Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Arhat]

I've been applying to schools and recruiters for a month now and I've only had two telephone interviews. One of the schools said I was their favorite candidate but they sent me a message the other day saying they hired someone else. The other interview was last week and I haven't heard anything from that employer again.

What is the job market like right now? Is this a slow season for hiring at hagwons? Are there more applicants than usual? I'm more concerned with private employers because I'm not applying to EPIK.

I realize that the real issue may just be my shortcomings (age and appearance) but I'm just wondering whether people feel like the job market is slower than usual.

[Weigookin74]

Maybe slightly better than when the recession first hit but certaintly nothing like pre-recession levels. You got to be persistant and chase after them. Not the other way around. Make sure your documents are in order and you use as many recuiters as possible. Good luck to you son!!

[s.tickbeat]

In my city, I'm watching hagwons struggling to stay afloat. We're not talking small, new independents either, but franchises like GnB. They've got a 150-student capacity but are hovering around 80 students.

One formerly VERY successful hagwon I know now has only 30 students and it still losing.

Some of the factories here are closing, contracts ending, and etc. Plus, with the cost of food, families are less able to afford the tuition for all their kids. I'm seeing parents put one child in English hagwons, or juggling the kids in and out each month. I'm seeing students leave for three months then come back because 'oh I have time now'. It's really significant, and is definitely affecting my plans for the future.

There ARE still hotspots though. Gangwon-do always needs teachers, new suburbs like Jangyu (in Gimhae, near Changwon) are booming.

[isitts]

Is this a poll or a multiple choice question?

[ttompatz]

Applicants are down from 2007/8 levels (30,000 E2s) but applicants are also down from their peak.

Jobs are down as well (to about 23,000 from a peak of about 30,000).

Currently, I would guesstimate that there are about 23,000 positions and about the same number of applicants this year. Employers can be a little more choosy in their selection and often they can find someone here instead of paying for a plane ticket.

Other factors (age, background, credentials, experience, etc) may definitely come into play especially if you are looking from abroad.

The last factor that comes into play is the, "Are you ready to fly?" question.
IF you have all your correct documentation in hand then you should find something at the end of the summer vacation (late August).

If you do NOT have all your correct documentation "IN HAND" then you will largely be ignored along with the other 1000's of tire kickers who stumbled onto an EFL/TEFL website and thought that a year of getting paid to travel to exotic destinations would be a nice respite from the unemployment and politics at home.

.

[nautilus]