Korean Job Discussion Forums

Stagefire4 · Joined: 24 May 2013 Location: China

Hello all.

I am writing with a pretty specific set of problems so I hope it's alright I started a new thread. I am living in China right now working for an English First franchise school.

I am not pleased with how the environment is affecting my health and I want a move, its a bit more complicated than that but we don't need to get into details.

I have a bachelors from a university in America and I have experience teaching, and tutoring as well as a tefl in china certificate. I am wondering if I would be able to find work starting around September, is this a difficult time to begin or do you think there will be jobs year round? I would only take a position in Seoul or Busan and I want to be making about 2.3 million Won to start.

Will my breaking a year contract after 6 months be a problem with a new employer? I have legitimate reasons and documented proof that my health has been compromised due to working where I do so I don't think explaining my desire to leave will be an issue. I know I need an apostiled criminal check and degree. I can hire a service to do the criminal check for me while I am in china I just need to send them my fingerprints which I can have done in Beijing or Shanghai. As for the degree. I know I need to have it notorized first and the apostiled, can I just have a copy of the degree notarized and apostiled because my degree is in china and it is expensive to mail home, where as I have friends in the states who could have a copy taken care of for me while I am here.

Will it be difficult to get sponsored for a visa while I am in china working on a Z (working) visa that is still valid for a year?

I plan to travel to thailand after I am done working here, in September, so I am wondering if I can get my flight paid for from thailand but back to the United States after the year is over or will that complicate things? It's cheaper than flying me to and from the states so I don't think it should be an issue.

These are my questions. Any other advice you could give me would be really appreciated. Most important questions are if I can get a job the starts in September and how soon I can secure this job if I don't want to begin until then, and if attaining a visa will be difficult while I am in China. Thanks so much I really appreciated any information you can offer me.

Best,
Stagefire

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

Difficult to find a job = no more than any other qualified applicant with their paperwork in order.

Difficult to get your paperwork done = yes. You need a certified true copy of your degree with a US apostille and a current (less than 6 months old when it hits the desk at immigration) FBI check with an apostille affixed.

Language academies hire year round.

Sept is bad timing for jobs in the public school system (school year starts in March - recruiting occurring from Oct-Dec with another recruiting drive in April-May for jobs starting in August).

Being fussy about only working in Seoul or Busan and not working for less than 2.3 will cramp your opportunities. You might have to settle for Gyeonggi-do (the province that surrounds Seoul) and 2.1-2.2. The market isn't what it once was and you are bailing on a contract (so the risk factor is higher) so your bargaining power is reduced (you are nothing special and no better than the next applicant - of which there is no shortage).

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andrewchon · Posted: Mon May 27, 2013 12:11 am Post subject:

If it's the environment problem, you could move to other parts of China, no? China is a fairly large and diverse land and there must be some parts that are not polluted, yet.

Stagefire4 · Joined: 24 May 2013 Location: China

Thanks for the reply guys. I want to be in Korea, not china, for one thing, and for another, I don't think that it would be easy at all the find a position in china after canceling a contract, harder than finding a job in another country according to most of the literature I've read.

Any other helpful info would be great I am a little flexible about pay but not flexible at all about location, must be in Seoul or Busan. Thanks again everyone!

creeper1 · Joined: 30 Jan 2007

Hello OP

You are making the right decision by switching to Korea. The environment is much better and you make WAY more money than in China.

I also worked for EF. They are terrible. But then almost all employers in China are absolutely awful.

Don't be so inflexible on location. Korea has a magnificent transportation network. A job in a major city in Gyeonggi-do such as Suwon, Ilsan or Bundang is golden. Often travel time to central Seoul from these places is a mere 30 minutes.

Good luck OP.

toby99 · Posted: Mon May 27, 2013 8:18 am Post subject:

You'll have no problem finding a job, even in Seoul. Even if it's not prime hiring season, people are always breaking contracts, or have staggered contracts, hagwans are always adding teachers, etc. The issue is finding a 'good' job. I'd say be a bit more flexible in your location preference- anything along the KTX line would be good, as it's a small country and you can get everywhere within a few hours.

The thing with Seoul is that even if your placement is technically within Seoul borders, you might be really far from the good areas. So looking around Gyeonggi is definitely a good idea. I lived in Incheon for a number of years and was only a 45-60min bus ride from Hongdae, depending on traffic. Meanwhile, I had friend in Seoul proper who was 1.5hrs from Hongdae. It just depends on location. If you are dead set on Seoul, figure out which subway stations you'd like to be near and go from there.

One last consideration- if pollution is an issue (sounds like it might be why you're leaving China?), be aware that Seoul's air is usually pretty bad. Not as bad as China, but still pretty awful.

sirius black · Joined: 04 Jun 2010

Search the job ads and hit the recruters and you should come up with something within the parameters you want.

young_clinton · Joined: 09 Sep 2009

toby99 · Posted: Tue May 28, 2013 10:07 am Post subject:

A couple things re: the previous post:

The degree doesn't have to be notarized in the state it was issued. But, I believe the notary and apostille must be done in the same state (for example, if you get your degree notarized in Cali, the apostille must be from Cali too; but if your degree is from NYU, you can still get it notarized/apostilled in Cali or wherever you want). My understanding is the apostille is to verify that the notary exists/was done properly, and notaries are licensed by the state.

Secondly, while many people seem to think the CBC check takes 'months' and the subsequent apostille takes additional 'months', that's def not always the case. I got my CBC back in 4 weeks, sent it off to DC by snail mail (which many on here seem to think is the kiss of death in terms of a long wait) and got it back seven days later. So it's def possible to get it done fairly quickly.

That isn't to discount people who say the process takes 'forever'; maybe it does for some and I'm sure it varies based on the applicant. And doing this all from overseas won't help speed up the process. But it doesn't always take months on end to complete the CBC. And I got the notary and apostille for my diploma done within 90 mins on the same day.

Lastly, while it's obviously easier to find the right job fit in country, you won't have any problems finding a job from overseas regardless of experience. I do think it's wise to cast your net wider than just Seoul and Busan, but the idea that you have to be in country to get a job is completely false.

(edits for clarity)

Los Angeloser · Joined: 26 Aug 2010 Location: Korea

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

young_clinton · Joined: 09 Sep 2009

Snowkr · Joined: 03 Jun 2005

Hi OP

I'm also a former EF China teacher. My school was pretty decent when I was there, but like you, I had some major health problems and could not stay in China either.

Moving to Korea was one of the smartest things I ever did. I think you'll be much better off there too. But I agree with the other posters here who have basically told you that beggars can't be choosers in this situation. It's been 3 years since I've lived and worked in Korea and I believe it is becoming more difficult to find a job there.

Hopefully things will work out for you to start a new position this Sept. All the best to you.

Pinehurst · Joined: 14 Aug 2011

The diploma apostille should not be a problem. It is not your signature that needs an apostille it is the notary�s. They are stating that they made a true copy of the diploma. Someone can get it notorized for you.

The last CRC and apostille that I ordered took about 8 weeks for the apostille. Do not send snail mail. You can use UPS or FedEx. With the resin scares, USPS will definitely get delayed in the screening process to DC.

GEPIK hires for Sept 1st but I don�t see you getting documents to secure a spot this late.

A hagwon job would be doable.