |
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ZIFA
Joined: 23 Feb 2011
Location: Dici che il fiume..Trova la via al mare
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| Posted: Mon Sep 12, 2011 9:31 pm Post subject: |
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Unless you have contacts then I'd say its not worth even bothering at this stage.
Get yourself to China until things recover. |
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tideout
Joined: 12 Dec 2010
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| Posted: Mon Sep 12, 2011 11:23 pm Post subject: |
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I suppose the apparent contradictions are part of the ESL world in Korea.
I don't doubt a word that anyone's saying here in this thread or that the job market's tight in Korea now.
Last edited by tideout on Fri Nov 04, 2011 1:45 am; edited 1 time in total |
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tideout
Joined: 12 Dec 2010
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| Posted: Mon Sep 12, 2011 11:27 pm Post subject: |
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| Weigookin74 wrote: |
| mysterious700 wrote: |
| CPJ wrote: |
It all depends on who you are.
If you're younger, female, attractive, good education then you'll get tons of offers.
If you're older, male, unattractive, then you probably won't get many replies. |
What about older, male, and attractive? (Still under 40, but no young spring chicken.) Kids always seemed to like me when I taught before. Wow! Things have really changed over there. What will happen to these fussy Koreans if things ever flip back? Hope their entitled a$$ gets the boot it deserves. Let's see. |
Similar situation, except I had enough sense not to let go of my job. Many people go home to take a break and then come back to teach at another school. I knew a guy who did this in 2010. He wanted to take 2 months off but ended up not being able to get back here until 5 months later. Might be worse now due to the recession dragging on and GEPIK cutting teachers flooding the market even more. I wanted to take a break this year, but I didn't let go of my job. If you have one keep it, renew, even if you don't get a vacation. When will it be ok to take a break? Maybe 2012 or 2013? The bright side to these 22 year olds is that most of them stay for a year or two and go home. When there is less coming over here eventually things will flip back. But I don't think it will be what it was pre-2009, but better than now. Have faith, stick with it, work hard, and we'll all emerge on the other side when the Korean market recovers. |
I wish you were right on this but there was a recent article in the NYT's with estimates this downturn is likely to last until 2016. I'm afraid we're in for a rough ride for a while longer at least. A good barometer may come this Fall on whether we hit a double dip recession. Modest forecasts for this put it at about 50% probability. As I recall, this was geared at US forecasts not EU etc.. |
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AlastairKirby
Joined: 29 Aug 2011
Location: UK
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| Posted: Fri Sep 16, 2011 7:57 am Post subject: |
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Bump.
I want to keep this thread going. Us folks looking for work have to encourage each other.
I've sent out my application/resume about 10 times this week. But all I can find are recruiters. Only two direct applications. Only two jobs where I have been able to write the name of the person I am applying to. Only 2 jobs where I have actually known the name of the school.
I've found when I apply to a school directly at the very least I get a polite rejection. Most likely a candidate was found within the country. It gives me encouragement though. I am being considered. Could the problem be recruiters looking at my resume and thinking it would be easier to sell a newbie than me?
It's tough being outside Korea and applying though. I have friends in Korea trying to help me out. I asked my old school for a reference and the principal said she would ask around for me. I would feel a lot more confident if I could be out there introducing myself in person. I'm sure if I was in Korea I would have had a job a lot sooner. Would it have been worth the risk?
The problem seems to be the amount of recruiters posting jobs. If the schools were advertising directly I could call them up and introduce myself. I hate being at the whim of a recruiter. It's hard to be proactive when recruiters seem so evasive.
I'm waiting for a head of steam to build up so I can start badgering these people.
Grr
Anyway it's the weekend. I'm off to enjoy the sunshine and a life of leisure while I can. Before I know it I'll be surrounded by screaming Korean kids and being shoved by adjumas! |
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rayray123
Joined: 27 Jan 2010
Location: korea
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| Posted: Fri Sep 16, 2011 7:02 pm Post subject: |
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| AlastairKirby wrote: |
| Could the problem be recruiters looking at my resume and thinking it would be easier to sell a newbie than me? |
I am guessing from the number of recruiters who don't reply to me that they see something wrong with me that means I would not be easy enough to place. Maybe I'm too old? too male? I don't know?
I am getting irritated that I have posted my resume on Dave's 3 times and I keep getting some of the same recruiters emailing me who never replied to me when I sent them my resume before.
I have had a couple interviews recently. Both times I was later told they found someone better suited to the position. The 2 interviews I have passed (last month) did not seem like good jobs and I decided I will just keep waiting rather than take a job that I know will make me miserable.
I just keep at it everyday. I'm sick of it, but I know if I don't keep trying I'm not going anywhere. |
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