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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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 Posted: Sun Dec 02, 2012 3:37 am Post subject: Re: Newbies to Korea: Good Luck |
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| nashboroguy wrote: |
Korea was lifted up highly by my instructor for my TESOL/TEFL/TESL certification. She believes that jobs are still plentiful in Korea. Perhaps they are for a person who is female, has a couple years experience, willing to work with kinder aged kids, and under the age of 35. But, my situation seems to be a big hurdle to overcome.
I really wanted to work in Korea. I am looking to be an ESL teacher for many years to come....not just for a year or two's worth of adventure. But, at an old age of 46 with no ESL experience, I think I am up a creek without a paddle. I have applied to every potential job offer I can find online and have only had two recruiters respond back to me.
I am not being hateful or depressed from the results I have had. But, I am definitely frustrated by the results. I would love some advice and some honesty in your posts as to how to overcome these hurdles. Can I even overcome them? Should I give up on my Korean ESL dream and look to places like China instead? I would love to hear from you.
Thanks. |
Age and timing are both issues.
The school year effectively ends in about 3 weeks.
The new term starts March 2.
I wouldn't give up. I was over 50 the last time I changed jobs/employers.
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lemak
Joined: 02 Jan 2011
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| Posted: Sun Dec 02, 2012 3:42 am Post subject: |
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+ 1 for heading to China.
Being 46 won't put you at anywhere near the level of disadvantage as it will in Korea. Huge number of universities who will take anything with a western passport and a pulse. Many of them will actually look at the age thing as a plus.
My boss at my school in China claims she rarely hires people in their 20s anymore.
Forget also what you read about the PRC being backwards and dirty. Can't really generalize the place like that. Those types of places exist, but many of the East coast cities are more modern looking and trendy than Korean cities these days....and progressing rapidly.
I never saw any cities in Korea that are as clean and green as the one I live in at the moment in Jiangsu province.
Cheaper, wider variety of food in the supermarkets. I can buy more fresh fruit and vegetables than I can carry for under 3 or 4 bucks. What can you buy in Korea for that? A couple of month-old apples?
Place has its faults, for sure, but overall my only real regret is I didn't come here years ago. |
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nautilus
Joined: 26 Nov 2005
Location: Je jump, Tu jump, oui jump!
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| Posted: Sun Dec 02, 2012 7:06 am Post subject: |
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| lemak wrote: |
My boss at my school in China claims she rarely hires people in their 20s anymore. |
Experienced managers tend to say this.
Problem is there is too high a managerial turnover in this field, so the wisdom does not get passed on. |
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young_clinton
Joined: 09 Sep 2009
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| Posted: Sun Dec 02, 2012 7:28 am Post subject: |
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| nero wrote: |
Look, Korea ain't even worth the stress. I have worked all over Asia, had a blast in Thailand (the pay is lower, but the I was able to save the same due to lower living costs and had a much better time).
Head to China, Man!!
To reiterate:
Korea ain't even worth the stress |
Korea is more stressful than Thailand? That was definitely not my experience. Also the savings from Korea were considerably more. In Thailand if you really tighten you're belt you can save maybe $500 US a month. I don't have enought experience to know for sure, but I think you're more likely to get axed from a job in Thailand than in Korea which means even less savings during the couple of months that you spend waiting for another job in Thailand. A lot of teachers that were in Thailand are still chafing from the nice pay during the floods last year. I'll let someone else discuss that if they want to. Maybe another poster that might have had to scrape up the money from somewhere to fly back during the floods last year. |
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Ralphie
Joined: 24 Mar 2010
Location: Beijing, PRC
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| Posted: Sun Dec 02, 2012 9:40 am Post subject: |
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| JustinC wrote: |
| Ralphie wrote: |
| Definitely talk to recruiters about the job ad specs AND definitely do your own research regarding work visa requirements of a country you're interested in. Recruiters will paint a rosy picture in order to get you to sign on--it's how they make their money. Sometimes the job ad specs are of no importance to a particular school, but immigration will require them in order to process a legit work visa. Most countries in the Middle East require degrees in English, TESOL, or Linguistics because it is an immigration requirement. |
Well I've (legally) worked in 3 different jobs - language school, university, military - in two countries in the ME and don't have a degree in any of those subjects, just a Ba and a Trinity Cert. TESOL. |
Of course... But if the OP is interested in the ME, it is now a requirement in Saudi Arabia (new regulation came into effect this past July). Oman is another. But I would agree that China is the way to go. Hardly any BS about getting documents notarized and apostilled (like Korea), generally lower cost of living and taxes, more interesting to explore, cheaper flights to other countries. But this is where teaching in Korea beats China hands down: severance pay and pension. |
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esl4everever
Joined: 26 Aug 2012
Location: ESL TEACHER
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| Posted: Sun Dec 02, 2012 12:53 pm Post subject: not impossible |
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Well -
Let me start by saying this...
