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Any hope for a non-white male to find a job in Seoul metro?

 
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thebektionary



Joined: 11 May 2011

PostPosted: Wed Jan 04, 2012 10:51 pm    Post subject: Any hope for a non-white male to find a job in Seoul metro? Reply with quote

I am getting kind of worried because I have found a job but my boyfriend hasn't yet. We want to live within 30 minutes of one another. I got a job in Bucheon so he could live in Bucheon, Incheon, or Western Seoul.

The thing is, he has an obviously Arab/Muslim name and has brown skin. This worries me a bit. He isn't very dark and in some pictures looks white. He's also handsome and friendly looking, so I'm hoping that will work in our favor. He gets a very good reference from his previous hagwon. The director has said "He was the best teacher we've ever had".

What do you all think? Do you think he'll have better luck if he goes for kindie? He isn't totally opposed to it and is very good with little kids.
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ThingsComeAround



Joined: 07 Nov 2008

PostPosted: Wed Jan 04, 2012 10:53 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I thought he was going to work for Line 1,2,3 or 4 Laughing

Seriously, if he looks handsome and has a great reference, the only thing stopping you is your recruiter
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thebektionary



Joined: 11 May 2011

PostPosted: Wed Jan 04, 2012 10:56 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

ThingsComeAround wrote:
I thought he was going to work for Line 1,2,3 or 4 Laughing

Seriously, if he looks handsome and has a great reference, the only thing stopping you is your recruiter


That's reassuring. Maybe I'm just worrying a bit too soon.

I'm an attractive white female so I didn't have a hard time. We found a perfect offer for him in Mokdong and the recruiter said that he would schedule an interview for him next week but told him "I'm not too optimistic" :\
I thought this maybe has to do with him being male and not white.
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cheolsu



Joined: 16 Jan 2009

PostPosted: Thu Jan 05, 2012 9:04 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

If this is his first teaching position, it might be a lack of experience holding him back, not to mention a presentable photo. I'm a dark-skinned guy with a Muslim last name myself, and while I'm friendly, I wouldn't necessarily call myself handsome.

I've worked in Seoul for the last two years, and could've kept working at my current position if I had wanted to continue. I've had job offers in Incheon, Ilsan and Suwon (just south of Seoul) this fall. I know lots of people working in Seoul who are black, mixed-race, Hispanic, South Asian or something other than white.
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thebektionary



Joined: 11 May 2011

PostPosted: Thu Jan 05, 2012 10:40 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

cheolsu wrote:
If this is his first teaching position, it might be a lack of experience holding him back, not to mention a presentable photo. I'm a dark-skinned guy with a Muslim last name myself, and while I'm friendly, I wouldn't necessarily call myself handsome.

I've worked in Seoul for the last two years, and could've kept working at my current position if I had wanted to continue. I've had job offers in Incheon, Ilsan and Suwon (just south of Seoul) this fall. I know lots of people working in Seoul who are black, mixed-race, Hispanic, South Asian or something other than white.


It wouldn't be his first teaching experience in Korea - we both lived in Korea for a year. Also, in his picture he is wearing a suit and looks good.
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KNet229



Joined: 02 Jan 2012
Location: Seoul

PostPosted: Thu Jan 05, 2012 11:16 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

get a different recruiter, or use multiple ones. also, ask the current recruiter why schools have denied him so far (btw, is he being denied jobs or is he not getting interviews?)
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northway



Joined: 05 Jul 2010

PostPosted: Thu Jan 05, 2012 11:29 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

As I've said in other threads, I know quite a few minority candidates who have used Star Teachers and found jobs near Seoul (Anyang specifically, for the folks I know). By all accounts, they're pretty professional and might be worth contacting, though I can't say that I've worked with them personally.
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thebektionary



Joined: 11 May 2011

PostPosted: Thu Jan 05, 2012 11:41 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

KNet229 wrote:
get a different recruiter, or use multiple ones. also, ask the current recruiter why schools have denied him so far (btw, is he being denied jobs or is he not getting interviews?)


We are in touch with multiple ones.

He got a job at an SLP in Ilsan but the hours were 11-8 and it's SLP... doesn't have the best reputation.

He hasn't gotten any interviews since then. We are working on it. There might not be a problem with him. I know that I got turned down my first few attempts at interviews. He is really a perfect candidate besides the fact that he is male and has (light) brown skin, which shouldn't really be issues but... Korea Rolling Eyes
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minos



Joined: 01 Dec 2010
Location: kOREA

PostPosted: Fri Jan 06, 2012 2:05 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Get a good profile picture...it will help alot.

Wait till march which is the hiring season.
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koreatimes



Joined: 07 Jun 2011

PostPosted: Fri Jan 06, 2012 2:57 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

If there is a Dr. Alfred Blalock out there, he will have his day.
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LindaYee



Joined: 15 Dec 2011
Location: Jinhae-gu, Changwon-si, Gyeongsangnam-do

PostPosted: Sat Jan 07, 2012 6:11 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

My husband is a New Zealander, born in NZ with Chinese parents. We have been told THREE times, the reason the school will not employ him is because he does NOT LOOK like a Westerner and looks Chinese. No ifs or buts.
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carnivalbeauty



Joined: 20 Nov 2011

PostPosted: Wed Jan 11, 2012 1:22 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

please don't listen to all these people with their doom and gloom! Yes you can definately find work in the seoul area, or anywhere else in south korea, as I non-white indvidual. As I and many others have!

Finding work in korea an a black/asian individual may be slightly harder if you are not blonde and female but NO harder than it would back home usa, uk etc. You are at no real disadvantage!! Just requires a positive mindset and perseverance as it would everywhere Very Happy

xxxx[/i]
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ThingsComeAround



Joined: 07 Nov 2008

PostPosted: Wed Jan 11, 2012 10:49 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

LindaYee wrote:
My husband is a New Zealander, born in NZ with Chinese parents. We have been told THREE times, the reason the school will not employ him is because he does NOT LOOK like a Westerner and looks Chinese. No ifs or buts.


Hey Linda

Although they are in the minority, I have Chinese friends and a Japanese associate that work here- check public schools or large hagwon chains.

Don't give up!
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