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Anakaren152
Joined: 09 Jun 2013
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 Posted: Tue Jun 25, 2013 9:49 am Post subject: GEPIK- Why am I not getting interviewed? |
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Hello everyone (first post!  )!
I am interested in teaching English in Korea for Fall 2013. I decided to go along with the GEPIK program since it is close to Seoul and it is near my friends who currently live in Korea.
I have been working with Korvia because I heard great reviews from them. I have all my documents ready to be sent, but that can't be done unless I am accepted by a school first.
I know the end of June is when most of the hiring is done for the program, but I am losing hope in getting a job for GEPIK. I have been having a few communication issues with my recruiter ( I had to redo my introduction video 3 times, since each time apparently there was something wrong with my approach. She was very vague about it and she is also slow in responding to emails).
Maybe I am just naive? Is there just too much competition? I just graduated from a great university. I am TSEOL certified and I have taught English before to two French students while I was studying abroad. On top of all that, I love Korean culture and I want to experience it first hand.
I am very worried I will not get hired at all. All the schools I have been introduced to, have not shown interest to interview me. At first I was getting introduced to schools right by Seoul (Anyang, Goyang, etc.), and now I am getting introduced to schools that are very far away (Pyeongtaek, for example). Should I just use more than one recruiter? Is it too late for me to get hired in a decent location? Am I running out of time? For anyone who was hired through GEPIK, how was your application/hiring process like?
Any input would be great! Thank you! |
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robbie_davies
Joined: 16 Jun 2013
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| Posted: Tue Jun 25, 2013 10:16 am Post subject: Re: GEPIK- Why am I not getting interviewed? |
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| Anakaren152 wrote: |
Hello everyone (first post! )!
I am interested in teaching English in Korea for Fall 2013. I decided to go along with the GEPIK program since it is close to Seoul and it is near my friends who currently live in Korea.
I have been working with Korvia because I heard great reviews from them. I have all my documents ready to be sent, but that can't be done unless I am accepted by a school first.
I know the end of June is when most of the hiring is done for the program, but I am losing hope in getting a job for GEPIK. I have been having a few communication issues with my recruiter ( I had to redo my introduction video 3 times, since each time apparently there was something wrong with my approach. She was very vague about it and she is also slow in responding to emails).
Maybe I am just naive? Is there just too much competition? I just graduated from a great university. I am TSEOL certified and I have taught English before to two French students while I was studying abroad. On top of all that, I love Korean culture and I want to experience it first hand.
I am very worried I will not get hired at all. All the schools I have been introduced to, have not shown interest to interview me. At first I was getting introduced to schools right by Seoul (Anyang, Goyang, etc.), and now I am getting introduced to schools that are very far away (Pyeongtaek, for example). Should I just use more than one recruiter? Is it too late for me to get hired in a decent location? Am I running out of time? For anyone who was hired through GEPIK, how was your application/hiring process like?
Any input would be great! Thank you! |
We would need to see the video, I doubt there is anything wrong with your video and it is being used as an excuse to waste your time.
If I remember - if you put in more than another application to GEPIK with a different recruiter, you get disqualified from the application process unless that has changed.
So, you are in a bit of a quandry, pick from what they have left to offer - Pyongatek isn't great, but it isn't terrible, it is not on the subway line but you can get buses to and from where your friends are.
Once you are on the ground, then you can negotiate a job in a place to your liking for your next contract. Sometimes - you need to take the scenic route where you want to go.
What won't happen is forcing the arm of Korvia, I found them to be vastly overrated and in cahoots with a NET blacklist - nasty pieces of work that they are.  |
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maximmm
Joined: 01 Feb 2008
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| Posted: Tue Jun 25, 2013 11:12 am Post subject: Re: GEPIK- Why am I not getting interviewed? |
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| robbie_davies wrote: |
What won't happen is forcing the arm of Korvia, I found them to be vastly overrated and in cahoots with a NET blacklist - nasty pieces of work that they are. |
Why, what happened?
I know that Korvia doesn't force people to do introduction videos - especially 3 times. In fact, Korvia is one of the better recruiting agencies out there - I'm basing this on my experience.
To the OP - it is possible to switch agencies while applying for GEPIK, but you'd need to request your current agency to cancel the existing application and only then can you resubmit the application with another agency. You might want to explain to the other agency the overall situation prior to the switch.
In fact, ideally you'd want to work with an agency which has been chosen by GEPIK as one of its designated recruiting agencies. GEPIK usually posts the list of these agencies on its site - though I do not see one now.
Likewise, you might want to apply directly through GEPIK (again, you'd need to cancel the existing application with your current agency before doing so) - http://cge.ken.go.kr/contents/m_online_application_eng/main_regist.asp |
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robbie_davies
Joined: 16 Jun 2013
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| Posted: Tue Jun 25, 2013 12:18 pm Post subject: Re: GEPIK- Why am I not getting interviewed? |
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| maximmm wrote: |
| robbie_davies wrote: |
What won't happen is forcing the arm of Korvia, I found them to be vastly overrated and in cahoots with a NET blacklist - nasty pieces of work that they are. |
Why, what happened?
I know that Korvia doesn't force people to do introduction videos - especially 3 times. In fact, Korvia is one of the better recruiting agencies out there - I'm basing this on my experience.
