Korean Job Discussion Forums

[JethroCariaga]

Hi all,

Newbie here so if my question has been asked before, apologies.

Basically, as it is my first time to apply to Korea I'm trying to find work in one of the major cities: Seoul, Busan etc. to soften the blow of moving to another country a little as I imagine there are alot more foreigners here than out in a rural area. However, all the recruiters I'm working with have said that there are no jobs in these cities at the moment, competition is very fierce, you need at least a years experience in Seoul etc. etc.

Is this true? Will a newbie to the ESL game like me find it difficult to find work in the major cities?

Thanks in advance for all the responses.

[creeper1]

Opinions differ as to how easy it is to land a job in Seoul and Busan.

Those who try and fail say it is so hard and don't bother. Those who are successful state it is the easiest thing ever.

The stories on here are anecdotal and so are the opinions formed on them.

Recruiters, in general, don't just give anyone the best jobs they have just to be nice guys. Expect the first few offers to be pretty bad.

If you want a job in Seoul/Busan then stick to your guns. Say Seoul/Busan and nothing but Seoul/Busan. The recruiter may say "How about Gyeongju? It is a nice historical city" You reply with "No! I want nothing but Seoul or Busan!"

I do think you could be more flexible however. Take a look at a map of Korea. A lot of the cities in Gyeongi-do have good public transport into Seoul. I think you should consider them.

[Skippy]

ONE question. Are you looking for public school or Hagwon. If public school - yes cities will be harder to get. If hagwon well continue on reading.

Not all cities are out of reach.

Seoul is just more difficult to get. More demand. Plus with cities is they can be filled quicker as more people will be ready and in country.

Be aware that many recruiters could be BSing you. They have tonnes of unfilled positions in the countryside/smaller cities and not many people want to take them. So they could have a couple of city ones and lots of others. So they will try to offload.

As with any market, it depends upon desirability. You are young and good looking, better chance of Seoul. Ugly and fat, further away you go. Willing to take less pay, come on to Seoul. Have your papers ready, well look at that we have a job that needs some one right now in Seoul. Now completely ready. Well this school has been waiting for a while another week or two will be fine.

Good Luck

[Farron T]

I'm trying to land myself a job there as well so I really can't give an educated opinion. However, that is a whole other discussion I wouldn't want to ruin your topic with.

Anyway I noticed your name is Cariaga. Are you Chamoru?

[Times30]

Working in big cities are highly overrated. Sure there's more shinny lights and things to do but there are also things that can go sour.

For one, more noise, more bumping and more people. Second, prices are MUCH higher. As an example, in Daegu I'd pay $4 for a meal. Around Seoul (I'm not even in downtown gangnam or anything, you'll pay double around $8. Imagine spending twice your monthly income on stuff.

You can be adamant about where you work but it also comes at a cost. Although, being totally dead in the middle of the sticks has it's downsides, it can also be a positive thing. You live healthier... the air in the cities are BAD. I mean, REAL bad. It's a consideration. Also, if you are too adamant... you may just be dropped from even being considered working for public school. If you have alternatives, then stick to your guns, but if you're unemployed and this is your only job.... try not to be too inflexible. They have their pick of the litter.

But don't overlook the benefits of being out in the country. In my experience people in the country are nicer and more polite (This can vary a lot). You can go on hikes, live cheaper, and it's not so bad if you really think about it. You're free to do a spiritual journey...

[ssavage4]

If you're mostly concerned with being able to access some western comforts and meeting other foreigners, you should know that you can find these things in most larger Korean cities. Daegu and Gwangju might be other options for you. I've worked in both Busan and Seoul, and felt the same way as you before coming to Korea, and am very glad I picked Busan.
People are right when they say some recruiters claim to have no jobs in these cities, to pawn other jobs off on you, but it also has been harder to get jobs. If you are adamant on working in a specific city, try to find a recruiter that works only there. I was having a hard time finding a job in Busan until I found some recruiters that work in Busan. Try RBI Busan, or Su ESL. Good luck!

