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Korean Job Discussion Forums
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cheolsu
Joined: 16 Jan 2009
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 Posted: Sat Jan 19, 2013 9:14 pm Post subject: Re: How I got a job at a Seoul university with a BA |
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| earthquakez wrote: |
Truth be told I've known few native English speaking teachers working in France, Taiwan, Japan and Korea (most of the places I've worked) to turn up to work dressed like they're out doing the shopping at the local Tesco's (HomePlus in Korea). I bet the number was even less for going to teaching job interviews.
The same ol cliche but some of us don't fall for it. Sorry sunshine, better luck next time convincing some people here that you got the job because of your amazing presence, suit and tie and aftershave, messed up interpretation of requirements and BA.
There are just too many candidates for university gigs in Korea - and those even with BAs only often have good, solid college teaching etc in other countries on their cv. Good for you for landing the job but I'm sure you aint telling us about your contacts at this university or contact of a contact. |
In fairness, I only saw one other candidate, so I can't be sure of how everyone dressed, but I have read stories on this board, admittedly on a thread of university interview horror stories, about others who turned up for interviews in casual clothes and acted very inappropriately.
I do not know anyone at that university, nor did the people I know who are loosely affiliated with that school (my co-worker's brother graduated from there, my girlfriend's father went there) call in any "favours" they might have as alumni. I know many people who teach at universities, but I can't begin to use those contacts until I finish my degree.
For all I know, I might have gotten this job out of luck, since someone had to get it, and that would make this a useless thread for anybody who wants to do what I did. However, I can assure you that I didn't get this job by knowing anyone who works at this school in any capacity.
swashbuckler, the interview involved a test of writing and grammar ability. I thought that this was an activity I should prepare in my lesson, but it was actually a test of my own abilities, conducted separate from the mock lecture.
As for Chaucer, I know someone who has a tenure-track position here who beat out another candidate because he was black, while my friend was (and is) white. If something is going to distinguish between candidates with identical credentials, it might as well be a half-completed relevant graduate degree, an undergraduate degree from a good school or wearing a nice suit on an unbearably hot day.
Could anyone who has hired or knows how decisions are made when hiring candidates of roughly equal qualifications comment on the theories being thrown about? |
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liveinkorea316
Joined: 20 Aug 2010
Location: South Korea
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| Posted: Sat Jan 19, 2013 10:42 pm Post subject: |
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I think the OP has a point though. You do have to throw your hat in. People say that the days of only MA's at unis are numbered but they obviously aren't. I would say the same for my uni.
I would not be sure but I would say a good interview by a BA with a few years of public school experience in Korea would beat an MA holder for a job at my uni if their interview was better.
You underestimate the extent to which the Korean professors don't consider the foreign staff to be 'real' staff members or 'real' educators. They still pick teachers and let go of teachers based on such frivolous things.
When you are hired on the basis of your PhD expect to be treated like a part of the actual teaching staff at a uni. Until then, BA's will always have a shot at interviews against MA's where you merely need to impress the Korean Interviewers on the day. |
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I'm With You
Joined: 01 Sep 2011
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| Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2013 9:26 am Post subject: |
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| liveinkorea316 wrote: |
I think the OP has a point though. You do have to throw your hat in. People say that the days of only MA's at unis are numbered but they obviously aren't. I would say the same for my uni.
I would not be sure but I would say a good interview by a BA with a few years of public school experience in Korea would beat an MA holder for a job at my uni if their interview was better.
You underestimate the extent to which the Korean professors don't consider the foreign staff to be 'real' staff members or 'real' educators. They still pick teachers and let go of teachers based on such frivolous things.
When you are hired on the basis of your PhD expect to be treated like a part of the actual teaching staff at a uni. Until then, BA's will always have a shot at interviews against MA's where you merely need to impress the Korean Interviewers on the day. |
Great Post! I completely agree with everything you've said here. Yes, it's quite possible - even likely - that the OP beat out other candidates who held M.A. degrees or even doctoral degrees.
First of all, Ph.D degrees aren't wanted for most of the university TEFL positions that we are working here in Korea. In fact, I'd go as far to say that many doctoral holders are passed over for the kinds of English teaching jobs that most of us here have at universities in Korea.
Also, as mentioned above, Korean professors don't regard as bona fide professors or educators. Were not considered equals and, thus, are regarded as "invited help" and treated accordingly.
In several of my past university interviews, I usually have had to have the approval of foreign instructors that have sat in on the interviews. While the Korean Chair or Director will ultimately sign off on the new hire, it's the "trusted" foreign instructor(s) who recommend or vet the candidate.
Normally, the current foreigners don't want someone more qualified or experienced than them coming in and possibly posing a threat to their little fiefdom that they've created. And several such foreign teachers I know only do hold B.A. degrees.
In fact, I know one non-native English speaking young woman who got a job at a university in Seoul recently, but she's young, attractive and female. And she wasn't the most qualified applicant interviewed, either - far from it.
So I believe the OP if he said he got a job at a university with only a B.A. and no experience. It's quite possible; if he won over the right people in the interview.
As the poster above said, it's still very much a crap shoot in terms of Korean university TEFL hiring and so it makes sense to "throw in your hat". I agree. Nothing is standardized here yet in terms of hiring like it is in other countries.
Korea is still a great place for young B.A. holders with no experience to come and find a job with university working conditions - even non-English speakers.
Such opportunities, outside of say China, don't exist in Japan, Taiwan or Hong Kong or the M.E. for B.A. holders. They do in Korea. |
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NYC_Gal 2.0
Joined: 10 Dec 2010
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| Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2013 4:34 pm Post subject: |
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| At least you men can shave, slap on a suit, and head to an interview looking great. I spent 15 minutes just choosing which necklace to wear with my dress. |
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Alum
Joined: 09 Jan 2013
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| Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2013 8:01 pm Post subject: Re: Sh*t, Shower, Shave... |
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| Chaucer wrote: |
I recently landed a good uni job (3.5 & actual, decent, rent-free housing)--all because I shaved and wore a suit to the interview. It was last June--hot as Jebus, but (and) I was wearing a suit. The TA (now "my" TA) took me into the interview room and said "You're very nicely dressed. None of the other candidates has worn a suit." Amazing. They'd already had twelve interviews that day. Later I got a look at the pile of resumes--qualifications identical to mine. The suit, the suit, the dreaded suit! (the Korea savvy might add "the haircut" or "the shave" or "the smile")...
Why are North Americans so obsessed with dressing down?
Think Pulp Fiction: wearing Quentin Tarantino's character's summer ultra-casual clothes after cleaning up a dead body, Vincent and Jules go the bar to meet Marcelus.
Bartender (to Jules): N*g**h what's up with those clothes?
I want to say that to 90% of the "teachers" I see in Korea. |
Right! Masters or not, wear a suit for an interview. You can bet the interviewer will be well dressed. I never saw a Korean teacher who was poorly dressed. I had to dress well just to keep up with my university students. When teaching at a Korean high school, on hot days we were allowed to wear a short sleeved dress shirt w/o tie, or a polo shirt, but everyone looked good. Don't like the advise, don't listen to it! I'm not the one needs the job... |
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