Korean Job Discussion Forums

[dluna]

Hey Guys.
I have been applying like crazy, since mid August, and I am finding I am having an exceptionally hard time finding a teaching job right now. Is this typical of this time of year? One recruiter told me that the market is flooded, so the schools can choose to be picky with who they will hire. It could be me that I am picky, but it seems that the only jobs available are in inconvenient locations, or the hours are quite terrible. I know that FEB and August are the big hiring times, but this just seems impossible that I have not found a job yet. Granted, I am primarily looking to work in Seoul, but I never had this much difficulty in the past.

Anyone else experiencing anything similar to this? It's almost at the point now of getting a seasonal job in the US, and hedge my bets on a February opening.

[YTMND]

[Ranman]

If you're looking for just jobs in Seoul and Busan, then yes, you're going to have a hard time in regards of public schools. There are recruiters though that have openings year round. I highly recommend Alistair from Korean Horizons, as he is very professional, as long as you're upfront with him. That being said, you should also use as many recruiters you can until you find the job you're looking for.

If you look hard enough, you may find some openings before the Feb start, as long as you're not picky about location.

[jakesalva]

hey dluna. I know exactly how you feel. I am experiencing the same thing right now.

So your post makes me feel both better and worse!

I haven't been applying like crazy since August, but for approx a month.

I'm finding it surprisingly hard. It seems a lot tougher than last year and many recruiters have told me the market is very competitive right now.

I consider myself an above average candidate, and several recruiters have told me my CV/Resume is very impressive, but the offers just aren't coming through.

Also many recruiters have told me that Hagwon directors tend to have a preferce for N. American females. And the many job ads which state 'female wanted/preferred' seem to support this.

I think the reason the market is more competitive, is that due to the state of the economies back home, more people are both staying in Korea, and applying to go there.

TEFL teaching is becoming a more popular option every year.

[McSalty]

It's definitely an employers' market right now. Every job post you reply to, you're probably one of fifty. Due to the state of the economy, more teachers are staying in Korea, which means more competitive applicants who have several years teaching experience. The fact that SMOE is shutting down their native speaker programs in public middle and high schools doesn't help either.

It's a numbers game, so just keep applying to jobs. And it wouldn't hurt to dress up your resume, cover letter, and make sure your application photo is professional looking.

[nautilus]

[jakesalva]

[Peter258]

people have been saying this every year for the past 5 or 6 years it seems.

[McSalty]

[FaceFaceFace]

Yes, yes and yes to the sentiments expressed here!!

I have only been back home since August and it's been so hard even to get recruiters to get back to me most of the time.

It's definitely been harder since I did all this for the first time a year ago.

What I do now is scan the jobs here on Dave's, then Facebook, Craigslist, Google search and apply like crazy. It really is a number's game and there is a bit of tripe being tossed around. I'm also so over the whole "prefer North American female" tag-line at the end of most of the ads **rolls eyes**

It certainly helps if you have all your documents ready to roll and can interview or jump through whatever hoops at a moment's notice.

I've also noticed the jobs seem to be for Feb./March or ASAP, so for myself I changed my preference from Seoul in Feb and just went for wherever very soon. Depends what you want though and if you're prepared to hold out. It's such an employer's market right now!!!!!

[nautilus]

[Weigookin74]

[JustinC]

[Peter258]

there should be a separate jobs board for "female only" postings.

and a separate board for all kindy jobs as well.

I'm so sick of having weeding through these kindy and "female only" posts.

[Patrick Murray]

This is a really helpful thread. I have been shootng out resumes to recruiters and schools like a madman since July. Ive been offered jobs in Asan, Ansan, Gumi, Cheongju, Gyeongju... I just accepted Cheongju today, as I am tired of waiting out for Seoul or Busan... I was not even able to land a single interview with those locations.

My plan is do a year in Cheongju, gain experience, gain Tefl Certification, beef up resume, then make the move to Seoul or Busan or at least cities outlining these two larger ones.

I start the Cheongju position two days before my 34th birthday, I am beyond ready to get out of N America right now, wish I would have made this move sooner in life... oh well, at least its happening NOW.

Japan use to be the place?
S Korea is no longer becoming the place?
China is the next big option


would that be a fair summation?