Korean Job Discussion Forums

[duckiedoodle]

I had originally planned to come to Korea in April and wasn't concerned about getting a public school job. My boyfriend recently reached out to some people in his profession (it requires living abroad) who had lived in Korea and had girlfriends who taught. They have convinced him that I must get a public school job.

The two options we have come up with are:

a) Fly to Korea in April and hope to find some short term Hagwon work until I can get a public school position in Sept.

b) Fly to Korea and hope to pick up a public school slot that a March hire abandoned.

Neither of these plans seem feasible to me but I thought I would run them by the experts.

I am a North American female, with an Ed degree (though it is named something else which seems to cause some confusion), an Early Childhood through Sixth grade teaching certificate, and a year experience teaching Kindergarten abroad.

[andrewchon]

You're going to an E-2 visa, so flying in and finding a job is not going to happen. Public school jobs are getting cut. The new president favours hagwon, so be a hagwon teacher. They do have bad reputation at the moment, but soon they'll be the only choice available.

a) for E-2, there's no such thing as a short term job. They're all 12months.
b) PS are looking for 'already in country'

[NYC_Gal 2.0]

[comm]

[watergirl]

i
so u should do some reading on this message board to learn about the basic visas here. So, u need to get docs and a job before u leave which all are 1 year E2 visas.

It is not as flexible to change jobs now since a new rule which states that a teacher requires a letter of release from their job in order to apply for a new one. Your contract will say u can leave if u give enough notice, but it is often difficult to get this letter from employers. You now have no other options if this letter can't be gotten and must leave the country and wait till the 1 year expires to apply for a new position.
It is possible to work illegally and merely to have a different type of visa.
But, with an education degree, why not merely apply for public schools now. Find the recruiters that have specific schools and apply through them. Try Korvia or Footprints. Unfortunately, you have missed the large hiring that occurred for the new school year in march.

[watergirl]

And, your boyfriend's friends may have worked here awhile ago, before there were changes to the work permit/E2 visa system.
For your 1st visa, (E2 visa), the applicant requires documents gotten and endorsed from their home country and an interview in their home country at the Korean consulate.
This might have changed again even, but just call one of the recruiters above and tell them your wishes.
There are rare shorter contracts by the way, seen on job sites.

[duckiedoodle]

I hate to resurrect an older post but I wanted to say thanks for all of the replies. I sent the link to my boyfriend and that ended his meddling for a bit The agreement we just came up with was that I will spend the next two weeks trying to find something in a public school if that doesn't happen start looking at private again. Part of the issue was I have a very very hard time with the word no. I hated cancelling interviews and rejecting offers but it is now done. I contacted Korvia and we shall see how it goes. I am having difficulties with the letters of reference but I am going to search here and try to wrap my head around who needs to write them.