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Surprising hagwon interview.

 
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peppermintty



Joined: 13 Apr 2012

PostPosted: Tue May 01, 2012 8:13 pm    Post subject: Surprising hagwon interview. Reply with quote

I just had an interview for a hagwon position, and it was my first interview with a private school. I am still in the US, so it was a phone interview.

I was really surprised when I realized that it was an American conducting the interview. And the individual was actually asking me information directly from my resume.

Given the kind of stories told on this forum, I was very surprised! Should I take this as a sign that the position is with a reputable hagwon? Or is it typical to have such an interview?
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soomin



Joined: 18 Jun 2009
Location: Daegu

PostPosted: Tue May 01, 2012 8:29 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Was it a large hagwon from a chain? They usually have Westerners giving the interviews that they then pass on to the hagwon... if not, that just means that they got the foreigner before you to conduct the interview.

I'd say it's pretty typical, especially when the owner doesn't speak English (or doesn't speak English well, at the very least).
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peppermintty



Joined: 13 Apr 2012

PostPosted: Tue May 01, 2012 8:31 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

soomin wrote:
Was it a large hagwon from a chain? They usually have Westerners giving the interviews that they then pass on to the hagwon... if not, that just means that they got the foreigner before you to conduct the interview.

I'd say it's pretty typical, especially when the owner doesn't speak English (or doesn't speak English well, at the very least).


Ahh, it's typical? It is a pretty large chain, from what I hear.
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soomin



Joined: 18 Jun 2009
Location: Daegu

PostPosted: Tue May 01, 2012 8:35 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Yep, I went through a couple of phone interviews with Chungdahm/CDI before reading about how it was horrible for foreigners and declined their offer... And I was interviewed by an American at a smaller chain I worked with... they told me they hired me because that American guy wanted a girl in the office >.>
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peppermintty



Joined: 13 Apr 2012

PostPosted: Tue May 01, 2012 8:54 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

soomin wrote:
Yep, I went through a couple of phone interviews with Chungdahm/CDI before reading about how it was horrible for foreigners and declined their offer... And I was interviewed by an American at a smaller chain I worked with... they told me they hired me because that American guy wanted a girl in the office >.>


Haha! Well at least they were honest with you, I guess.

I have read that the chain itself has a bad rep with foreigners, but I have heard okay things about the branch I would be working at. So I am on the fence.
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CentralCali



Joined: 17 May 2007

PostPosted: Tue May 01, 2012 8:57 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Do you see the post just above? That is the answer to how places like CDI and Wonderland continue to get people here. Friend, it doesn't matter how good someone says a branch of a despicable chain is--it's still a branch of a despicable chain. The branch owner has willfully and intentionally chosen to affiliate himself with a despicable chain. And, yes, that will evidence itself during your tenure if you go there.
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The Sultan of Seoul



Joined: 17 Apr 2012
Location: right... behind.. YOU

PostPosted: Tue May 01, 2012 10:11 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

If it was for the SLP - yes they are a reputable chain, wouldn't worry about that.

I have no interest vested in them and if I thought the opposite, I assure you, I'd be one of the first on this board to let you know....
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Troglodyte



Joined: 06 Dec 2009

PostPosted: Wed May 02, 2012 12:36 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

soomin wrote:
Yep, I went through a couple of phone interviews with Chungdahm/CDI before reading about how it was horrible for foreigners and declined their offer... And I was interviewed by an American at a smaller chain I worked with... they told me they hired me because that American guy wanted a girl in the office >.>


It wasn't the Seodaemun office, was it?
I think that a lot of guys wanted that same girl in the office.
Wink
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asdfghjkl



Joined: 21 Jun 2011

PostPosted: Wed May 02, 2012 7:43 am    Post subject: Re: Surprising hagwon interview. Reply with quote

peppermintty wrote:
I just had an interview for a hagwon position, and it was my first interview with a private school. I am still in the US, so it was a phone interview.

I was really surprised when I realized that it was an American conducting the interview. And the individual was actually asking me information directly from my resume.

Given the kind of stories told on this forum, I was very surprised! Should I take this as a sign that the position is with a reputable hagwon? Or is it typical to have such an interview?


I wouldn't expect too many interviewers to wow you with their interviewing skills. Most of the questions asked of me in interviews for hagwons have been along the lines of:

    Do you like the Korean people?
    If student bad, what you do?
    What about middle school girl!? Eungh. They very bad.
    How you teach Englishee?


If it's a foreigner interviewing you, he doesn't really care what you say unless he owns the school. If you're a girl, it doesn't really matter what you say, unless you're fat or not white, in which case you'll probably be assessed as though you were a guy.
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