Korean Job Discussion Forums

itiswhatitis · Joined: 08 Aug 2011

My contract at my hagwon (which I have been at since February 2010) is up in February. I will have 2 years put in there. I also have a 100 hour TESOl, 1 year at a public school and 8 months at a hagwon (the terrible hagwon was my first teaching job in Korea).

I was naive and had a thin skin when I first came to Korea which is why I only lasted 8 months at the hagwon. At my public school job I had the co-teacher from hell (I will not bore you with the details).

The hagwon job that I am at now is pretty much a standard hagwon (with all the standard Korean office politics, pleasing parents and students ETC!!!... being applicable). The good news for me is that through all my ass kissing I have a rock solid reference from my current owner/director (I will have worked for him for 2 years come this February).

Now I live in Ulsan but I really want to get a kindy job in CENTRAL Seoul for February 2012.

My parents are dead and I do not have any extended family that I feel comfortable staying with in Canada (I will have to impose on an old friend, which I HATE doing). For this reason I am hoping to to find a job ASAP for February so that I can transfer over while staying in Korea. My current director says that he will be flexible with the date that I leave.

I am white, male, 29, Canadian, and average looking and average weight and size. Not that all of the previously mentioned matters to me, but it (unfortunately) matters (at least somewhat) to most Korean hagwon owners.

My primary conerncs:

-I am male

-My bad references from my first hagwon and the public school

-The job market and getting a kindy job in central Seoul

AM I SCREWED???????

Carbon · Joined: 28 Jan 2011

CPT · Joined: 25 Mar 2007

You're in Korea and want to work kindy. I think you'll be find a job, as long as you aren't expecting too much money.

Gorf · Joined: 25 Jun 2011

There's a zillion kindy jobs in Seoul. Your only problem might be getting underpaid, but that's Seoul kindy for ya'.

PigeonFart · Joined: 27 Apr 2006

Actually, your chances are pretty good. Most people aren't willing to work Kindergarten. So the fact that you are, puts in ahead. As for the crappy references, i don't think that really matters. If you have a good interview then you're likely to get a job.
If you're in Ulsan now, have a phone interview and then you could even offer to come up to Seoul for a face to face interview (at weekend if you cant make it during week). That might get you a job offer.

kingssurfer · Joined: 14 Dec 2009

recessiontime · Posted: Sun Oct 30, 2011 7:25 am Post subject:

Really sorry to hear about your parents passing away. My mother passed away very recently and I'm the same age as you so I know a little about what that's like.

I want to help you out but there isn't much I can do for you. I think being male, it might be harder to get a job in kindergarten.

Why are you insisting on working in Seoul? You know that no matter how terrible the job market is, your chances in regional or rural areas are better and it's not like these areas are that different from the big city. If I were you I'd be applying for a kindergarten jobs in Seoul but also in other big cities like Busan. After a lot of rejections I would consider regional and rural areas.

Don't worry too much, you aren't screwed. There's still plenty of time to get a contract for your next job in Feb 2012. Pick up the phone and make some calls.