Korean Job Discussion Forums

[peppermintty]

Hi, I'm applying for my first ESL position in Korea so I'm hoping for a bit of advice. I've scoured the forum, but I can't seem to find anything on the program in particular to which I've applied.

The agency is "AST". They are listed as nonprofit organization working in association with local governments. They have an office in Las Vegas, and an office in Seoul.

I applied in March and was accepted. I talked with one American woman located in Vegas and she answered my questions and filled me in on the general process. I was told contracts would be sent out around June. Sure enough just yesterday I emailed back and forth with someone from the Korea branch who verified some of my information, and said she would contact me again in approximately a month with a contract to review.

The positions are all in public schools in Busan, and the sample contract seems legit, but I can't really find any information on the agency in general so I'm a little skeptical. Plus, aside from the application process (forms, photo, recommendations, statement of purpose, etc) there was no formal interview.

Has anyone ever heard of these guys? I'm also in contact with G2K, but they are only offering hagwon positions at this point so I'm leaning towards the public school position.

[Skippy]

AST sounds like a basic recruiter. This one sounds like it deals with public schools. Just to be aware the next hiring period for public schools is July, I think. But I would expect not very many positions to be open as it is more of the half year mark.

Also AST is not the one to do the hiring if I guess correctly. They are more of a middleman.

Hmm a thought is AST an after-school program. Sort of a mix of hagwon and public schools. After school programs can be fine but less beneficial as actual public school jobs.

I would avoid waiting. Look for other jobs. Use more then one recruiter, just be careful with using recruiters for public schools. Some districts have strange rules with applying with more then one recruiter. AST may be legit but the could also be stalling. Or even change their mind later.

Extra tip - get your paperwork together - now. The more you are ready the more likely public schools and recruiters will deal with you.

Please keep reading the board.

[young_clinton]

[peppermintty]

Thanks for the replies. I was just a little suspicious since I had never heard of them from anyone else.

I don't have all my paperwork compiled because I'm a graduating senior; my diploma won't be mailed to me until the end of May. Considering I want a placement in a public school, I don't want to wait until then to find a position. Both AST and G2K are aware that I won't have an apostilled diploma until mid June and are fine with it.

[CentralCali]

Basically, you don't have any choice but to wait until your diploma* is mailed to you. There is no legitimate way to get a position until the diploma is in hand with the apostille in hand along with the national-level criminal background check and its apostille. You may be able to find a job without those four documents in hand, but you cannot get a visa without them. Any school that promises you that you can start work without them and do a visa run later is not a trustworthy school.

*Note: You must have the actual diploma, not a letter from the registar's office verifying that you have graduated.