Korean Job Discussion Forums

sethzor · Joined: 03 Feb 2012

I'm looking at working in Korea for the long term (at least 4-5 years, maybe permanently if the stars align), however all the recent posts about job cuts etc are a little troubling. How much truth is there to all the complaints about the shrinking job markets, and do those of you with hopefully a bit more insight from already being in Korea and such think the situation will keep getting worse as time goes by? I will not be as much as looking at moving for another 2 years due to my studies, but I'm basically planning my next years with Korea in mind, and I would really appreciate some input as to what are my chances, and perhaps what can I do to improve them.

I am doing a degree in humanities with English as major; I am also considering taking up some kind of a TEFL cert. I can speak Korean reasonably well (not fluent, but expect it to be at a decent conversational level in another year or two), and I have several years of part time private teaching experience. Just to stress this point further, I am NOT interested in doing a quick year or two to save up some cash and move back; I'd like to find a reasonably secure job in Korea, and hopefully apply for permanent residency, buy my own apartment and so on eventually. I'm open to non-teaching jobs if the possibility exists (I've heard about people doing admin or whatever at hagwons and such? not sure about this...), I'm more than willing to do extra part time work on the side, I know the whole 'networking' game and whatnot, but again, the amount of posts about people not getting their contracts renewed and such is somewhat worrying.

Should I not concern myself with that and just focus on making sure I'm as marketable as possible, and I should be fine? Or would I be better off looking at some other destinations, like Japan or Taiwan or something?

Would appreciate all the advice I can get!

matthews_world · Joined: 15 Feb 2003

You'll be fine with your education background in English.

Why not try Indonesia where they take only teachers who have majored in English.

At any rate, contracts are for one-year at a time.

Jobs range from seedy children hagwons, fast-food-type adult haggies, uptight public schools and universities.

Depending on contract wording, you'll certainly feel marginalized due to antiquated, xenophobic immigration law.

As far as Japan goes, it's exchange rate against the dollar is always improving yet even more difficult to get a foot in the door.

MetaFitX · Joined: 23 Jun 2009

No.

I signed up for this forum back in 09 and the story was the same back then. The market was shrinking and it's getting harder to find jobs in Korea. In '10 I decided to go through with it, emailed a bunch of resumes to recruiters and schools and within 3 weeks found a job.

Came back home in December of last year, heard the same things about the market getting worse and it was the same story. I found a job within 2 weeks.

Don't listen to the naysayers. Do your own thing.

plchron · Joined: 26 Feb 2011 Location: Korea

it is soooooo easy for anyone to get a job here. No criminal record + 4 year degree in any field and you are set.

The only thing that has changed is it is harder or takes a little longer to find something in a location you prefer. Especially if it is Busan or Seoul.

ttompatz · Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Location: Kwangju, South Korea

Find "A" job = about as difficult as stepping off a curb.

Find a "decent" job = more difficult.

.

modernseoul · Joined: 11 Sep 2011 Location: Seoul

Julius · Joined: 27 Jul 2006

Dalton · Joined: 26 Mar 2003

Swampfox10mm · Joined: 24 Mar 2011

Yes, it sucks. Give it a year or two.

wallythewhale · Joined: 12 Mar 2009

March '12 - No more Native English teachers in HS.
August '12 - No more Native English teachers in MS.
March '13 - (possibly) no more Native English teachers in ES.

This only applies to Seoul as far as I know. This is what I was told by my head teacher. So if you're looking into finding a job at a public school in Seoul, it probably isn't the best time right now. Hagwons, on the other hand, are plentiful and should see a boost in teachers in the coming year.

shinraunit · Joined: 10 Oct 2008

New jobs abound. I remember posting a topic about not getting my contract renewed by my private elementary school next year. Thought that might be a good excuse to take a year off or something. Just for kicks, I applied to ONE other school and got the job on the first call. I just got offered another job at a hagwon I worked a camp for a month ago, even though they knew I was leaving. Finding a job is easy. You don't even need to worry about finding a "secure" one because the market itself will secure the next one for you almost instantly.

Underwaterbob · Joined: 08 Jan 2005 Location: In Cognito

Public school jobs in big cities are rumored to be disappearing. If anything that means more hagwons will be hiring. English has been high priority education in Korea for a very long time now...

sethzor · Joined: 03 Feb 2012

Ok I see, seems like it's pretty much as I thought it is. Thanks for all the replies!

PRagic · Joined: 24 Feb 2006

Applying for permanent residency after just a few years, even four? That option is here currently, but I don't know of anyone who has actually been granted residency other than those on F2/F5 spousal visas. Kyopo can live and work here on an F4.

You'd have to research it a bit, I guess, but I think the 'point system' they deploy makes it pretty tough to just get residency. Plus, unlike residents in Hong Kong, there aren't too many perks to having it here. Yes, it takes Korean immigration out of the equation and you can shuffle about jobs at your leisure, but other than that....

Malislamusrex · Joined: 01 Feb 2010

your first point about people not getting renewed is public schools is true, but that is mostly in Seoul. I haven't been in Korea enough to be sure about the state of change in the current education policy, but like in any business the illusion of change is confused with progress, you never know in 3 years the government may decide they want more NET's. If Obama's main education policy was a NET in every school there would be a Republican smear campaign against it in an election year.

If you are going to stay for 4-5 years and work on your qualifications, by the end of 4 years you will be able to pick your jobs.

About doing the whole 'networking game' you can't decide to go out and network, you meet people some will help you out and some won't.

If what you want is job security I would go to China. There is a massive demand for people there and people tell me you can save as much there as you can with your average hakwon job in Korea.