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Any Hope For a 47 Year Old White Male?
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pattyb



Joined: 29 Jun 2009

PostPosted: Tue Sep 04, 2012 5:28 am    Post subject: Any Hope For a 47 Year Old White Male? Reply with quote

Finding a job in Korea?

I know the job market is tougher, etc.

But I've sent my resume/pic to MANY recruiters and I'm guessing they all ended up in the garbage, so to speak, because of my age. The frustrating thing is that I'm perfectly healthy, young looking (all hair-not gray, not fat, white teeth, etc. lol) and can probably run circles around a lot of 20 somethings. Smile

Granted, I don't have any other qualifications than my degree but I'm guessing if I were a few years younger, I would have been contacted. It does suck getting old!

I don't have the money, currently, to pay for any certification so I'm almost ready to throw in the towel.

Anyone know of any recruiters or schools that don't hold age against you that may be looking for a reliable and honest teacher? And one who isn't interested in just drinking and chasing woman around? (Not that that is necessarily a horrible thing, lol)

PS: The especially frustrating thing is: I, at one point, had a job lined up but had to delay departure because of a death in the family and now that recruiter won't return my emails.

Thanks for any help!
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Dodge7



Joined: 21 Oct 2011

PostPosted: Tue Sep 04, 2012 5:46 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Can it be done? Yes/maybe. Will it be easy? Heck no. The job market is not what it was just 2 years ago and your age is a HUGE disadvantage, I'm not going to lie.
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austrian123



Joined: 15 Oct 2010

PostPosted: Tue Sep 04, 2012 5:46 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

At your age why would you want to teach english in korea?
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iggyb



Joined: 29 Oct 2003

PostPosted: Tue Sep 04, 2012 5:50 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Why not China? They seem to have more of the same jobs Korea offers -- where people without qualifications can get them - including more jobs at university that don't require MAs.
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Dodge7



Joined: 21 Oct 2011

PostPosted: Tue Sep 04, 2012 5:50 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

austrian123 wrote:
At your age why would you want to teach english in korea?

Ok, that was the huge, disgusting, ugly 800lb gorilla in the room, but I didn't want to say it lol.
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pattyb



Joined: 29 Jun 2009

PostPosted: Tue Sep 04, 2012 5:54 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Dodge7 wrote:
austrian123 wrote:
At your age why would you want to teach english in korea?

Ok, that was the huge, disgusting, ugly 800lb gorilla in the room, but I didn't want to say it lol.



after working 20 years for the government, sometimes a change is in order. Smile
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Keeper



Joined: 11 Jun 2012

PostPosted: Tue Sep 04, 2012 6:06 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I think the age thing is a bit overblown. Half the teachers I know are older. I can see though where there are pockets of young people. Basically one place is competing directly with another so they hire the same type of person, (female, blonde, young). So you will see discrimination in ads that define age, sex, etc.

That said, things are slow in the ESL job market. You also don't have any prior experience or training. My advice is to look elsewhere right now. China is your best option. Get some money and experience.

If you are dead-set on Korea then make sure you have all your paperwork ready, and be very flexible with where you work. Also keep applying everywhere you can. Give it two months and if there are still no offers then try China.
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tideout



Joined: 12 Dec 2010

PostPosted: Tue Sep 04, 2012 6:13 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

pattyb wrote:
Dodge7 wrote:
austrian123 wrote:
At your age why would you want to teach english in korea?

Ok, that was the huge, disgusting, ugly 800lb gorilla in the room, but I didn't want to say it lol.



after working 20 years for the government, sometimes a change is in order. Smile


When you're young, people think what they are doing is merely one step in a logical chain to "better" things. When you get experience you see things differently.

I met a guy who was in his mid-60's teaching English in Korea. He seemed pretty happy and healthy.

There is a 50's group in Seoul on Meetup. Plenty of people pass through the group so it's obvious many "older" folks are working there.

Related to this topic - there was a report out not long ago by the Dept. of Labor on degree holders and the job market. Among other factors out there is the fact that the US has a surplus of degree holders for the jobs that are forecasted to exist in the coming years. This last week in the NY Times there was an article (Magazine) about the loss of "middle-skilled" - "middle-pay" jobs.
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Pablo



Joined: 15 Dec 2011

PostPosted: Tue Sep 04, 2012 6:18 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

austrian123 wrote:
At your age why would you want to teach english in korea?


Perhaps because with age he has acquired enough world wisdom, not to mention courtesy, not to make a comment like yours?
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tideout



Joined: 12 Dec 2010

PostPosted: Tue Sep 04, 2012 6:31 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Pablo wrote:
austrian123 wrote:
At your age why would you want to teach english in korea?


Perhaps because with age he has acquired enough world wisdom, not to mention courtesy, not to make a comment like yours?


+10
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edwardcatflap



Joined: 22 Mar 2009

PostPosted: Tue Sep 04, 2012 6:36 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Quote:
At your age why would you want to teach english in korea?

Ok, that was the huge, disgusting, ugly 800lb gorilla in the room, but I didn't want to say it lol.



after working 20 years for the government, sometimes a change is in order.


Your problem is not your age, it's your lack of experience/qualifications. If you want a change in career do it properly and fork out a bit of cash (which you should have by now) to get qualified enough so you don't have to demean yourself by applying for entry level jobs along with all the 23 year year old newbies.
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peregrinejones



Joined: 25 Apr 2012

PostPosted: Tue Sep 04, 2012 6:38 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

My first time around there were plenty of "older" guys in my town. My school had a guy in his mid 40s working there when I got hired, and they hired a guy in his early 50s during my year there. So I say don't worry about it!
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iggyb



Joined: 29 Oct 2003

PostPosted: Tue Sep 04, 2012 7:12 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

This year in Korea is special: Seoul's school district just downsized all high school and middle school positions. Other major public school programs had downsizing. That means there was a pool of people currently in Korea competing for the jobs that come open every year.

Add to that the fact there has been several times the normal number of people applying for jobs each year since the global economic downturn in 2008.

Korea's ESL industry is still large and open to inexperienced people. It is just tighter right now than in years past. We'll see what the situation is like once the downsizing in public school system stops. There will always be a large number of hakwon jobs. The problem is the amount of applicants.

China is becoming as well known a place to go for the exact type of expat Korea has led in recruiting for a long time: accepting people with no experience or training. It is starting to compete with Korea and will start to lesson the flood of applicants Korea has gotten since 2008.

You can keep trying Korea until you find a place or go to China.

Are you set on Korea? China offers similar opportunities with similar requirements and similar pay - and China isn't currently experiencing a glut in applicants...
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PatrickGHBusan



Joined: 24 Jun 2008
Location: Busan (1997-2008) Canada 2008 -

PostPosted: Tue Sep 04, 2012 9:59 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Pablo wrote:
austrian123 wrote:
At your age why would you want to teach english in korea?


Perhaps because with age he has acquired enough world wisdom, not to mention courtesy, not to make a comment like yours?


Well said.

OP, sure you can find work. It may take longer but you can find a job. Just make sure you have all your documents ready and in hand when you start applying.

Forn the record, I know a few 50+ people teaching English in Korea and who love it. Most of them made the choice, it was not forced on them (ie losing their jobs).
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pattyb



Joined: 29 Jun 2009

PostPosted: Tue Sep 04, 2012 3:59 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks to all those who offered sincere advice/suggestions. Much appreciated.Smile
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