Korean Job Discussion Forums

TheUrbanMyth · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Location: Retired

Yes teachers are a bit different.

Zyzyfer · Posted: Thu Oct 20, 2011 11:24 pm Post subject:

Juregen · Joined: 30 May 2006

Wildbore · Joined: 17 Jun 2009

edwardcatflap · Joined: 22 Mar 2009

I imagine there are quite a few people running hagwans in Korea who don't know the difference between your and you're. Laughing

Illysook · Joined: 30 Jun 2008

I've learned that while it's not illegal to ask someone's age, it is illegal to deny someone employment for this reason. I've never lied about my age, but I'm thinking that if I did lie, by the time they look at my documents and found out the truth, it will be too late to deny me the particular job. However, I don't expect this to be necessary because I am trying to work with people that I know. It's more difficult but may yeild a more satisfactory result.

T-J · Joined: 10 Oct 2008 Location: Seoul EunpyungGu Yeonsinnae

PatrickGHBusan · Posted: Fri Oct 21, 2011 5:03 am Post subject:

OP, first of all, age matters in all work fields, everywhere.

Thats a fact of life. In some countries they push older applicants to the side with clever excuses or tactics in others they are more direct (Korea).

The ONLY way to avoid age being an issue when you look for work is to continuously improve your credentials and to network in order to gain contacts that can REFER you to jobs that will value your experience (there are many out there).

Also note that different countries have different MANDATORY RETIREMENT ages, this is typically in effect to allow younger workers access to the workplace. So if you are over the cut off age, you will have a damn hard time finding work and honestly, thats normal.

Recruiters WILL ask your age when you apply. Smarter recruiters will simply look at your CV and deduce your age from this and then will be sorry but unable to find a position that meets your requirements.

Another note to consider: employment streams.

If you apply through recruiters, it means you re using the main employment stream that caters to entry-level ESL jobs in Korea. That my friend puts you in competition with new grad applicants who will cost less and frankly may look more interesting as employees for many of the jobs offered through recruiters, ie assistant teacher in a PS.

By applying this way, you are basically selling yourself short and setting yourself up for failure.

You need to put yourself in an employment stream where you have the upper hand: jobs that look for experience and value it. You are older so I will assume you have experience in teaching or at least related to it, if not, well you are in a bad spot, sorry.