Korean Job Discussion Forums

[leonardlee]

Hey guys,
I finally landed my first interview next week with Rilee from Korvia. I am confident in doing well on the interview, but I had a few questions regarding the whole recruiting process that I did extensive searching on!

1) It seems like Korvia recruiting only works with the public school systems which requires going through EPIK and GEPIK? Does Korvia not recruit for hagwons or private institutions?

2) What is the difference between applying directly through GEPIK/EPIK vs. using Korvia as an entry? Although I have a strong teaching experience, as a rookie, which is more helpful?

3) As stated, I have my interview with Korvia this next week. Before my Skype interview, do I need these documents in hand or is it what I need to gather after my interview?
http://www.korvia.com/index.php/list-of-required-document.html
I have a majority of the documents in the apostille process and am still working on my online TESOL course.

4) The Korvia documents required parallel that of the ones for GEPIK/EPIK. Does Korvia design their documents required to facilitate the gathering of documents when it comes to apply for the GEPIK?



Thank you so much for your guys help, I thought gathering documents would be the middle of the journey but it seems like that was the easy part. Now to get out to Korea!

[Charlie Bourque]

[Otherside]

Pretty much what Charlie Bourque said. I'd like to add that I've used Korvia twice (both times with Rilee), and I'd strongly recommend them for a public school position.

By the way Korvia does in fact recruit directly for public schools, a large number of their GEPIK jobs are direct hires from the schools themselves.

[Chimie]

Rilee is fantastic. I worked with her as well. She can help you with anything you need. Add her on Skype and on Facebook, because sometimes she can be a little slow responding to E-mail.

[leonardlee]

thanks for all the advice guys, super confident in my interview tomorrow with Korvia. I actually had an interview yesterday with Park English. The interview was smooth, and actually was offered a hagwon job in Ansan, Gyeongido which provides the benefits and the pay is good. The work starts in the end of May.

1. How do I balance out various recruiters? I know Korvia is amazing, but I know recruiters don't want to know that you have many options open. How do I politely keep a position on standby from a recruiter while I wait for another position from another recruiter? What are the etiquettes?

2. GEPIK only hires twice a year correct? March and August? How much of a guarantee and/or wait is finding a GEPIK job upon application submission? Does that mean the application deadline is in August or jobs start in August?

3. If a GEPIK applications are due by August, and I have to wait for a position after August, I am feeling inclined to just taking this hagwon job in Ansan.


Thanks for your thoughts and advice, rookie trying to make it out to Korea

[Whistleblower]

Just tell the recruiters that you would like to take a little time to make the right decision with a job. Tell them that you have other interviews (just be open with them - they would appreciate that) and that after reviewing the jobs, you will keep them informed.

[mayorhaggar]

When does the hagwon job start? Would it be a year contract? Something I've seen people complain about is being forced to work a contract that ends later than the school year start, so then they aren't able to apply for other public school jobs or other hagwon jobs that want you to start in March or August, because they'd still be working until May or October or whatever.

Also the Korean school year starts in early March, and late August is when the second half of the year starts (after summer vacation) and is a common start date for new foreign public school teachers. So if you want to apply to GEPIK, you should probably be applying now so you could start in late August.

If I were you I'd take the hagwon job so you can start working soon and not have to wait to see if you get into a competitive program like GEPIK or EPIK. Then towards the end of your contract you can think about whether you still like Korea, and can apply to GEPIK and/or EPIK, and you'd be a stronger candidate. Again though, keep in mind the hagwon job's contractual end date compared with the start of the public school year, if it ends in May or June you'd have to wait around for a while before starting a PS job. That might work out though, you could go chill on the beach until then, or hang out with the family.

[PRagic]

Ok, I won't say that interviews with recruiters are worthless, but it's always a bit perplexing when newbies read so much into it. You need a degree and a pulse for them to match you with an employer. That's it. Well, ok, and a clean background check. The 'interview' is just to make as sure as possible that you're not clinically insane and that you don't have a glaring stutter.