To the OP - it is possible to switch agencies while applying for GEPIK, but you'd need to request your current agency to cancel the existing application and only then can you resubmit the application with another agency. You might want to explain to the other agency the overall situation prior to the switch.
In fact, ideally you'd want to work with an agency which has been chosen by GEPIK as one of its designated recruiting agencies. GEPIK usually posts the list of these agencies on its site - though I do not see one now.
Likewise, you might want to apply directly through GEPIK (again, you'd need to cancel the existing application with your current agency before doing so) - http://cge.ken.go.kr/contents/m_online_application_eng/main_regist.asp |
Yes! I was interviewed for a PS job in the part of the city where the pink and purple subway lines are. I really liked it there, more gritty and less plastic. Not many people liked it around there but I would have been quite happy to move there.
Anyway, it was all on and then Korvia - or the woman who was interviewing me wanted to speak to my co-teacher and she proceeded to rip me a new arsehole. So - I never heard off Korvia again and went home.
About 6 months later, I got wind that I was on this blacklist (can't tell you how for now) and was sent a copy of my profile on why I was on the blacklist. All lies, all bullshite - so I wrote a letter to the school, Korvia and the blacklist threatening legal action and the co-teacher wrote an email - I have to say this - she should be embarrassed that she wrote that email but it was a begging email about how she didn't write it and she is scared of losing her job etc. Lacking any decency or dignity and of course lying through her teeth so she could save her own worthless skin.
The fact I got my completion letter of good conduct from the school didn't seem to make much difference to Korvia, they just believed everything the co teacher said and stuck me on the blacklist, I am sure a few teachers from around that time wondered why they couldn't get a job after being interviewed by Korvia. Disgraceful - and if I ever went back to Korea to teach - I would put Korvia and the school in court for libel. I have all the evidence but I don't think I will be going back to Korea in this lifetime.  |
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Anakaren152
Joined: 09 Jun 2013
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| Posted: Tue Jun 25, 2013 12:38 pm Post subject: Re: GEPIK- Why am I not getting interviewed? |
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| maximmm wrote: |
I know that Korvia doesn't force people to do introduction videos - especially 3 times. In fact, Korvia is one of the better recruiting agencies out there - I'm basing this on my experience.
To the OP - it is possible to switch agencies while applying for GEPIK, but you'd need to request your current agency to cancel the existing application and only then can you resubmit the application with another agency. You might want to explain to the other agency the overall situation prior to the switch.
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Korvia recently stated that it is required for all GEPIK applicants to submit videos now. They claim that most public schools prefer in person interviews, to those who are already living in Korea, thus making the video is the only way to compete with them.
The funny this is that I never submitted the actual GEPIK application to them, they said I should submit it along with my signed contract. (Is this weird?) All they have currently is my resume, video, and a digital copy of my TESOL certificate.
So should I be able to use multiple recruiters without a problem? Do you think it is a bad idea to just contact the head recruiter at Korvia and express my concerns? |
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Anakaren152
Joined: 09 Jun 2013
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| Posted: Tue Jun 25, 2013 12:52 pm Post subject: Re: GEPIK- Why am I not getting interviewed? |
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Sorry for the double post! I'm having trouble figuring out how to place 2 different quotes into one post.
| Anakaren152 wrote: |
We would need to see the video, I doubt there is anything wrong with your video and it is being used as an excuse to waste your time.
If I remember - if you put in more than another application to GEPIK with a different recruiter, you get disqualified from the application process unless that has changed.
So, you are in a bit of a quandry, pick from what they have left to offer - Pyongatek isn't great, but it isn't terrible, it is not on the subway line but you can get buses to and from where your friends are.
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I will post my 3rd and latest video.
My 2nd one was denied due to the fact that I was exposing my shoulders in the video.
The 3rd one I tried to focus on my love for Korean culture and music, talked about my work experiences, and how to deal with classroom conflicts. I am a person who loves to experience different cultures and I wanted to emphasize that. My recruiters said the schools thought that I wasn't serious about teaching with this video.
After talking with my recruiter, she said I should focus on my teaching philosophy, passion of teaching, and lesson planning. So I redid it. I was a bit angry at the fact she did not state this earlier, it would've saved a lot of time, frustration, and possibly jobs. I don't know if my frustration showed through this video, but I definitely do not want to make another one.
The job in Pyongatek, I assume they did not want to interview me either, since the recruiter never followed up with me.
EDIT: Links removed
EDIT: VIdeo links added again
EDIT: Videos removed
Last edited by Anakaren152 on Thu Jun 27, 2013 3:43 pm; edited 3 times in total |
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robbie_davies
Joined: 16 Jun 2013
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| Posted: Tue Jun 25, 2013 1:10 pm Post subject: Re: GEPIK- Why am I not getting interviewed? |
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| Anakaren152 wrote: |
Sorry for the double post! I'm having trouble figuring out how to place 2 different quotes into one post.
| Anakaren152 wrote: |
We would need to see the video, I doubt there is anything wrong with your video and it is being used as an excuse to waste your time.
If I remember - if you put in more than another application to GEPIK with a different recruiter, you get disqualified from the application process unless that has changed.
So, you are in a bit of a quandry, pick from what they have left to offer - Pyongatek isn't great, but it isn't terrible, it is not on the subway line but you can get buses to and from where your friends are | | | | |
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