[ontheway]

It used to be that a teacher could be pretty sure of getting their location preference. There were more jobs than teachers available in Korea. So, a recruiter would give a school one candidate at a time to accept or reject. If the school rejected their one shot they may not get another from that recruiter. The school would have to use multiple recruiters and choose from a small pool of choices. Some schools would get only one choice or no one at all for long periods of time.

Now there are many times the number of teachers available as jobs. Any school can get a selection of candidates, usually several from each and every recruiter - even in the rural areas there are plenty of applicants - and in the largest cities there are not enough jobs for every teacher with a big city preference.

Sure, the most attractive candidates (in the total package sense of being the best choice) land positions right away and think it's still easy, but many less desirable candidates spend months looking, some never find a job while others succeed only after long delays.

No one can be sure how long this situation will last. Things will change again in the future - but when and what those changes will be ... ?

So, unless you really have all the most sought after qualities and are willing to wait, you should be willing to consider any location in Korea for your first year. Then, you can network and find better opportunities once you're here.

It is true that the very small, very rural areas can be a bit isolated for a single foreign teacher and hard for some to cope with, but the big cities, as mentioned above, are much more expensive, very dirty, with less friendly residents and have little to offer beyond what is available in most of the small and medium sized cities, beyond a larger community of expats spread over a larger area. For many teachers, the medium sized cities offer the best chance for employment, the cheapest living costs and the best environment for living.

The optimal method for your job search is to use multiple recruiters and stay open to all options. Then you can check out any offers when they come in, and you always have the choice to reject any location or school that doesn't fit.

[luckylady]

[plchron]

a possible solution for the OP is to spam mail your photo and resume to every recruiter you come across. Most will give you offers not even close to what you want to hear, but eventually a position will open up in one of the cities and you might have a shot. But just as you are spamming recruiters, schools will be advertising to every agency in your desired area that they want their position filled and they will get their pick of the litter.

[christobelc]

Just to add my 2 cents to the thread, I've been finding it pretty though going to find a teaching position in Seoul. Applying for jobs in the jobs forum here. Just a bit of background, I don't have previous teaching experience but have a masters. My sisters currently over in Korea doing her training for a public school job, she's tried to pass my resume to recruiters in seoul but theres not much going really at the moment. Furthermore I think I'm hindered in the fact that my ethnic background is asian (not korean by the way) it's harder for me again! Schools usually want their foreign teachers to look, well foreign. I think, I'll have to be patient to be placed in Seoul but I'm prepared for the long haul. My Last resort would be to wait till summer camps then my sister can get me a job in her old english village for the summer, When I'm over there it'll be easier to source another job! Argh summers a long wait though!

[Airborne9]

As someone selse said above, I think you should do some research on some of the cities around Seoul such as Ilsan, Suwon, Bucheon or Incheon and get a job in a good area there. In those "good" areas there should be buses/trainis 20-40 minutes away from Seoul

[ttompatz]

[ironclad80]

Living in a suburb near Seoul is just as good, if not better than living in Seoul. Cheaper, less pollution, quieter, etc... Where I'm at in Gyeonggi-do (the province which surrounds Seoul), I can be at arguably the most desired spot in Seoul (Gangnam) in less than 20 minutes.

Keep in mind, Seoul is a big city. You could live somewhere where your address says "Seoul" but it's completely residential and you're quite a ways from anything worthwhile.

[Julius]

[carnivalbeauty]

My story:

I applied directly through Epik about 3-4 days shy of the deadline. I go accepted. I sent my documents on December the 23rd, so about as late as physically possible. I was still placed.
I 've been placed in Busan.

So to answer your question anything is possible. I reaaaaallly do recommend you go through the epik route, its wonderful in so many different ways. If not find yourself a great recruiter, I was going to use korean Horizans if Epik fell through. He had found me (very quickly at that) a gig in changwon,also public school and you'd join he epik oritenation.

Best of luck x