Korean Job Discussion Forums

sparkles98356 · Joined: 19 Feb 2013

Hi All!

I'm hoping you can offer me some advice. This is my first time coming to Korea and I was offered a job in a kindergarten in Seoul. Everything went fine, I received my visa from the Korean embassy in London yesterday and my flight is booked for tomorrow. However, my recruiter contacted me this morning saying that the school can no longer afford a new teacher and I now have two options:

Cancel my flight and sit tight at home while looking for a new job, or come to Korea tomorrow and look for a job while I'm there.

I have the funds to survive a couple of months, and I have some friends currently living in Seoul who have said they would be happy to put me up for a while so I don't have to use hotels the entire time, I'm just not sure what the best option is and I'm not sure what the technicalities would be with my visa and such like. My recruiter has said he will help me whatever I choose to do, but I would really appreciate some friendly advice!

Thanks!

Sparkles

YTMND · Joined: 16 Jan 2012 Location: You're the man now dog!!

sparkles98356 · Joined: 19 Feb 2013

I know I'm maybe pretty naive, but I booked my flight because I'd signed a contract, sent my documents and got my visa. I was meant to be getting reimbursed from the school in my first pay. I thought this was standard for the majority of hagwons.

I'm aware I need to look for a new school, but I'm not sure whether it is best to come to Korea tomorrow with my visa, or cancel my flight (the school have claimed they will pay my cancellation fee) and look from the UK.

I'm sorry if I'm not making too much sense, I'm just a bit upset and know that there's plenty of experienced folk on here with some good advice.

CentralCali · Joined: 17 May 2007

Unless there's been a drastic shakeup at Immigration, you'll have to do all your paperwork in your country. You haven't actually arrived in Korea yet so you don't have the visa.

I'm sure ttomnpatz will correct me if I'm wrong.

Wait a moment! OP, you say you were offered a job at a kindergarten. When did kindergartens get permission to sponsor language teachers?

cam83 · Joined: 27 Jan 2013 Location: Seoul, South Korea

I'm from the UK - you say you have funds for 2 months, so I assume you have already spoke with friends living here... if not, have a dig through this site for relevant threads about cost of living.

If you have enough funds to get you through a month or so, I'd say come here simply for the fact that there is MUCH higher chance of getting a job because you will be in-country, which saves hassle and will put you ahead of someone equivalent who is outside of Korea. Hell, you can even go to schools directly. I'd say you could easily get a kinder job within 2 weeks - visa issue is no hassle really, you'd just have to have it amended for your new employer.

A quick look on this job board whilst at Heathrow... apply for about 20 jobs and let us know where things stand by April 1st.

Good luck.

sparkles98356 · Joined: 19 Feb 2013

CentralCali - the school functiones as a private kindergarten during public school hours then an English hagwon later in the day. I'm not sure if that makes a difference?

Cam83 - thank you very much for the advice, especially about the visa. I really appreciate it. My recruiter had said much the same, but I just wanted to double check. My friends that live in Seoul have spoken to me about the cost of living so I'm certain I have a couple of months worth of money to survive. I suppose the worst case scenario is that I don't find a job before I run out of cash and have to head home. Thankfully my dad is kind enough to have offered up the return flight fare if that turns out to be the case. I'll let you know how I get on. Thanks agan!

ttompatz · Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Location: Kwangju, South Korea

Bad news and good news.

Since you have a visa in your passport, IF you come to Korea and enter using that visa you will need a LOR to move to a new employer. Your old employer (the one who screwed you) is under NO legal obligation to offer a release to allow you to take new work.

If you do not have a LOR you will NOT be allowed to change jobs AND you have a 90 day limit (since you need to get your ARC within 90 days and can't do that without an employer).

You will also NOT get reimbursed for your flight if you get the job after you get to Korea. It will be sunk money.

The good news is that if you do NOT come to Korea your visa will expire in 90 days and you can start all over again with a minimum of fuss (other than getting new documents).

Other options: China, Taiwan or Thailand.

.

sparkles98356 · Joined: 19 Feb 2013

Thanks! I was hoping you would reply. My recruiter has told me that the school that screwed me over is more than willing to provide me with a LOR. Apparently they have suddenly decided that they can't afford another teacher. If it is the case that they do provide me with a LOR, I'm assuming I'm still tied to the 90 day rule? I couldn't afford to live longer than that minus any wages anyway.

Thanks for your help.

ttompatz · Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Location: Kwangju, South Korea

CentralCali · Joined: 17 May 2007

sparkles98356 · Joined: 19 Feb 2013

My recruiter did mention a letter of release to me when giving me the option of flying over to job hunt. He also didn't put any pressure on me to fly over; it was mentioned alongside the option of staying at home and job hunting. When he talked about staying at home and job hunting he said that due to having a LOR, I would be able to use the same visa that is in my passport (provided I find a job within 3 months). I am perhaps still being naive, but I don't see what my recruiter would have to gain from me flying out and job hunting through him when I wouldn't be able to take a job? That surely wouldn't earn him any money?

For what it's worth, he has emailed me a scan of the LOR today and I have printed it off. I'm hoping that this is security enough for me to get on the plane tomorrow without too much worry.

Thank you for your replies Smile

watergirl · Joined: 01 Jul 2008 Location: Ansan, south korea

Hey so you're ok if you have a LOR.
Be warned that if you come here 1st, most jobs won't pay the airfare u orginally paid to get here.
Also, definitely don't stay with just one recruiter. It will take much longer to get a job, and, sorry to say, but really take many things a recruiter says with a large DOSE of SALT. Really. So, if they say the school is five minutes walk from the subway, actually check-it out yourself.

How is your experience? or do you have something like a degree in English that employers are really looking for? Even being here, it takes a bit of time to get a better job.

IF not, u might have to wait for a decent job anyways.

But that said, you have friends here, so you can likely get some pt (illegal) work to tide you over, and you're not stranded as you'll know how to get around with your friend's help.

le-paul · Joined: 07 Apr 2009 Location: dans la chambre

i know this doesnt answer your original query, but if youd like the email of a recruiter ive used in the past, i can provide one for you.Last time i spoke to him, he said he had a lot of positions (so long as you dont mind being outside of seoul).
www.knrecruting.com. his name is kevin ku (btw, before i get shot down, im not making any money out of this, just trying to help a fellow traveller)

cam83 · Joined: 27 Jan 2013 Location: Seoul, South Korea

sparkles98356 · Joined: 19 Feb 2013

Thank you for all your replies. My degree is in English and I have completed a TEFL certificate. I don't have much in the way of relevant experience.

I arrived today and am staying with a friend for the time being. I'm going to start the job hunt on Monday and am keeping my fingers crossed. I'm not brave enough to go the illegal route work wise, so I'm just going to be frugal with what money I do have and hope for the best. Thank you all for your advice and I'll keep you posted.