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Michlerish
Joined: 08 Jan 2013
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 Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2013 9:37 pm Post subject: In interview process right now, things to be wary of? |
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I'm working with several recruiters (I emailed too many of them to begin with), and have been going through many interviews with schools. I've been accepted to every position I've interviewed for, so far. I've been asking the recruiters to send me sample contracts after the interviews.
Most of the positions are very similar; all involve kindy in the morning, elementary/middle in the afternoons, hours are more or less 9am - 6pm, salary is 2.1 or 2.2, health insurance, housing, airfare.
How can I figure out where the red flags are? What I've considered red flags I've experienced so far:
- No foreign teacher present to speak with me at the Interview (this has happened twice, although they did provide me with email addresses when I asked)
- One school only has 2 foreign teachers; one leaving in Feb and the other leaving in 2.5 months
- Asking way too many questions about my personal life, and family status (ie. how much I drink, whether I smoke, whether I'm christian, whether my parents are christian, what my parents do, etc)
- Sample contract doesn't say National Health (it said Korean Medical Union, what is that?)
So what are some red flags during the interview and sample contract period that I could be missing? I really need help sorting the bad from the good, and without prior experience teaching english abroad, I feel a little too vulnerable.
PS. Is it normal for schools/recruiters to be really pushy needing an answer? I realize they want to start the visa application process asap, but shouldn't I get at least 2-4 days to think about it and potentially interview with more schools?
Thanks so much for your help!!!  |
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tremault
Joined: 25 Sep 2012
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| Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2013 10:13 pm Post subject: |
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It helps to remember that they are trying to run a business. Time is money.
schools will be taking on students and will have a starting date. They can't afford to sit around.
From their point of view, if you can't decide on the contract upon reading it, then they want somebody who can.
From your point of view, of course you want to make sure you don't get into a troublesome situation. Keep in mind though, the best job you ever have, could be behind one of these contracts and if you dilly dally too much, you might miss it.
Best thing you can do is to be sure of yourself and confident of your judgement. Read some good contracts and some bad contracts in the contract thread here. Make up your own mind on whether the Employers sound good or not.
It also depends on what sort of person you are.
Of course, if the contract states something like 'Korean Medical Union' , it sounds fishy to you, it also sounds a bit odd to me. If you feel uncertain about it, that is your red flag.
It might not be a red flag for somebody else, but you have to make your own choice what you think is okay or not. |
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Michlerish
Joined: 08 Jan 2013
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| Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2013 11:03 pm Post subject: |
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| Thanks tremault, I guess there really aren't any common warnings I should watch out for. I'm just nervous because I'm being accepted to every position and I have no idea if it's because they actually think I'll be a great teacher, or if it's because they're a shady hagwon with high turnover. |
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danniedoodles
Joined: 27 Dec 2012
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| Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2013 1:27 pm Post subject: |
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| if you don't mind me asking, who are some of the recruiters you are using? I haven't had much luck securing interviews but have spoken with many recruiters... |
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FastForward
Joined: 04 Jul 2011
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| Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2013 1:42 pm Post subject: |
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| danniedoodles wrote: |
| if you don't mind me asking, who are some of the recruiters you are using? I haven't had much luck securing interviews but have spoken with many recruiters... |
Use them all! there is probably over 40 recruiters on the Korea job board. |
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cheolsu
Joined: 16 Jan 2009
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| Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2013 1:46 pm Post subject: |
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| Use them all. Apply to every single recruiter you get. Sometimes, the best ones won't reply to you for whatever reason, which is typically that they don't have a job that fits what you're looking for. Other times, a recruiter that seems flaky will have great jobs for you. |
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danniedoodles
Joined: 27 Dec 2012
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| Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2013 1:57 pm Post subject: |
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| i HAVE been applying through most of them. i tried this a few months ago, before i had all of my visa documents in order and got shafted. i should have my apostilled crc back any day now and i'm ready to apply my little butt off. but i keep hearing the market is flooded, and not to be picky about location, but i am because i'm pretty firmly set on busan. |
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FastForward
Joined: 04 Jul 2011
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| Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2013 2:09 pm Post subject: |
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| danniedoodles wrote: |
| i HAVE been applying through most of them. i tried this a few months ago, before i had all of my visa documents in order and got shafted. i should have my apostilled crc back any day now and i'm ready to apply my little butt off. but i keep hearing the market is flooded, and not to be picky about location, but i am because i'm pretty firmly set on busan. |
There is your problem. I haven't seen many Busan jobs advertised. How about Ulsan which is pretty closeto Busan? Plus you don't have your documets in hand. |
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Michlerish
Joined: 08 Jan 2013
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| Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2013 3:58 pm Post subject: |
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| danniedoodles wrote: |
| i HAVE been applying through most of them. i tried this a few months ago, before i had all of my visa documents in order and got shafted. i should have my apostilled crc back any day now and i'm ready to apply my little butt off. but i keep hearing the market is flooded, and not to be picky about location, but i am because i'm pretty firmly set on busan. |
I emailed a bunch of recruiters and they all contacted me almost immediately. I think your problem might be the location you're looking for, as I'm looking in Seoul. I've already turned down 4 positions, 3 schools are waiting for my answer, and I have 2 more interviews set up.
