Korean Job Discussion Forums

[itiswhatitis]

Is getting a position with GEPIK competitive these days?

I've got experience in Korea and I can do a visa transfer.....hopefully they are not too wound up about me leaving my current hagwon position mid contract. After all, I do have other positive references from teaching in Korea.

Thanks!!!

[Beeyee]

[nautilus]

[shostahoosier]

My first year here (Fall 2009) we were told at orientation that it was the first time that there were more applicants than positions.

In mid-2011, Gyeonggi province cut the funding for a lot of positions making it even harder to get in (quite a few of my friends lost their jobs).

I've heard this year there are more cuts, and Seoul cutting high school positions wont help either as a lot of people leaving Seoul will want to stay in the metro area.

So in my opinion, GEPIK is rather competitive, but it wouldn't hurt you to apply. All they can say is no. Even then, since GEPIK NETs are hired directly by the schools, maybe if you ask around in the area that you want to work, you can find a vacancy. Some of the less glamorous cities would probably take you without question.

Good luck!

[missty]

GEPIK is competitive but its not impossible to get work. I have a lot of experience and a teaching cert and for me it was more that the school's budgets had been cut and no one could afford my pay scale.

It took me longer than I thought it would, but in the end I found a job in Bundang (my preferred location) for a cut salary. I chose this position b/c of the location as I realized very early on that budget cuts were really going to limit my options.

[overdrive2023x]

If you're willing to be in a rural area it won't be hard. If you want to be in the places on the edge of Seoul, then yes it will be a lot more difficult.

Actually I heard this from a couple teachers, that the more "affluent" cities (Ilsan/Bundang) are only taking teachers with prior public school teaching experience in Korea.

[young_clinton]

Difficult to say, because it's hard to know what qualifications, if any at all, they want from prospective hirees.

[andrewchon]

Well, mine will become available, soon. I am at a medium sized rural school about 2 hours bus ride away from Seoul. I have a case of three strikes and you're out. Well, the catcher dropped the ball and I have an opportunity to make to the first base. The chance is slim at best since the school's opinion is that anyone is better than me., and I mean ANYONE. Although I think they'll want someone who is like my predecessor, whom they liked A LOT.

Update: if I go, they'll do without an NET for the rest of the school year. Which they are quite prepared to do. So, my position won't become available until March next year.