Advise is worth what you pay for it.
And remember advise on forums is free.
Approach all forums with extreme caution.
Take the advise with a grain of salt.
Some of the advise can be rather harsh.
And let me say that I really feel all TESOL schools have to sell the product they are charging you for.
Im not saying its right - Im just stating a fact.
They all sell you on that you will get a job in________ country.
They have to make you feel good that you just spent whatever on your TESOL certificate.
Getting jobs in Korea has a large part to do with if you have all you ducks in a row.
The hardest thing to get is the Korea apostile which is only good for 6 months.
Employers will not even talk to you until you get that taken care of.
And remember...
Its never impossible to get a job in Korea.
Keep pushing and you will get one if you really want one.
Anything else you hear is crap.
I myself got a job in a country where everyone told me not to go.
They said it was impossible.
Keep pushing for it - you will get it. |
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JustinC
Joined: 10 Mar 2012
Location: We Are The World!
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| Posted: Sun Dec 02, 2012 9:42 pm Post subject: |
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| Ralphie wrote: |
| Of course... But if the OP is interested in the ME, it is now a requirement in Saudi Arabia (new regulation came into effect this past July). Oman is another. But I would agree that China is the way to go. Hardly any BS about getting documents notarized and apostilled (like Korea), generally lower cost of living and taxes, more interesting to explore, cheaper flights to other countries. But this is where teaching in Korea beats China hands down: severance pay and pension. |
Well damn, I didn't see that change coming. I checked the ME boards and need to thank you for that new info, I only left the ME last year.
Saudi has enough difficulty getting (or, rather, keeping) teachers without shooting itself in the foot like that. They're going to have to pay a lot more than the UAE if they want to compete for equally qualified teachers. |
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Rowdy
Joined: 23 Oct 2012
Location: USA
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| Posted: Mon Dec 03, 2012 6:44 pm Post subject: Newbies to Korea |
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China is a great place to get your feet wet and the ME is very tough on first timers IMHO. Either place you need to be flexible. I am 50 years old. Never give up. I have friends just starting teaching that are older than me.
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Snowkr
Joined: 03 Jun 2005
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| Posted: Fri Dec 07, 2012 8:46 am Post subject: |
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Hi OP
I'm a little more than 10 years your junior, but I would still have to disagree with the participants here in this thread who have advised you to go to look for work in China over Korea.
Having worked in both countries, there is really no comparison in my view. Feel free to PM me for more details if you feel inclined.
Oh... and just to comment on JustinC's remark about the Middle East valuing age over competence, this is one of the most absurd things I've ever read in any of these forums. |
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byrddogs
Joined: 19 Jun 2009
Location: Shanghai
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| Posted: Fri Dec 07, 2012 2:33 pm Post subject: |
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| Snowkr wrote: |
Hi OP
I'm a little more than 10 years your junior, but I would still have to disagree with the participants here in this thread who have advised you to go to look for work in China over Korea.
Having worked in both countries, there is really no comparison in my view. Feel free to PM me for more details if you feel inclined.
Oh... and just to comment on JustinC's remark about the Middle East valuing age over competence, this is one of the most absurd things I've ever read in any of these forums. |
Lots of people would be interested in the comparison (no comparison). Why not post it up here? It'd be helpful to others considering both places, I'm sure. |
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face32
Joined: 06 Oct 2010
Location: USA
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| Posted: Tue Dec 11, 2012 6:23 pm Post subject: |
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The place where I used to work often hires older people. They have their negatives but overall not a terrible place to work. It's not like your typical hagwon though, its an English Village. I'm not sure they are hiring right now though.
PM me if you want more details about it. |
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