I have no idea what the market is like in Busan, but sounds like they might not have as many positions open as Seoul. |
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oppa637
Joined: 05 Dec 2011
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| Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2013 4:29 pm Post subject: |
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| Are you white? Female? Blonde? Young? |
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danniedoodles
Joined: 27 Dec 2012
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| Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2013 5:10 pm Post subject: |
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white female brunette 26 - dye my hair? lol
I am not totally against Seoul but I have had my heart set on busan for awhile now- I want to give it a good run. Seoul can be my backup, I guess. |
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diver
Joined: 16 Jun 2003
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| Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2013 5:59 pm Post subject: |
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| Make sure you are not being hired as an independent contractor. |
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MetaFitX
Joined: 23 Jun 2009
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| Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2013 4:17 pm Post subject: |
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| Michlerish wrote: |
| I have no idea what the market is like in Busan, but sounds like they might not have as many positions open as Seoul. |
Horrible. I've been here since 09'. Definitely the worst I've seen since I've arriving. Almost all of the jobs are 9-6/9-7 kindie/elementary. Lots of students have dropped due to the new gov't initiative and lots of schools have been closing. |
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World Traveler
Joined: 29 May 2009
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| Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2013 5:04 pm Post subject: |
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| Lots of students have dropped due to the new gov't initiative and lots of schools have been closing. |
What government initiative is this? I heard something about it not too long ago, but didn't get the details. What are the specifics? |
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Son Deureo!
Joined: 30 Apr 2003
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| Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2013 5:13 pm Post subject: Re: In interview process right now, things to be wary of? |
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| Michlerish wrote: |
How can I figure out where the red flags are? What I've considered red flags I've experienced so far:
- No foreign teacher present to speak with me at the Interview (this has happened twice, although they did provide me with email addresses when I asked) |
Not really a red flag. An e-mail address is better than the FT being present at the interview. They're more likely to be honest with you in a private e-mail than in an interview with the boss looking over their shoulder.
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| - One school only has 2 foreign teachers; |
Not a red flag, this just means it's probably not a very big school. At some hogwons you could be the only one, and that's not really a bad thing.
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| one leaving in Feb and the other leaving in 2.5 months |
Not necessarily a red flag either. Most FTs don't stay in Korea for more than a year.
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| - Asking way too many questions about my personal life, and family status (ie. how much I drink, whether I smoke, whether I'm christian, whether my parents are christian, what my parents do, etc) |
Koreans have what most Westerners would consider an interesting idea of appropriate conversation with people they've just met. All of the above, plus "Are you married? Why not?" "Why don't you have a boyfriend?" "How much do you weigh?", etc. Not particularly professional, but then again, not too surprising either.
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| - Sample contract doesn't say National Health (it said Korean Medical Union, what is that?) |
This could be a big red flag. All employers in Korea are required to arrange and pay for 50% of the premiums for health insurance through the National Health Insurance Corporation. "Korean Medical Union" might just be a really bad translation of the Korean for NHIC, but they might also be trying to illegally push you into a cheaper private health plan instead. These often don't cover nearly as much as the NHIC, if they pay out at all. Definitely ask questions about this.
Also, paying into NHIC and the national pension plan come as a package deal. For pension, you pay about 5% of your salary to the government, and your employer matches it. When you're ready to leave Korea, you can get all of it back. If your boss is leaving you out of pension, he's illegally cheating you out of about a million won a year.
| Quote: |
| So what are some red flags during the interview and sample contract period that I could be missing? I really need help sorting the bad from the good, and without prior experience teaching english abroad, I feel a little too vulnerable. |
Google the name of your school and its location to see if any previous foreign teacher has had experiences with the school and written about it on blacklists or personal blogs. You won't always find information, but often you can. |
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