Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Illysook]

"I know this is a very rude question" she said.

So WHY does she have to ask this ILLEGAL question?!!!

How can we teach schools and recruiters not to do this?

[The Floating World]

I told you it is getting tougher re age in the other thread.

Like I said I'm 35 and several recruiters and I have had great interviews over the phone, about to set me up interview with the school and then (despite it being at the top of my resume anyway) ask me how old I am and then do the sucking in of air, or a long, drawn out 'ooooooooooh' before hanging up (yes a cpl actually just hung up when I said I was 35.)

I still got a few job offers anyway, so don't despair, but they were flooded with applicants to Seoul in sept, so a seoul gig is going to be a toughie to get, but of couse, not impossible if you're super professional and super cheesy enthusiastic, I'm sure!

[Setaro]

[swinewho]

Is it even illegal in Korea?

Anyway - In many ways it is good that Korea is still backwards in this regards!

Would you rather they mess you about, interview you, smile and then give the job to the person who is younger and maybe less experienced than you? - All that time/money wasted!

[koreatimes]

I had no clue what I was doing when I started teaching. Now that I have experience, I am a much better teacher. If employers don't want to hire experienced teachers due to age, that says something about the industry.

[Riker]

Don't kid yourself. This industry isn't about learning, its about making money.

Young attractive teachers bring in the students.

This is one area where the US actually shines. Education employers in the States generally take your qualifications seriously.

[Illysook]

YES, IT IS ACTUALLY ILLEGAL, I ASKED AN ATTOURNEY FRIEND!

Someone has got to teach these people that it's not acceptable. The young blondes don't really bring in the money, the managers just think that they do. What brings in the money is having teachers who know what they are doing and obviously love their students. If a school has this kind of teacher, it will make money even if those teachers are ancient...ask any preschool in America. Most of them have at least one teacher who is warm and somewhat gramma-like and she's the best loved teacher at the school.

[Juregen]

[Juregen]

[Skippy]

[Guajiro]

[morrisonhotel]

[creeper1]

Well, to be fair, at 35 you should really have a proper job by now.

[Skippy]

Also if age is a problem try to sell your other assets. Availability, ease of transferring, looks, skills. Illysook looking at your blog I can already see three things to use to your advantage - you look pretty good, your a women, and a Christian.

So if recruiter asks about age. Tell them and then point out your other assets.

Some schools will like the Christian connection and other might thing you are a good person and less likely to be a young hungover waygook.

One thing I try to have an edge is to have a "Personal Information" sheet that goes with my resume. It answers questions about age, body type, hair, relationship status, etc. Recruiters and employers here will be lazy. Very unlikely going to google you or facebook you. Give them the info and frame it to your advantage.

[oldtrafford]

While it may be illegal in North America to ask such a question in a job interview, many ESL recruiters abroad won't even consider an application without seeing a picture and personal details (including birth year) on your application. In all fairness, why would they waste their time promoting an applicant that may be past the age of retirement for the country they want to work in. I don't believe public schools through EPIK will employ anyone over 55 years of age because that is the age of retirement for public school teachers in Korea. It may be greater than 55 for hagwon/university positions.

You believe wrong!! It's 60!!!!